Hi there,
Forgive me if you have tested I have read this whole post but don’t have time to reread
PSSM 1
For some, new diet, and on they go
For others, new diet is just the beginning of figuring your horse out
For ours, diagnosed 11 months ago, new diet helped, and now we can focus on the rest of what is going on with our gelding.
Only rule this out with$40 test.
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Take the xrays, and be prepared to inject his hocks.
It’s really a NBD procedure nowadays, and can so easily make such a big difference to the horse’s comfort level.
Adequan is great for maintenance, but isn’t going to cut it for acute pain.
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Okay, this is over the top. This horse is like my child. I love him to pieces. I’ve raised him from a baby and if he can never be ridden again he will continue to live at his lovely boarding barn getting whatever he needs to remain comfortable and happy for the rest of his days.
I really resent someone who doesn’t know me or my horse at all coming into a thread that spans a month of trying to help my beloved boy to shame me as some kind of selfish monster who only wants the horse to be sound for riding. NOTHING could be more untrue.
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I’ve had so many positives for EPM that I test regularly now. None of my positives have had neurological symptoms. The signs are all over the map - my positives have included particularly spooky and uncoordinated flying changes.
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Yep, I think you’re exactly right. I’m kicking myself now that I didn’t insist on x-rays when the vet came originally, but at the time I was fixated on his front feet…which turn out to be absolutely fine.
Anyway, live and learn.
He got his seventh shot of Adequan today and we went for a long hand walk (and graze) around the property. I even jogged him in hand a little and he was comfortable (I, on the other hand, could stand to do a lot more of that…whew…LOL.)
Tomorrow I’m not sure if I’ll get on bareback or just hand walk again. I had an idea about taking him into the covered arena where the footing is pretty soft and sandy and seeing if he’d feel comfortable lying down in there for a little roll. He might not, but I just thought I’d take him in there to see. He’s an itchy horse by nature and today he was going to town scratching his shoulder on the big gate post in his pasture. I know he’d like to get a good roll in. Heck, if he wants to, he can take a nap in the covered. I’ll wait. 
Hmm…we shall see.
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Yeah, I hear you. I’ll mention it to the vet when I get in touch with her again. As you say, it won’t hurt to test.
Quite often, sore hocks show up as front foot lameness-- and you end up chasing that because it must be something up front, right!? Don’t kick yourself, you are on the way to solving this issue. I admire your tenacity and care for you boy. They cannot speak to us, so we have to pay attention and seek solutions, some of which might not be the correct one at the time. Get those hock xrays-though a good flexion by the vet will tell her enough I’m guessing. Hock injections really are fairly routine at this point (though not without risks) and my gosh, they can make such a difference in a horse’s well being!
As a human, I’ve received joint injections that have absolutely made my pain go away and my range of motion and effectiveness come back nearly 100%. It’s no different in horses. Good luck, and yes, movement is good for arthritis in horses and humans-gentle, no stress movement-- so keep walking your boy.
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We walked alllll the way around the property today. I was sweating by the time we finished, Milton was fine. Maybe he’s actually the one walking me to get me fit, lol.
We went up and down small steep slopes with no problem (trotted up one). We walked on the side of a semi-gradual slope for a little while. No problem. He backed up a steep little hill while grazing (had to get that one clump of good grass), no problem. Walked over down branches. No problem.
I did a very little bit of lunging out in the big field, moving with him so he wasn’t in a small circle. He honestly looked great at the trot. Before, he’d look okay and then look off and then look okay, and seemed to kind of work out of it. Today he was good and loosened up thanks to our long stroll, and he got to his “nice trot” very easily. He trots with his nose literally dragging on the ground. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad. For him it’s more to do with needing to clear his airway, which he finally did repeatedly. When riding him, he tries to do it too. That’s another issue for another time. But he looks perfectly balanced and sound while trotting around with his nose dragging the ground, so that’s good I guess.
I did ask for canter. He pinned his ears and gave me the ugly face, which has honestly been normal for him for years when lunging. He usually gets over it as I work him back and forth in trot/canter/trot/canter transitions…eventually he stops ear-pinning and just rolls off into the canter happily. Today I wasn’t going to do that much with him, so I just made him canter one time around, brought him back to trot (even prettier after cantering), asked him once again (slightly less grumpy about it and more willing), then let him trot again and then whoa, turned around and repeated on the other side. We did change directions a few times during the session so I could look for any major differences depending on direction, but he seemed pretty equal both ways.
Stopped, gave pats and a treat, and back to the barn we went for a good grooming, more treats, and turned him back out with his buddy. He stayed at the gate a long time watching me in the barn, wondering if more treats might be forthcoming, finally gave up and sauntered away.
Oh, and I did take him in the covered to see if he’d have a roll. Nope. Not interested. Oh well, I tried.
I’m calling the vet tomorrow to set up an appointment for her return for x-rays and whatever else “Himself” requires.
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I’ll go ahead and pile on because this topic is a really frustrating one for me. Our horses give us everything and they literally evolved to hide pain and to run from threats. Arthritis is very common and very treatable. Once a horse can’t canter or lay down these are signs of MAJOR pain and you need to hit them with the big guns and get rid of the pain as soon as possible. Adequan won’t cut it and a lot of people told you that the past few weeks while you’ve been trying it. You need xrays and you need injections if it’s not too late. Injections can potentially take away all or most of your horse’s pain which is the best gift you can give him. If you love him treat his pain. I know it’s expensive and a pain in the butt, and some people say it’s too invasive but it’s worth it.
