No they are not the same condition. DLSD affects all connective tissue in the horse’s body. The falling fetlocks are the visible part of the disease. There is no treatment and the disease is progressive. Proximal suspensory desmitis is an injury to the suspensory ligament and not a disease. It can be treated and the horse rehabbed back to normal activity. Hope this answers your question.
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that’s what i thought thank you!
My coming 15 yr old draft cross (Saddlebred x Percheron) is looking more like your guy now. 
I think I need to make a decision sooner rather than later. Better too soon than too late, right? I’ve never had to euthanize a horse that wasn’t in a health crisis, but I really don’t want to wait and put him through that - waiting until there is a painful problem. My guy looks good; is in great weight; still bosses his two brothers around, but he is so creaky on those back ankles which have worsened over winter. Hard AF decision for sure.
I’m so sorry to hear that. Our guy is also sassy AF, fat and spoiled, his usual self…but he lays down a lot and some days, both fetlocks are really swollen. It’s difficult to release them when they aren’t in a crisis, as you say, but I imagine that he’s in a lot of discomfort despite the meds and in my personal experience, that’s a sucky way to live your day to day life.
We also recently had to PTS an older gelding who, while physically healthy, was degenerating mentally for some unknown reason and becoming a true danger to himself and to us. (This was a planned euthanasia but especially sucky since it came only days after needing to PTS a mare with a twisted colon who was actively dying in the pasture and in extreme distress. Ugh…). I’m more than happy to talk here or on DM if you need to. 
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That’s article just came across my Facebook
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Interesting that he says the nuchal ligament biopsy is no longer available. Can anyone confirm or corroborate?
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In 2021 the vet that did the necropsy on my DSLD horse (pathology by Dr Halper at UGA) told me: “ Our DSLD work with Georgia actually led to finding that nuchal ligament biopsy alone is NOT reliable predictor for DSLD in young horses so that is critical information albeit frustrating for obvious reasons.” They have shifted their focus to genetic testing.
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BUMPING this up because my TWH was just diagnosed. She’s 14 or 15, 14.1H, does not have Cushing’s or IR, though my vet would like me to get her weight down about 50 pounds. I was trail riding her through last summer, but she has been NQR this year which led to the vet visit to confirm my suspicions. Plan is to keep her comfortable as long as possible, I have my own place so she can keep hanging out and bossing everybody around.
I will order Jiaogulan, but I am wondering about dosage and best place to order from. Any other supplements I should be looking for?
I’m sorry you and your mare are having to deal with this horrible disease. Jiaogulan can be ordered from Mad Barn. You can talk to Mad Barn to see what they would recommend dosage wise.
Thank you. I looked at Mad Barn and found the dosage. I will probably order it tomorrow
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