DSLD - Typical Progression?

[FatCatFarm]

My now coming 12 year old draft cross gelding sustained a big ugly suspensory branches strain to his right hind in August of 2018 (his 10 year old year). Healed but his pasterns have dropped and his hind leg angulation has straightened out. In the past 18 mos. I’ve only gotten on and tooled around at the walk. The last trail ride/stroll we took, he stumbled so bad at one one point, I was afraid he would fall down and have not ridden him since.

Despite MSM and vitamin E supplementation, he seems to be demonstrating some increased soreness lately. When the farrier was out two weeks ago, we had to give him breaks while doing his hind feet. All of which has had me wondering about how fast or slow does this disease progress? I’ve read some of the older threads and it seems like a lot of these horses muddle along into old age, but I am under the impression, quite a few do not.

He’s a big 16.3hd somewhat drafty guy. Not obese but in good flesh. Stays turned out 24/7 and rips around the pasture occasionally and really looks pretty good for the most part. Overall is happy enough, but I think I’m seeing small changes. Would like to hear about your experience with the disease process- from beginning to end. I am certain this is going to shorten his lifespan. Thanks.

[beowulf]

So you are thinking it is DSLD/ESPA over PSD? PSD will cause pasterns to drop…Is it something you and vet think is a definite possibility?

12 is about the time the disease can come up suddenly. It seems to depend; sometimes it shows up very early and those cases seem to be more drastic (ie very young- 3-4-5 y/os) and advance faster … but not always the case. My experience is it’s more common to show up in their teens.

So sorry to hear. :no: Is this the gelding with the stifle issues?

I think him being out 24/7 is best. With DSLD/ESPA there really is no way to say how fast or slow the disease progresses - it really seems to depend on the horse and their internal health… I can say I have seen it get worse drastically, if they come about with a sudden illness. Keeping their feet as correct as possible, keeping them in light work, keeping them out 24/7, managing their pain with whatever is appropriate, all seems to help keep their condition going as best as able.

For the most part, nothing you can do except manage their comfort to your best ability… So sorry, lots of hugs.

[Libby2563]

I’m sorry to hear about your guy. You probably found my thread, but I had to euth mine at only 5 years old. His progression was within a year. As a 4-year-old he was sound and happy in light work, until he went lame on his LF (later diagnosed as a collateral ligament tear by MRI). Within a week or two he was also lame to a lesser degree on both hind legs (later diagnosed as suspensory branch desmitis by ultrasound). Despite all my efforts and various treatments over a year (suspensory surgery, stall rest and extensive handwalking, Dr. Green, shockwave) he really never improved and was 2-3/5 lame. The LF always stayed about the same but the hind, especially LH, really deteriorated. Near the end he was on stall rest and so excited to be out trotting on the longe that he masked the lameness really well and I thought he was improving. I had my vet come out to sedate him so we could get a better look, and with the edge taken off he was very, very painfully lame on the LH.

The last one or two shoeings before I decided to euth, he was very uncomfortable. He had always been a bit annoying for the farrier due to horsey ADHD (my amateur diagnosis lol), but the new thing was that when the farrier tried to work on the hind legs he was tensing his whole body (you could see ridges in his abdomen and haunches) and tucking his tail as though being sprayed with cold water between his hind legs. It was very hard to watch and hard on the farrier too.

Have you seen your guy stand up from rolling or a nap lately? The final straw for me was seeing my boy stand up and be completely non-weightbearing on the LH for several minutes. I hadn’t seen him lie down in a while and just happened to catch him one night when I went into the barn later than usual for some reason. I was afraid that one day he wouldn’t be able to get up at all, so I made the decision. It was about 13 months from when he first went lame.

I donated him to NC State, where they are doing a study on DSLD in warmbloods. They euthed the next day and confirmed DSLD by tissue necropsy.

[FatCatFarm]

No, the guy with the stifle issue is a younger half brother who is 11 this year and is fine otherwise.

