Hind End Collapsing at the Trot + Severe Rapid Muscle Atrophy

[Jord007]

To preface, I have had a vet out to assess and she will be out again this week, but I wanted to see if anyone else has gone through this as I am worried that the initial diagnosis may not be correct.

My horse is a 11 year old warmblood 1.15 jumper, I’ve owned her for a year and a half and she had no pre-existing conditions when I purchased her. We showed last summer and into the fall with no issues. The vet was out to do chiro in mid December and noticed some mild muscle atrophy on the left side. She recommended a supplement and to ensure that she was working through her back when riding/lunging. I put her in full training with my coach to help and we were still showing (with vet approval) and did a 5 day show at the beginning of April. She absolutely crushed it, looked amazing, and was very fit. There was no hesitation at fences or lameness concerns.

We came home from the show and I gave her a week off to chill after being such a superstar. Our first lesson back, she was hesitating at fences going to the left. I flat rode her for the week but we had the same problem when jumping. I lunged her and noticed her hind end was collapsing a bit at the trot and she was dragging the toe of her left hind, so we called the vet who came out and said there was iliopsoas atrophy. She was prescribed Robaxin and 2 weeks of lunging.

That was 1.5 weeks ago and since then she has progressively gotten significantly worse, to the point where I’m not lunging her at all because she is completely collapsing at the trot, has trouble even turning without losing balance, and I’m afraid she’s going to fall. She has also lost an alarming amount of muscle on her left side. When you look at the pictures from the show a month ago you wouldn’t even know it is the same horse. The toe dragging is not as severe at the walk but is still present.

My google searching has me completely panicked about what could possibly be wrong so while I wait for the vet I thought I’d see if anyone has had any similar experiences. I’m very worried about her and just want to know what the problem is so that we can hopefully fix it and relieve any pain she’s feeling.

[Simkie]

This is textbook for EPM or other neurological disorder.

I’m surprised your vet didn’t advise testing or consider any neurological cause.

I would request an EPM titer and a baseline neuro exam ASAP.

[starsandsun]

If you haven’t already, I’d also get blood testing for Vitamin E asap.

[Jord007]

That’s what I was afraid of

I’m a first time horse owner and this is a very experienced vet so I wasn’t sure if I was stepping out of bounds by doing my own research/challenging what she’d diagnosed. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

[beowulf]

Ditto testing for EPM, this really is textbook. In the meantime I might pull her from group turnout, if she’s visibly compromised, and as you mentioned, consider dialing back the lunging/work.

Since you mentioned being a first time horse-owner: always trust your gut and never feel bad for questioning diagnoses or seeking a second opinion. Your mare does not have a voice, and relies on you. Good luck and please report back. Often times with neurological cases, it’s the owners who notice the neuro symptoms first, not the vets - because horses disguise them until they can’t, and very preliminary lameness exams are often not physically challenging enough for the average horse for the neuro symptoms to come out.

[Simkie]

I really like this review of EPM and referenced it frequently when dealing with several EPM positives. It’s a great run down.

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: An Updated Consensus Statement with a...

Unless you’re in an area where EPM is really rare, I’d personally push for treatment here before the titer comes back.

I totally understand that it’s hard to ask questions of your vet, but it’s always okay. You see and know your horse best. Open communication is how your vet can best help your horse.

[Jord007]

Thank you so much for your kind words

[NaturallyHappy]

I’m also in the text book EPM camp (or another neurological problem) based upon your description. I’, too, would start treatment and not wait on titers, and I’d start Elevate liquid vitamin E. If your vet pushes back, I’d ask for a second opinion as soon as possible.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

I’m going to fourth or fifth the EPM. The muscle loss, the imbalance, the trouble turning - all classic signs.

You can do one other basic test - ask her to back from the ground. If she can’t, that’s another major sign in favor of EPM.

But you may as well have her tested for Lyme, too.

As someone else said, I would request to get her started on the meds now. I’m really surprised your vet didn’t pick up on that sooner. No matter how experienced a vet is, though, at the end of the day, they’re human and make mistakes. Good vets listen to their clients, so don’t be afraid to tell them what you think and want to see done.

[luvmyhackney]

I’ll jump on the EPM or something neuro.

I’d start treating ASAP.

[FjordBCRF]

Another voice here to pursue EPM testing and vit E. Might as well test for Lyme too. I’m also surprised your vet didn’t pursue this route from the get go.

So sorry you’re dealing with this. Please keep us posted

[pony_baloney]

Have you looked into MFM?

https://ker.com/nmdl/resources/mfm/

[crthunder]

The podcast “Straight from the horse doctors mouth” just did a great episode on EPM and neurological issues. I would highly recommend listening to it while waiting on vet work. I Wild
Also consider checking her neck (X-rays or CT) bc we had a warmblood years ago that they thought was epm, treated and then he started the losing hind end. It was cervical arthitis pinching his nerves. He was treated and kept fit and working for many years until it progressed past comfort for retirement.

[LovieBird]

Sounds neurologic to me. Maybe it’s just nerve impingement?

[steelerino]

@Simkie

I’m surprised your vet didn’t advise testing or consider any neurological cause.

I’m not. She lost me at the vet prescribing a supplement to ensure the horse was working through her back. Um ok…

[Simkie]

@steelerino

I’m not. She lost me at the vet prescribing a supplement to ensure the horse was working through her back. Um ok…

Are you talking about the robaxin? That’s a prescription drug.

[steelerino]

@Jord007

She recommended a supplement and to ensure that she was working through her back when riding/lunging. I

She said supplement. The Robaxin was prescribed later after the horse started to deteriorate.

[FjordBCRF]

@steelerino

She lost me at the vet prescribing a supplement to ensure the horse was working through her back.

Oh yeah, I did a double take reading that line too.

[Simkie]

@steelerino

She said supplement. The Robaxin was prescribed later after the horse started to deteriorate.

There was also nothing wrong with the horse at that point other than some mild one sided atrophy.

In hindsight, it’s easy to look back and see that was, or could’ve been, an early neuro symptom. But when

@Jord007

We showed last summer and into the fall with no issues.

and

@Jord007

we were still showing (with vet approval) and did a 5 day show at the beginning of April. She absolutely crushed it, looked amazing, and was very fit. There was no hesitation at fences or lameness concerns.

It could easily be benign.

Not running the horse through at least a cursory neuro exam when she progressed rapidly is pretty egregious, though, I’ll certainly give you that.

[trubandloki]

Jingles for the OP and their horse!

Another vote for neurological.

As others have said, I would start with treating for EPM, testing for Lyme, and doing neck X-rays.