vets advice/help please

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cellie

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I do trust my vet but would like a second proffessional opinion on what is best for my horse.
In brief he has soft tissue damage to coffin joint.It was diagnosed nov and has been teated with adequan and injection into the joint.The damage has probably been ongoing for years but disguised by other injuries.
What I really want to know is do you think he has brought back into work too early and I should give him more time before I look to retire him permanently.His lou is going through at the moment.
He has had 10 weeks walking out for hacks and cant cope with anything more than 2/3 gentle walks .I have backed of him for his comfort but I do wonder if he has come back into work too early.He seems ok in the paddock but doesnt do anything other than graze.My big regret is not having stem cell but I have ploughed endless amounts of money into previous injuries.Should also mention he has had remidial shoeing for collapsed heels although they are looking the best they have ever done.
If you think its kinder to look for companion home rather than keep doing rehab then that gives me direction.
 
Hugs to you both, it would be easier if there were some light at the end of the tunnel.

Speak to your insurance company and see if they will pay for a second opinion, if not then you will need to weigh up whether it's worth forking out for yourself.

As his LOU is going through already, presumably insurance company are already satisfied that your boy doesn't have a useful future ahead of him.

If he can't cope with walking hacks then I'd be looking for a companion home for him - even if it's for 6 months or so to give him a chance to rest further.
 
I think I was a bit hasty in making a decision on lou.The insurance offered lou rather than go mri and stem cell.Financially I had to make a decision as his vets bills have been in excess of £11000 I keep giving him another chance but you can keep throwing more money into the fire.If someone offered me a really good home for life as companion then I would take it as it would be in his best interests.We havent done anything for nearly 3 years so I know its nothing that I have done.
Unfortunately the yard Im on isnt ideal for non working horse its limited grazing which was ok if in full work but no good for greedy tb.
Id happily settle for little hack 3 times a week if he was comfortable but would rather he went to someone with good grazing as companion I think he would be happier.
I really cant fork out anymore my husband would divorce me lol we have been badly hit by reccession with our business and he had told me we had to go down to one horse before problems continued.
I feel like Im on rollercoaster and cant get off.He is absolutely the only horse Ii want.I will quit if he goes.
 
Cellie might be worth doing a quick search on the net. Sue Dyson wrote a large number of papers on collateral ligament damage and it's success rate. From what I know sadly whilst rest is important they either come right or they don't. If he can't cope now I doubt he will. Sorry. I know with Jesper we gave him lots of time and yet he can't cope. If I give him six weeks off he then comes back in to work sound but after two weeks in light work (hacking) he's lame again. It's the nature of the injury. At Ollie's age I'm afraid I'd be looking for a companion home or even have him pts. It's such a difficult decision to make.
 
Hi hes nearly 8 had remidial shoeing from nov .Just taken pads out as his frogs were bad and back to normal shoes (rolled toes).He has been more comfortable since changing shoes.
 
I have done loads of searches but cant remember seeing sue dysons report will have another google.I know hes probably not going to be sound just want to explore everything before I have to make decision.Its better than making a mistake and regretting it after.
Im starting to look for companion options if you hear of anything let me know Thanks
 
Good that the shoeing has been reversed, was that your farrier's idea? Farrier's understand what remedial shoes do, and getting him out of them was a good step I suspect.

And reading other posts, am I right in thinking he's only 7 or so? If he were mine I'd be seriously investigating an alternative diagnosis and treatment for him. You sound like your instincts are telling you that your vet isn't sure what the problem really is. My experience would advise you to follow your instincts.

Talk to your farrier and ask for the truth as to where he feels the feet are heading and what "in an ideal world" he'd recommend doing with them. If the horse is only 7 and you can afford it, I'd recommend getting him out of shoes, having the feet trimmed with a very short toe and keeping this checked every 6 weeks religiously. Then turn him away for 6 months to get his feet back to where they should be. He will be a bit sore to start with but it will be worth getting through it.
 
