DSLD "diagnosis" in young, lame horse -- UPDATE post 130, he's gone

[Libby2563]

@beowulf

After seeing that video, I’d be pushing for neck rads. I know you mentioned them in the other thread. The amount of stumbling and slipping he is doing on the hard ground, which is then non-existent on the soft ground, makes me jump immediately to something in the neck. One of the first symptoms of CA in my gelding was that he was funny about footing changes and got very tight and tense on the harder ground, which was slicker. The neck injections fixed that behavior, btw.

Huh, that’s really interesting. I asked the vet about the soft vs. hard ground thing (which was also evident at the last re-check, before the joint injection) because I’ve always thought that worse on hard ground = bone and worse on soft ground = soft tissue, but this horse’s problems are all thought to be soft tissue. He just said it doesn’t always work out like that.

I have to figure out where to take him for neck rads…

@ElementFarm

And we need a pony update!

Hee hee! Pony is awesome! Just came second in her first horse trial. Update on page 3 of her thread: https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/eventing/10162655-please-tell-me-i-do-not-need-a-pony-video-page-3/page3

[IPEsq]

The LH lameness is still there to me on both types of footing. But based also on how he moves up front, I would also still go ahead with neck rads at this point.

[Libby2563]

@IPEsq

The LH lameness is still there to me on both types of footing. But based also on how he moves up front, I would also still go ahead with neck rads at this point.

Oh yes, definitely, he is still lame. The LF does look somewhat improved, that’s it. Updated question on the neck rad thread–hoping you can contribute!

[Gabesmom]

@Libby2563

I’m sorry to hear about your horse. My understanding is that therapy places want sound horses. Most get a lot more offers than they can accept and can only take the horses that are the best prospects, mentally and physically. Can you find somewhere that offers inexpensive retirement pasture boarding?

Thanks. We still have him and I’m secretly hoping my husband just lets us keep him. He is just the best horse and as of this weekend has been sound again! I know the break is always going to be there but the tendon swelling is gone and he’s moving so much better. How is your horse?

[J-Lu]

Wow! He looks a lot better than I thought! One can see short steps and irregular steps, but he does look better than I thought. Five months of stall rest, he’s bound to be stiff.

Thanks for the standing picture. I can now see the softness of fetlock/pastern. I can also easily see it in your video, especially on the hard ground, when I maximize the video and frequently pause it when he’s close to the camera. The fetlock gets quite low to the ground in his weight-bearing phase. He looks so much looser in the arena footing, and I wonder if that’s the footing or is he more warmed up (were they two different days in your video?). Does he look the same if you start him in the arena and then move to the hard footing (shorter, stiffer steps on the hard footing)? He looks much less comfortable going to the right, but I wonder how much of that is inherent “sidedness” because he’s had so much time off. Does he respond if you slightly sponge the longe to say “look at me, not everything else on the outside” in that direction (respond by using his back more and lowering his head like he can do going to the left)? I don’t know, but I really wonder how much of the lack of bend is his sidedness that he hasn’t had enough time under saddle to balance that musculature in addition to soreness. Well, he doesn’t take lame steps after his bucks, and he looks pretty elastic when he’s bucking! He does trip, but he isn’t paying attention to where he’s going all of the time, either.

You likely already mentioned this, but have you had a good equine massage therapist work on him? A good one can identify which muscles are tight, which processes are being pulled, how his current movement is affected by it, etc. If anything, it’s extra information for you and a relaxing time for him (if he likes being rubbed on).

I have everything crossed for you two, please keep updating. What is the general plan regarding stall rest, etc. right now?

[Lord_Helpus]

Yea for good news! Cf to Goober, who looks good throughout his body, your guy looks very body sore and stiff through his topline. I agree that there is more than 1 thing going on.

I will get lunging and trotting under saddle work video’d so we can keep track of the comparison.

[Libby2563]

@J-Lu

Wow! He looks a lot better than I thought! One can see short steps and irregular steps, but he does look better than I thought. Five months of stall rest, he’s bound to be stiff.

Thanks for the standing picture. I can now see the softness of fetlock/pastern. I can also easily see it in your video, especially on the hard ground, when I maximize the video and frequently pause it when he’s close to the camera. The fetlock gets quite low to the ground in his weight-bearing phase. He looks so much looser in the arena footing, and I wonder if that’s the footing or is he more warmed up (were they two different days in your video?). Does he look the same if you start him in the arena and then move to the hard footing (shorter, stiffer steps on the hard footing)? He looks much less comfortable going to the right, but I wonder how much of that is inherent “sidedness” because he’s had so much time off. Does he respond if you slightly sponge the longe to say “look at me, not everything else on the outside” in that direction (respond by using his back more and lowering his head like he can do going to the left)? I don’t know, but I really wonder how much of the lack of bend is his sidedness that he hasn’t had enough time under saddle to balance that musculature in addition to soreness. Well, he doesn’t take lame steps after his bucks, and he looks pretty elastic when he’s bucking! He does trip, but he isn’t paying attention to where he’s going all of the time, either.