When I had this gelding (DSLD) ultrasounded the 2nd time after his suspensory injury, the vet asked if I had considered DSLD or had his pasterns always been that low. And while yes, he had been a titch coon footed behind, not like he was was post suspensory injury. And at first, it was unilateral, just on the injured side, but is now definitely bilateral. Started as a 10 year old which reading up on it, is the most common age of onset. In retrospect, the coon-footedness was probably a foreshadow of things to come unfortunately.

Thank you for the empathy, sympathy and hugs. He is of course, my favorite. Wouldn’t you know it.

[FatCatFarm]

@Libby2563

Have you seen your guy stand up from rolling or a nap lately? The final straw for me was seeing my boy stand up and be completely non-weightbearing on the LH for several minutes. I hadn’t seen him lie down in a while and just happened to catch him one night when I went into the barn later than usual for some reason. I was afraid that one day he wouldn’t be able to get up at all, so I made the decision. It was about 13 months from when he first went lame.

I donated him to NC State, where they are doing a study on DSLD in warmbloods. They euthed the next day and confirmed DSLD by tissue necropsy.

Thanks Libby, and yes, so sorry about your experience. I did see your post which is what got me thinking, among others, and wanting to ask about different experiences.

In answer to your question, yes, he still seems to get down and then back up okay, but the big stumble, then the farrier issue and then yesterday, he took a really odd step at feeding time, then was standing funny this morning, with his hindlegs sort of tucked underneath him, all adding up to make me think that the disease is definitely progressing and being less silent.

[Angela_Freda]

Im sorry.

In my horses case, he went from his normal hind leg conformation to dropped in both hinds fairly quickly. His seems to have been initiated by a stressful period and onset of ulcers.

I kept him comfortable with nsaids, ir diet, lots of turnout, and shoeing behind for a lifted heel with good breakover, for 6 years.

Have you done a DSLD/ESPA trim on his affected feet?

[FatCatFarm]

@Angela Freda

Have you done a DSLD/ESPA trim on his affected feet?

Yes, and he has good heels and angles. My farrier is excellent. Thanks for the reply.

[4horses]

My 26 year old mare has the disease. It is pretty advanced, but she is the happiest old pasture pet, you have seen. I thought for sure i would be putting her down before last summer. We switched pain meds, and she seemed more comfortable. She has been running around quite a bit this winter.

Farrier work is difficult. Do one foot, take a break, walk her around, repeat. It’s easier to trim her hooves with her laying down- she will lay flat if you push on her neck.

Every horse is different. She has always been a lighter horse, finely built. If she was heavier, like a draft, i think she would definitely be struggling more. I think I might put her down this summer, but that depends on her. She could make it another year. She tells me she is happy to see me every morning, demands her food, demands to be the first to get hosed off, argues with the gelding over the fence, and tries to sneak through the gate anytime you leave it open… Still full of life. I think that is the most difficult part. Her body is declining but her mind is as sharp as ever.

I do believe they will tell you when they are ready to leave. She is managing with the condition, for now. That could change at anytime.

With your horse being so young at onset and being such a big horse,i would be concerned about a quicker deterioration, but every horse is different. Progression can be very slow, or more rapid. A slow deterioration over the years is more common with older horses. I have no experience with the younger onset disease.

Honestly I worry more about the effects of the extreme summer heat on my old horse, then the dsld. She often gets flared nostrils, over heating in the shade… Summer is tough. Good thing she loves water as much as a hippo. I plan on putting up sprinklers on a timer for her this year, assuming she is still doing okay. My other horses don’t love water like she does.

Drawing a line is very difficult because it is so slowly progressive. I’ve seen horses at shows with the condition, on trail rides. They may not be lame yet, but eventually they will be. And then what? Some will euthanize at any sign of lameness, others retire the horse.

My old mare does best with turnout - stalling would be terrible for her.