It’s not ok to just say oh it’s ok they can be a pasture pet I still love them. I have a retired 5 year old with hock arthritis. As soon as he can’t comfortably get up and down to sleep and roll on a daily basis or canter he’s going to be euthanized. I’ve poured $$$$ and he’s been to the best clinics on the east coast and he can’t be fully fixed but he’s had all of the treatments possible to be as comfortable as possible. You don’t seem like you’re really grasping the true seriousness of this situation. Your horse has shown the signs where I would say enough and wouldn’t make him live with that pain. He can’t canter and won’t lay down. You are not at this point yet because you have options but please start using those options. Injections, fusion, equioxx etc etc etc. Use your options because you’re lucky enough to still have them and your horse deserves it.
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To add on to this: horses NEED to lie down to achieve REM sleep. If your horse can’t lie down, they are becoming sleep deprived. It is a serious welfare concern.
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I really would stop asking for canter and don’t longe him. Just walk for now until you see your vet again. Walking is good for them as well as you if you choose to hand walk.
There’s a time to keep testing how he’s moving or asking for more. An example was when I had a horse who was very back sore. I stopped riding him for a good while except for some at the walk. But the vets actually wanted him to canter because they felt canter was good for his back. So I did work on that in hand including working through some sticky behavior. But if I just thought, what if I try it, it’s been going so well, from his back…he’d tell me where I could stick it, and I’d be starting all over with the behavior. You really have to commit to a plan. Not say, I’ll do whatever is best for him and then when it goes well with the achievable plan for a couple of days then decide it’s been going so well, I’ll just ask for more now. No.
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I appreciate everyone’s concern, and I’d like to point out that I have acted immediately with my farrier and vet as soon as this started. The veterinarian who saw him suggested to try Adequan first. Also, by the time people here gave up insisting that he was dealing with laminitis, the Adequan had already been started, as suggested by the vet who saw him.
I don’t know where people are getting the idea that I’m not going to treat this horse and give him what he needs? Adequan takes 28 days. The horse started showing improvements after injection #4, which is exactly what I read would happen if the Adequan would make a difference. By the time the farrier saw him for new/different shoes (the same day he got shot #5), he was already quite improved. The next two shots saw even more improvement, but I was already planning to have the vet back out because I was still worried that it wasn’t going to be enough. My BO offered me her leftover Equioxx and I accepted. I think today was his fourth pill. We didn’t do any sort of loading dose, so I’m not sure if it’s helping him or not, but I will tell you this…
HE LAID DOWN sometime between when I saw him yesterday and today. He’s happy, enjoyed our little walk/trot bareback ride today, and was no worse for wear after his brief lunging and cantering yesterday.
And one other thing…
THE VET IS COMING FRIDAY. Regardless of the fact that he’s improving by leaps and bounds thanks to the Adequan loading dose and possibly the Equioxx (I’ve never used it before now, so I’m not sure if four days of one pill a day would have an effect?). Regardless of all of this, I’m having the xrays done and will take the vet’s advice on whether or not hocks and/or stifles need to be injected directly.
So, thanks for everyone’s outrage and concern, but I’m doing everything I can. I’m listening to the professionals (vet and farrier) and taking their advice. Isn’t that what’s constantly preached on COTH to those who come here seeking advice? I did exactly that and still get berated.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. But luckily, I don’t care what strangers on the internet think of me. And I’m so glad that my horse is feeling better!
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You are a good horse owner. Your horse is very lucky to have you on his side.
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Thank you. I’m lucky to have him too.
It’s funny to think that the unwanted $500 malnourished yearling colt I literally had to drag out of his breeder’s back field and onto my horse trailer is now getting $235 fancy shoes every 5 weeks, bi-annual Adequan shots, and occasional chiropractic adjustments.
He deserves it. He’s such a good soul.
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I have my horses at home and lots of days I wish they would STOP communicating with me! They are very bossy and constantly are telling me what they want to do and what they want ME to do. My dogs and my cat are just as bad and I swear my pesty dog tells my well behaved dog to do bad things. My parakeets yell at me sometimes, but I can’t figure out what they want 
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Perhaps because people are confused. You keep saying that you’re going to do whatever he needs riding-wise, like sticking to walk or going easy with work under saddle, but then you post again describing how you’ve been asking for trot work and canter work.
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Yes, you are. How anyone reading your posts could have missed that…
You are working one thing at a time, seeing it through, and assessing the results. Many treatments just take time to work, and while we want to throw everything at the problem at once it can be counter productive. Patience is hard to practice when it’s our horse in pain.
You are doing what you need to do, and looking for ideas of what to look at next in the event you need to do more. Cheers from here!
The only thing I’ll add is that PSSM did leap to mind as I read your posts. But I own one. 
On those sticky, NQR days I must steel myself to be mean and get my horse moving to burn off that excess glycogen. Sometimes it’s hard to tell lame vs PSSM - I prefer to err on the side of PSSM and figure that lameness is likely to become more distinct with work.
Best of luck to you and your handsome horse!
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I ask to see what I get. If Milton says “no” I don’t ask again during that ride. Even if he says “yes” I’m very, very conservative. He has probably trotted a total of 10-15 minutes over the past month and cantered about 2-3 minutes total (if that). We’ve done lots and lots and lots of walking though.
PSSM has definitely been on my radar with this horse even before this trouble started. He has always been very “sucked back” and reluctant to go forward. He gets stiff over his back easily.
I might mention it to the vet and see what she says. She’s a chiro as well, so I might talk to her about that as well.
Thanks so much for your kind words.
The descriptions in some of your posts have been contradictory at times. And yes “asking” to see what you get I think is where some people might be confused, because you’ve said you’re going to give him a break, but then your report back later demonstrates otherwise. Simply offering insight from the other side. YDY.
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