You likely already mentioned this, but have you had a good equine massage therapist work on him? A good one can identify which muscles are tight, which processes are being pulled, how his current movement is affected by it, etc. If anything, it’s extra information for you and a relaxing time for him (if he likes being rubbed on).

I have everything crossed for you two, please keep updating. What is the general plan regarding stall rest, etc. right now?

Thanks for looking, J-Lu!

I filmed both arena and hard footing on the same day. Arena footing was actually first, so the warming up theory is out. At his last re-check 2 months ago we longed him on soft footing as well as hard and the vet agreed he looks significantly better on soft footing. I think I mentioned upthread that I asked him if that suggested something other than soft tissue but he didn’t think so, although we did end up injecting the coffin joint after that visit (he has some arthritis in it).

He does look much worse to the right and I don’t think it’s general sidedness. He was never like that even when I first started him on the longe/under saddle as a 3-year-old. Since the LF collateral ligament injury is lateral, I would think he would be worse turning to the left if that were the cause? I wonder if the significant discomfort to the right is due to the LH rather than the LF?

He’s had myofascial work, cold laser therapy, and acupuncture though not for a while. He looked really terrible through the back after his suspensory surgery/full stall rest and I think the acupuncture helped with that.

As far as a plan, it seems to be indefinite stall rest (with access to a small run-out, so he doesn’t lose his mind). The vets have told me there’s nothing I can really do but keep waiting this out (well, I’m sure I could try “regenerative” therapies but no one has recommended it in his case). From what I’ve read, collateral ligaments can take a long, long time (like 9-12 months of stall rest) and we are “only” at 5 months, ugh. We’re fast approaching our one-year “lame-iversary” though, which is really depressing. The hind end hasn’t improved at all in a year and I’m not hopeful that it ever will, so I could stall rest him for a year for the collateral and still have a lame horse. Ugh.

[vxf111]

If it makes you feel even a little better, I think you 100% did the right thing at every step of the way.

Sorry for your loss.

[Against_All_Odds1]

So sorry for your loss.

[IPEsq]

So sorry to hear this news. Hopefully, his case will be able to help others by contributing to the studies.

[Kyrabee]

{{{{{Libby}}}}}

Hopefully, his case will further the understanding of this horrible disease.

Susan

[Fillabeana]

Sorry for your loss.

I am sorry that you are feeling guilty about putting your horse down at a young age, but I don’t doubt for a minute that you have done right by him. I had a pregnant mare lose integrity of both hind suspensories 20 some years back. DSLD? Estrogen related injury from the pregnancy? I don’t know, but her rear pasterns were suddenly horizontal. She raised her foal but I think it’s a painful road for the horse.

Your pony is awesome. Yes you are a bit large on her if you are only looking at the visual picture. Riding and jumping, you are not too big or too heavy or interfering with her. Please go enjoy her!

[fargaloo]

I teared up reading your post. You must know you did EVERYTHING for Remy – down to the final gift of taking away his pain when it was so very painful for you. And out of your grief you have given a gift that will help other owners and horses facing this same diagnosis. I’ve never met you but I know you are one heck of a horsewoman, and any equine in your care is lucky indeed. Godspeed, Remy. (((hugs)))

[x-halt-salute]

I’m so sorry things turned out the way they did, but thank you for sharing your story and the lovely photos of him.

I hope you can take some comfort in the memories you have from before the lameness started, and in knowing that what you’ve shared here and with the research community might help others to do right by other horses diagnosed with this condition.

Hugs.

[AKB]

I am sorry you lost Remy but glad you did not let him suffer. I know how hard it is to decide when it is time. When I had to make the decision for my 12 year old, I alternated between guilt that I put him down to soon and guilt that I waited too long, and let him suffer too much. You did so much for Remy, and did good for other horses with this.

[bingbingbing]

I am so very sorry. You did everything you could for Remy.
He enjoyed the grass, sun and buddies his last days.

[somanyhorses]

I am so sorry to read this update about your beautiful Remy. Whilst I have not posted on this thread previously, I have followed it with interest and have learned a lot. Thanks for sharing, it must have been very hard to come in and type that final update, I hope that this does benefit other horses and owners in the future who are also cursed with the dreaded disease. As others have written, you did 100% the right thing by him and you couldn’t be a kinder owner, who gave it your all. Big hugs to you, be kind to yourself. xx

[2tempe]

So sad for you. Such a hard decision to make, especially with such a young horse. I understand the guilt feelings, I think its natural when we love our animals and have to make that tough decision particularly before they are old.

I have a 16 yr old mare diagnosed a year ago with bilateral suspensory branch desmitis (sp??) that “might” be degenerative. I retired her after diagnosis and though she is pasture sound, and quite happy, I 'm watching for signs of decline. Hugs to you.

[Peggy]

I am sorry to hear this, but rest assured that you made the right choice. I euthanized my horse Skipper shortly after he turned seven and it is very hard with such a young horse. Not that it’s ever easy.

[Where_sMyWhite]

{{OP}} So sorry to hear of your loss. No need to feel guilty, you’ve taken his pain away and made it yours. You’ve also helped others to learn more about the disease which is never a wrong thing.