What could be wrong with this mare? A BIG thank you!

Wagtail

Wagtail

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Just wanted to say a big thank you to all those who contributed to my thread: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=434878

If it wasn't for you wonderful, experienced and knowledgable people, we would never have had the gumption to push the vets to have this mare scoped for ulcers as all of them insisted she had no signs whatsoever!

As some of you will know, the mare had become totally unridable for her owner and myself, yet for the staff at the three veterinary hospitals she went to, she looked like a top dressage horse! We felt it was because she knew she could tell us there was something wrong, but with strangers that she did not know and trust, she just pushed herself through the pain. On scoping, she was found to have very bad ulcers in the glands of the stomach and duedenum. Now after four weeks of treatment she is happy for us to ride her again.

This horse went to AHT, Rossdales and The Veterinary College at Hatfield and only the latter found the problem. There was also some hock lameness that had been missed by AHT and Rossdales. This has now been treated too. So it just goes to show how you should stick to your guns and not be intimidated by vets who insist there is nothing wrong when you know there is. We were made to feel silly by these vets who thought the behaviour was behavioural, and the insurance refused to pay out. Luckily for this mare she had an owner prepared to pay anything to find out what was wrong with her, and a YO who supported herall the way. And last but certainly not least, some very knowlegable and supportive virtual friends on here that means the mare is now free of pain and her owner has her horse back. THANK YOU. :)
 
Interesting that the very first post identified ulcers, odd that vets did not suggest this, the trouble with vets is that they don't seem to say that they are unsure, and once they have "diagnosed" it is difficult to sway their opinion. How long did it take on the treatment for her to respond?
To my mind the fact that she was looking at her side indicated problem was definitely not behavioural.
 
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MrsD123 said:
Interesting that the very first post identified ulcers, odd that vets did not suggest this, the trouble with vets is that they don't seem to say that they are unsure, and once they have "diagnosed" it is difficult to sway their opinion. How long did it take on the treatment for her to respond?
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They did blood tests and looked at her stools. Also she had no colic symptoms or lack of appetite, so the vets said it was highly unlikely to be ulcers. Owner had to really push for her to be scoped. But the ulcers were in an unusual place and took longer to treat. She started to come right after two and a half weeks on the antisep (not sure I've spelt that right) and gastro guard. She stayed on the antesep for three weeks and has to stay on the gastroguard for another month.

We als had a bit of a red herring with the hock treatment apparently working last year which stopped the vets looking further. However, looking back we saw it coincided with her going onto the grass 24/7 so the ulcers probably improved at the same time!
 
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ThePony said:
I'm so glad she has come right, it must be a big relief to her owners and you, and the poor mare too!
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Yes, and as soon as she's right (confimed by scoping) she is going to be put into foal. She's a fabulous mare with the best European bloodlines and owner will be keeping the foal. It was put off last year because of her problems.
 
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Glad to hear you got it sorted in the end.

My mare also had her ulcers in the glandular mucosa though not in the duodenum. They do seem to take longer to heal in that location!
 
Just goes to show nobody knows your horse like you do , even the professionals can get it wrong - well done following your gut feelings about you mare ( sorry no pun intended ) especially as some professionals can be quite patronizing and hard to challenge . Your mare will hopefully make a full recovery and can look forward to a pain free future ..
 
I remember the initial thread and am very pleased to read she is on the mend. Valuble lessons to be learnt here. What a lucky mare to have an owner so determined to get to the bottom of things. I too had to push and push and push for a diagnosis on my boy (not ulcers). Similar though in that all vets/specialists etc were saying it was behavioural, I was sure it wasn't and eventually managed to get a proper diagnosis and treatment from about the 6th vet to see him! A year down the line I have a totally changed and all fixed horse. I hope this mare continues to go from strength to strength, and my word doesnt the owner deserve her foaly at last! Thanks for the update. :)
 
Vizslak said:
I remember the initial thread and am very pleased to read she is on the mend. Valuble lessons to be learnt here. What a lucky mare to have an owner so determined to get to the bottom of things. I too had to push and push and push for a diagnosis on my boy (not ulcers). Similar though in that all vets/specialists etc were saying it was behavioural, I was sure it wasn't and eventually managed to get a proper diagnosis and treatment from about the 6th vet to see him! A year down the line I have a totally changed and all fixed horse. I hope this mare continues to go from strength to strength, and my word doesnt the owner deserve her foaly at last! Thanks for the update. :)
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Glad you got your boy sorted too. It is so frustrating to know something is wrong and the vets just can't find anything.
 
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