What do I do next?

[angela_l_b]

I'll try to cut a long story short...

My horse (16.1 ISH eventer) went lame in December, it felt like a slight intermittent lameness in front, on no particular leg. He went to the vets in January for diagnosis, where they said he was lame on 3 legs (both fronts and off hind) - the off hind was the worst. After scanning, x-raying and nerve blocking they diagnosed PSD in off hind but it didn't show on the scan - they diagnosed it because of the nerve blocks. They couldn't find anything wrong in front. They told me to treat the hind (16 weeks box rest and slow return to work) and deal with the fronts at a later date if still lame.

Until 2 weeks ago he had come back into work well, and the vet claimed to see a big improvement in movement and use of the hind leg. Seemed sound in front. Now he is definitely off again in front legs - symptoms are exactly the same as they were in January and the vet can't suggest anything except to take him back in for the same tests again.

I have delayed it for a while as i can't see it will help any more than it did before. Got the osteopath out on Monday, hoping that she might find back/muscular pain that was causing this slight unsoundness. She found lots of stiffness pretty much everywhere, has treated him, we walked round the block yesterday and trotted this morning - still lame although perhaps not quite as bad. How long would an osteopath treatment take to have effect, if it was going to?

Assuming it isn't something that will be fixed with the follow-up osteopath appointments, what do you think I should do next? I have little faith in my vet as he always looks baffled, hasn't found anything yet despite having the horse for a week with full permission to do any sort of test appropriate, and he is just wanting to do the same again. I'm not even completely convinced that the PSD diagnosis is correct, as there is nothing to confirm it except that the vet says so - no scans, and I could never see or feel the lameness.

If anyone has experience of a similar situation I would love to hear about it, but also - what would you do next? Go back for tests? Try a second opinion? Chuck the horse out for 6 months and see what happens?

Thanks very much.

 

[digitalangel]

oh i have *so* been here - i lost faith in my vets 'wait and see' approach and got the head vet at the same surgury to check out my boy - who has also been lame since december with a similar wishy washy diagnosis.

I would say 2nd opinion and further tests on all 3 legs. To diagnose PSD on a nerve block seems very strange to me. an MRI might be able to give you more clues as to what is going on, same with nuclear scintagraphy. If you vet cant offer you these tests, ask for a referral.

Good luck xxx

 

[misst]

Agree with this entirely.
Ask for full lameness work up at a specialist vet or hosptial, ours had MRI scans and scintigraphy to find out what was wrong. Sounds like you have waited long enough and don't forget insurance will only last for one year on things like this so get a diagnosis asap. If you are in the SE or East then Sue Dyson at the AHT is brilliant.

 

[jenh166]

You can disgnose PSD with a good clinical exam and lameness work up alone as there is a specific nerve block you can do the purely isolates the proximal suspensory, but you can't do it after all the others, you have to wait for them to wear off then do it.
Def get another vet to have a look - if you have lost confidence in you vet, its worth ot for you peace of mind. Also most vets aren't offended if you tell them you want another opinion anyway, so dont worry! Just do what you want. You may not need MRI/scinitgraphy...just need to find a vet that is confident in their diagnosis!