Once vet took xrays of Ollies feet it was agreed that his toe was far too long something I had been asking my farrier to address for long time.His hooves now look great his heel is elevated and hoof quality is good the farrier has been trimming toe back hard .He is tb and has had bruising in the past so taking him out of shoes always made any problems worse.Vet has diagnosed soft tissue injury with nerve blocks and we agreed that knowing what problem was wouldnt neccessarily change treatment.ie adequan and injection into the joint.Mri might confirm damage but treatment is same.
Both vet and farrier seem to think that horse might never come sound.I have lou going through at moment.The only thing I do with him is short hack 3 times a week in walk .Vet said to start trot work but Im not going to push him when I feel hes uncomfortable.Bearing in mind he never runs in his field is a pretty good indication that hes not right.I can give him the summer then re evaluate my little money pit
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Hi I am really sorry to hear things are not going well for you and your boy, I think if he were mine with him being so young still, I would give him more time off just to see if a good long holiday would do him some good you never know the rest might do you both some good. Give you time to re evaluate and then see finger crossed a break might be what he needs. good luck I have everything crossed for you
 
If anyone finds Sue Dyson's reports I would be interested in seeing them too.
Googled and found one summary but no details though that was interesting as it gave a 60% recovery rate which is exactly what my vet gave me.
Mine went on box rest in Oct after the MRI confirmed the vet's diagnosis of soft tissue damage. I've been walking mine (ridden and in hand) for a couple of months now and going to see the vet on Thurs to see him trotted up.
 
Is your horse walking out well.Its so difficult with Ollie hes not motivated in walk and its very hard to work out if its pain related or just boredom.
Let me know how vet visit goes we could compare notes.
The only thing that really confuses me ,you could check if your horse is he same ,is lamness on lunge,it is when bad leg is on outside that he has irregular stride you would think it would be inside.
Keep in touch
 
Frankie is walking out really well at the moment and tells me frequently it is time to trot.
He is being walked both in the school and the yard so coping with hard and soft surfaces in walk. I haven't hacked just because he is a little 'reactive' at the moment.
However when we MRI'd he was sound in trot on the straight and on a circle in the school, he only showed intemittent lameness when trotting on a 10 meter surface on hard standing. It was almost like he misstepped and it was when the bad leg is on the outside every 4 or 5 strides.
He has these carbon fibre heel supports on his feet which seem to help.

I think in your case if you can find the facilities I would be inclined to put him out over summer and not think about it. Our yard is the same as yours but I know people who found grass livery for a few months.

Good luck

I didn't take out LOU - kicking myself now.
 
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hes not motivated in walk and its very hard to work out if its pain related or just boredom.

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Its pain, I've been there too and ultimately lost my horse through this. When you find comfort for him, he'll pick up the pace immediately. One way to check is a good dose of bute for a couple of days......
 
Its ok Ill leave him longer.He is only having two little walks out a week and this has improved his way of going.He strides out better .I kept telling vet he wasnt comfortable being out 5 to 6 times a week and he said he should be ok in walk.Ill notice from his field behaviour if there is a improvement bucks and broncing have stopped Im sure he ll tell me .There was a small improvement when we changed shoes 2 weeks ago.
 
Your not going to believe this but I didnt have lou insurance company offered as he has had so many problems and huge vet bills.I have come to a point when I stop paying out hes had everything treated and has had multiple lamness issues over 3 yrs.
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So are you saying you didn't have LOU but you made so many claims that your insurance offered to pay loss of use rather than continue to pay for treatment.

which insurance company are you with?

Ours hasn't really been that expensive considering how long it's been going on - lots of vets visits and half an MRI and a course of Cartrophen but main treatment has been box rest and supplements.
It happened about 9 months after I got him. A couple of other claims:- one for a kick and one for allergy testing but not lots of others.
 
Thanks - I'll have a look at that.
Took mine to vet today and he was far too lively to risk trotting on hard standing but was totally sound lunged on a surface.
He also looked sound in canter, gallop, buck, leap, rear etc
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Plan is a month introducing trot and then a month including canter and then reassess but who know how he will cope.
 
We had great walk out tonight the best hes been.Also had a hoolie moment in paddock the other day not recommended but must be feeling a little better.Hes not sound in trot but asked to trot tonight another first.
Im glad things are improving.I think Ollies forced box rest /our fields are being treated /he only has four hours turnout might have helped his cause.
 
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