WHOSE ADVICE TO TAKE - 2 VETS WHO DIFFER OR A CHIROPRACTOR

[roxy007]

My mare suddenly became lame in April and our own vet couldn't pin point the exact cause. She went to a specialist who diagnosed that she had either a collapsed stifle (back right) or collapsed meniscus . He said he could offer nothing other than to turn her away for the winter and see how she did. He also said arthroscopy would be pointless and all that would achieve would be a lovely dvd of my horses joint but nothing else to offer and that the outlook was bleak. i asked for a second opinion at another specialist centre and my mare spent almost a week there undergoing nerve blocks x rays ultrasound etc. When she arrived they concentrated on her stifle as previous vet wouldn't send his xrays and could find nothing other than a little protrusion of the meniscus which it was thought was not hugely significant due to the pain she appeared to be in somewhere. After various nerve blocks etc it was found that she had inflammation of all four navicular areas and evidence of bone cysts on 2. She was to go on box rest for 2 weeks and then gradually allow her to be led out in hand and gradually build this up until she could be turned out during the day. Shehas graduated heel shoeing on all 4 feet and prescribed bute. She is a bit better now on her front a month later but still very lame particulary right hind. A chiropractor who attends all the big race and event yards looked at her yesterday and said that she had bog spavin and that the only way to get her rideable again was to ride her through this and offered the services of his jockey friend to do this for me - riding her six days a week to a programme of walk and trot in tight circles. I am not sure what to do. Two of scotland's top equine centres disagree on her diagnosis, she isn't that much better after following the advice of the second specialist and I wonder if we should try the advice of the chiroprator who is confident this is the way to go. My mare has had ligament and tendon probs in the past and tight cirlces have always been avoided. What should I do? Any advice would be so much appreciated. Chiro says that within 5 days of his programme she will become seriously lame but she has to be worked through this and then should improve. Whose advice should I take

 

[cellie]

You sound like you are having the same type of year as me.Can I ask are you sure its bog spavin or could you mean bone spavin.My horse had bone spavin and I decided to operate rather than push through the excercise programme he had op jan last year and it was a success.Like you we have had and are ongoing with tendon problems and ligament also in the coffin joint .|I agree it sounds rather harsh to push a horse like this if she is going to be uncomfortable. If its bone spavin Im sure your vet would have picked this up with simple flexation test.I can give you some advice re spavin dont know if I agree with what the chiro has suggested.
I have been struggling with lameness issues since last year and after treating spavin we found coffin joint injury plus tear in the tendon.Its very difficult when they have several lameness issues all conflicting.I would be inclined to treat from the hoof up and get a good farrier who is willing to assist.I had xrays in the end to help with the process of elimination and nerve blocks.
Personally I wouldnt take the advice of chiro over vet but would ask vet to look at spavin if this is a possibility.You could push your mare over the edge if you work her in circles with her ongoing problems.I know a fair bit on spavin (bone )so will be happy to discuss options after it has been diagnosed.What a mess we are both in Good luck

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Don't envy you this situation at all hazydaze but I have to say I'd go with the specialist veterinary work up. I'd be extremely wary of such strange advice from the chiropractor. As I understand it, bog spavin is basically arthritis. Therefore it should have shown up easily on the lameness work up. So why didn't it? Also, my understanding of dealing with arthritis is that the affected area needs time to "fuse" on it's own, after which the horse is likely to be reasonably capable of light work. Advice to work your horse hard and relentlessly seems (a) medieval, (b) to have no evidence base whatsoever and (c) will probably cause your horse untold pain and no-one could blame her for chucking you off and/or developing some serious behavioural problems.

Sorry but I'd file the chiropractor advice in the bin. Just a personal opinion.

 

[Marchtime]

Personally I would never work my horse through lameness without the vets say so and even then I think I'd seek a second opinion. Your chiropractor is basing her diagnosis on what exactly? If it turns out not to be a spavin as your chiropractor suggests but instead ligament damage you could do some serious harm. I'd be going back to the vets and asking for further work ups especially if you feel you now have problems with a particular leg. The vets should be able to pin point an area if nothing else. Good luck.

 

[TPO]

QR - presuming you are in Scotland, what vets and chiro did you use? PM if you prefer.

I don't like the sound of the chiro's advice and would be very wary tbh..... I've never heard ANY "back" person recommend work on tight circles EVER.

I've always found the Dick Vet Hosp in Edinburgh fantastic for lameness work ups, as have friends. If you haven't already been there could you get a referal?

Good luck, not a nice situation to be in.

 

[Perissa]

As you have another thread asking about Tex Gamble I presume you are talking about him.

Like I said on my reply, people either love him or hate him. As I understand it he has no formal training.

I think there would be no harm in talking it over with the vet, maybe have an x ray or two. Bog Spavin is usually easy to spot buy the swellings on the hock. I would be surprised if the vets would not have spotted this. The X rays will show if its bone spavin.

 

[ihatework]

The only thing I will say is that reading this thread makes my heart sink with the advice of the chiro, it is this sort of awful advice that makes my heart sink.

Regarding what the vets say, I really can't help you. Speak to them again and go with your gut feeling. If all else fails a year of Dr. Green may be the best way forward.

 

[kizzywiz]

I would most definately go back to the vet for further help, the chiro you refer to is unqualified (he learned his "skill" from a blind gypsy!!!) unregulated & uninsured. He attempted to internally manipulate the pelvis of a horse owned by a client of mine, the horse went down & stayed down for 2 days, he returned & did it again, the next day the vet came & shot her. Please please do not let this man anywhere near your horse!!!

 

[TPO]

[ QUOTE ]
I would most definately go back to the vet for further help, the chiro you refer to is unqualified (he learned his "skill" from a blind gypsy!!!) unregulated & uninsured. He attempted to internally manipulate the pelvis of a horse owned by a client of mine, the horse went down & stayed down for 2 days, he returned & did it again, the next day the vet came & shot her. Please please do not let this man anywhere near your horse!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the kind of stories I've heard and I can't understand how owners think that is right , stand and watch (don't get started on the METAL mallets) and then get him back?!

Please Hazydays stick with your vets and/or get referral to a vet hospital. Do NOT follow advice to work on tight circles etc <shakes head>

 

[spaniel]

Please please please stick with the vets diagnosis. NO complimentary therapist is legally allowed to diagnose ANY condition in anyones horse, that is entirely down to the vets involved.

Im assuming this chiro is the one you asked about before, the one you feel hasnt moved about the UK much? Well he was very prominent here in the west country a few years ago.....just something to ponder on. Personally I wouldnt let him pat my horses let alone work on them.

Get back to your second lot of vets.

 

[monstermunch]

No therapist is legally allowed to diagnose problems and should certainly not be offering that kind of advice without definate conclusive x rays and tests. Stick with the vets. Horses are a nightmare. They take longer to suss lameness becasue they can't tell us where it hurts. If she has history of ligament problems then tight circles and overload of work is putting a lot of undue stress on them. i don't envy your position but undestand it. Just be patient and stick with vets.

 

[dressagecrazy]

I can really understand your predicament. However i would be really pestering the Vets if i was in your position. I have a good Chiro & Physio's but i wouldnt choose them over the Vet .

I would & have done this had my Chiro write down her findings so they could be shown to the Vet. Then the Vet can think about the Chiro's findings & maybe change treatment or diagnosis.

But i certainly wouldnt be following the Chiro's advise without seeing the Vet especially so with the advice your Chiro has given you, i would have extreme concerns with this.