I don't know what to think

[islandminis]

So what would you think... I have been finding out a couple of things lately - Let me start at the beginning. Bo has not been recovering very well and I have become sure that there is something more going on. So I talk to the vet again. He says I better take him to an equine specialist since he is basically a GP in the horse doctor area. (makes me wonder why I wasted my time with him) Anyway, I arrange to take Bo into an equine specialist vet. In researching him I realised this was the vet that Bo's previous owner had used, so when I phoned him I mentioned that he had seen Bo previously. "not for a long time" he says. Now according to my information the vet had been to check both boys teeth and give them thier shots before they came over here. (October 2011) I feel a bit mystified by this. OK , so about 2 weeks ago I had e-mailed the previous owner to check what she had wormed them with before they came. She says she used QUEST! Now I am thinking - is she serious (and if so I am so glad I found out not to use it) or did she not really worm them and is telling me what she uses on her big horse, not knowing any better - OR what?? If she did use quest -- is it possible that it could have dammaged him in some neurological way that showed up later. Going to run that by the vet. Taking Bo in a few days, that's the earliest he can see him. Talk about frustrating.

 

[Eagle]

Oh Gosh, I am so sorry that poor Bo is still having problems. I am not sure about the bad side effects of Quest so I will leave that to someone poor experienced. What is wrong with him that you can see?

 

[Riverrose28]

Sorry, but my memory is about an inch long and I don't remember the other thread. Could you fill us in on his signs and symptoms. Hope he feels better soon.

 

[islandminis]

I'll try to be brief

He had an incident where he collapsed, his stifle in his right leg was locked in the aftermath - vet decided that was the problem plus bruising and pain causing him to not use the right leg. Two months down the road and two courses of anti inflamitory treatments he is still not able to use the right leg other than to put it down briefly when walking. Running he just hops on the other leg. I have done a lot of observing while walking him to try to strengthen his hind end. I noticed that the left leg (actually I noticed this right away and told the vet - he did not seem to think it was serious) as he walks the hoof turns under towards the outside. It's hard to describe in words. That leg also has something going on with the stifle - it clicks visibly as he walks. Thats why I am getting him to a vet with more knowledge, it is time to get this figured out. He is such a trooper and other than the hind end he is a normal horse. good apetite, everything else functioning and seems content.

 

[ruffian]

this doesn't sound like anything Quest would cause. Have you done xrays?

 

[Mona]

I still think the issue is with his stifles, and was likely there before you bought him.

 

[Marty]

This is so unfair to you and Bo that you have had nothing but problems with him since you got him. In my previous response to your other thread I indicated if Bo were my horse I would have X rays done. I'm very happy you are listening to your gut and are going to see the equine vet and get things done right by someone who can get the job done and will have answers to your questions. No sense of throwing anymore good money after bad with the vet that was inadequate. Chances that Bo can be helped seem to be on the horizen now. Wishing you both the best.

 

[Genie]

Reble on the forum has had experience with Quest. She would be a good one to contact in that regard.

 

[Riverrose28]

Thanks for the info, sounds like more then one problem here, and it's a good thing you are taking him in. Horses don't just collapse, so that is problem number one, although going down may have cause him to injure his leg, it sounds like there is a problem as well with the other hind leg. Was he this way when you got him or was he normal then limping after his collapse pertaining to both hind legs? Seems to me your vet is the best person to diagnose what is going on here, and I also think x-rays are in order. You say he is eating normally and otherwise OK, so I feel he has acclimated himself to this situation, as it may be long going even before you got him. Pleas keep us updated after he sees the vet and post pictures if possable of before and after for our education. Thank you

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Do you recall if he had any vaccination before the collapse?

It doesn't seem unreasonable that a collapse could cause stifle injury.

Do you have access to a chiropractor? I got a hrose that had a back hoof that turned in. He had a dislocated shoulder. Perhaps when Bo fell he did something of that sort. The vet did not find it; the chiropractor did.

I posted the stifle xray of my horse on the driving forum. His looks very good. Maybe it will help you to do some comparisons when you get Bo's back. Take a flash drive with you and ask the vet to download the xrays so you can share them.

I'm so sorry you are going through this.

 

[Minimor]

I am quite certain that Quest would not cause the symptoms you are seeing (or that you have seen up until now).



I said from the start that the symptoms you were describing were not at all typical of simple locked stifle. My guess at the time was a fractured pelvis—your post now makes me even more convinced that a fractured pelvis is the issue. Could be hip, not pelvis, but a hip injury usually presents differently—a severe hip injury will usually cause some deformity when the horse is viewed straight from the rear. I have seen two pelvic fractures in mature horses (Morgans), and their symptoms were very similar to what you have described. Mine did not go 3 legged lame, they simply couldn’t move at all—but a mature Morgan has much more difficulty in going on 3 legs than does a mini or a young full size horse.



I did once know someone who had a young horse (full size) that got very sore on the hindquarters—much like what you described in your guy—after a time the colt did become mobile, and would go on 3 legs when he galloped. It was quite some time after that when her vet finally told her that he had come to believe that her horse had actually had a broken pelvis. Her horse did “heal” but was never completely sound and had arthritis issues afterward. He had spells where he was very stiff, and when he laid down if he laid down in the wrong spot (sloping ground) or if it was in cold weather so he got chilled while lying down, he would have great difficulty in getting to his feet again.



Broken pelvis (or even simply a cracked pelvis for that matter) requires that the horse be on complete stall rest for 6 weeks (or more). A horse can crack his pelvis & can appear to be only mildly lame on a hind leg—but continued exercise/movement or a simply wrong movement can cause the crack to become a serious fracture, making the horse terribly sore. In a full size horse a pelvic fracture can be felt by rectal palpation—in a Mini I am not sure how they diagnose it. X-rays may or may not show anything—the heavy muscling in the hindquarters can make a pelvic x-ray very unclear. Again—x-ray may be more effective on a Mini than it is on a big horse, just because a big horse has so much more muscle over the bone.

 

[JAX]

Have you considered having him seen by a chiropractor? I have used once twice now. The cost was $80 and it made a HUGE difference in my two mares. One was a pinched nerve from giving birth, the other was a mare who was nine years old and all of the sudden started locking a stifle. Come to find out she was locking the stifle because her back was out of allignment and was walking differently. One mare took 3 days after adjustment to really show a difference, the other was an immediate difference. I just figured I'd toss this out there in case it could help your guy. Good Luck!

 

[islandminis]

I have had some kind of fracture at the back of my mind -- so glad I am taking him in. I was worried about him loading into my van - shouldn't have been - walked up the ramp and into the van like he'd been doing it all his life. munched hay calm as could be while I test drove, turned around in a tight space and walked right out. Boy do I love these horses!

 

[JAX]

Marsha I am so sorry I did not read all the replys before I sent mine earlier, was in a rush and just read and then posted. Sorry once again.