Would like your thoughts on this? (lame horse)

[Skhosu]

(also in NL)
Vet out tonight, was pulled up for lameness last sat in dressage, not bad just unever behind. Got vet out today and he says 60-70% chance of the hind suspensory (back left leg), no. 2 could be bone spavin. First thing is to sort feet with wedges (getting done on tuesday-already booked anyway) and then we'll see. Will probably x-ray joints as well to see whats happening. Trying to recall what vet vetted him, as we had x-rays done when he was bought 3ys ago, by a big vet practise, poss. the one used by Karen Dixon, would anyone know this? Tilldren has been mentioned, and surgery, anyone any experience of any of this? Thanks

 

[Marchtime]

I might be completely wrong but surely you want to know whether you are dealing with a hind suspensory injury or a bone spavin before you begin any sort of treatment or remedial shoeing? Where there is damage to a ligament then early diagnosis is a key factor in recovery. I would be wanting to pin point the problem before you start discussing Tildren etc.
My boy did his hind suspensory 5yrs ago. He never went lame, simply became shuffly behind and had a wierd action as well as behavioural issues. We turned him away for three months, he had shockwave and he was fine. We made the decision to stop jumping. I think before you start contemplating treatment and prognosis you need a firm diagnosis.

 

[Skhosu]

yes...but as we can't nerve block it is going to prove difficult and this is all what has been mentioned as possiblities depending on what is eventually diagnosed..I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to know what;s ahead..

 

[Lottiedude]

Could you clarify as to why you can't nerve block?

Suspensory desmitis needs a different treatment than spavin.

My youngster was diagnosed with bilateral PSD late last year, and we've gone through 8 months of nightmare. It turns out that he had damaged his pelvis, NOT his suspensories. His prolonged box rest has resulted in weakness behind and locking stifles, and now he's having to go through lots of physio treatments. A poor diagnosis from the vets who attended to him in the beginning have left me with a mess. Considering he was sent to a large, specialist, equine orthopaedic unit, I am understandably very angry! I ended up with a seventh veterinary opinion, before we got to the core of his problem.

My retired horse had Tildren treatment, when he twisted a hock badly in the field (which resulted in spavin symptoms). It's very expensive and was not a listed drug for equine use at the time (though I was lucky my insurance were happy to pay for treatment). Have to say, I don't think it made a blind bit of difference.

There is a forum user here who has recently had bilateral neurectomy done on her mare, for PSD, with good success. I shall try to make her aware of your post so she can tell you her experience.

It does help to be aware of treatments your horse may face, but I think an accurate diagnosis is the best way to go. Treating something that isn't there, in the hope of it being a solution, will be financially draining and could cost your horse dear in the long term...Please keep us updated, I wish you all the best.
Char.x

 

[Emma24]

I have just retired my horse due to his suspensory's never healing. I gave him two yrs off, had shock wave treatment, didn't seem to make huge difference.
But really you need to find out what he's really done?
Has he had his leg scanned?
Because if suspensory's is the problem you need to no how badly damaged it is? When my horse had his leg scanned the other week you could see how badly damaged it was still! My horse did suspensory's in both front legs and one beind. Two healed with in a couple of months, the other one never seemed to really heal well enough for him to compete again.
I was offered the op but the vet said there hasn't been very good results from it. Though is meant to work better in hinds. If he has done a suspensory I think it would be better to turn him out for a couple of months. Goodluck