Horse staggering briefly

[rubygirl1968]

This morning was my morning to feed at the barn my gelding is and everyone was fine when I brought them in, but after they ate breakfast in their stalls, I took one of the ponies out to her paddock and she was staggering all over the place.

She was listing to one side when she got out there but by the time I got my phone out of the car and got her haltered she was normal.

She’s 25, arthritic and has vision problems. Eating normally and apart from that episode moving normally. What could it be? EPM, dizziness??

I texted the vet and she wanted a video so I’ll have my phone in the morning.

[Scribbler]

@rubygirl1968

This morning was my morning to feed at the barn my gelding is and everyone was fine when I brought them in, but after they ate breakfast in their stalls, I took one of the ponies out to her paddock and she was staggering all over the place.

She was listing to one side when she got out there but by the time I got my phone out of the car and got her haltered she was normal.

She’s 25, arthritic and has vision problems. Eating normally and apart from that episode moving normally. What could it be? EPM, dizziness??

I texted the vet and she wanted a video so I’ll have my phone in the morning.

Whatever it is, it’s not good. Do you know anything about her medical history or past episodes? Be really careful around her, she could collapse on you and injure or kill you. What does the owner or trainer or barn manager think? Do they know? Are they willing to pay for diagnostics?

[rubygirl1968]

She has Cushing’s, is on Prascend and equioxx for arthritis. Her peripheral vision has gotten worse over the past two years.

Several years ago she got tangled up in a fence and hurt her neck. She wasn’t at their home barn at that time though so I don’t know the details.

I know she recovered from that and went back to teaching beginner kids until her vision declined and she came home last Aug.

She did this Sunday morning with another feeder but this is the only episode of anything neurological.

They will do diagnostics. Vet will be coming back later this week.

She was just here yesterday for dentals and spring shots. She checked her out but didn’t do any diagnostics then. She was fine yesterday. No staggering or any other signs.

Eta - the owner is the husband. His wife that died this past spring was the horse person. He pays the bills but does nothing with the horses

[Scribbler]

@rubygirl1968

She has Cushing’s, is on Prascend and equioxx for arthritis. Her peripheral vision has gotten worse over the past two years.

Several years ago she got tangled up in a fence and hurt her neck. She wasn’t at their home barn at that time though so I don’t know the details.

I know she recovered from that and went back to teaching beginner kids until her vision declined and she came home last Aug.

She did this Sunday morning with another feeder but this is the only episode of anything neurological.

They will do diagnostics. Vet will be coming back later this week.

She was just here yesterday for dentals and spring shots. She checked her out but didn’t do any diagnostics then. She was fine yesterday. No staggering or any other signs.

Eta - the owner is the husband. His wife that died this past spring was the horse person. He pays the bills but does nothing with the horses

So the horse has all these issues, is 25, and is now presenting neurological symptoms at least twice that’s known of? I think this is getting on for euthanasia time, which may be emotionally hard on the owner if he feels a connection to his former wife in the horse. But it’s likely time, before pony has an episode in a barn aisle falls on a person gets cast breaks a leg etc in the middle of a busy day

[rubygirl1968]

Yes, it would be hard. He’s had a tough time with his wife’s passing but he has to do what’s best for all.

[Paint_Party]

I had to give the OK for the vet to euthanize my mom’s favorite mare. My mom had died, my dad was pretty much alone at the ranch… it was tough. But the way I explained it was that Mom was waiting for her pretty mare, and now they’d be together. It was the right decision for the horse, and in the end my dad appreciated not having to make that phone call.

[OverandOnward]

@Scribbler

So the horse has all these issues, is 25, and is now presenting neurological symptoms at least twice that’s known of? I think this is getting on for euthanasia time, which may be emotionally hard on the owner if he feels a connection to his former wife in the horse. But it’s likely time, before pony has an episode in a barn aisle falls on a person gets cast breaks a leg etc in the middle of a busy day

Sadly I agree.

To me, this is a situation where there is no point in leaving a horse to go on and on, feeling worse every day. They don’t know about lifespan or how old they are or anything except how they are feeling right now.

I know that it can be very hard for owners who are emotionally distracted (for good or sad reasons) to deal with a decision like this. Even to recognize the situation.

The vet will have some information, of course. Would it be worthwhile to get some other opinions from the barn? So that if the vet isn’t definite with the widower/owner, the assembled caring voices can be? Even if it is "if this horse were mine … "

Some vets do not want to recommend or even hint at a euthanasia, whatever their reasons for this position. Others will be more forthright. So, maybe get a feel for what this vet is thinking.

[NaturallyHappy]

This could be neck arthritis; doing teeth could have aggravated it. And you mention a neck injury. We had one like this. He exhibited a pretty huge loss of balance and he was 16.3. The vet radiographed his neck and did injections. His owner was in her 70s and he was her trusted trail horse. With some changes in medication, she was able to ride him until the last couple of months of his life at 34. I don’t disagree w letting him go, but I also know there may be options.

[2tempe]

Agree that could be cervical arthritis. I also had one of these, though he never lost balance and the injections (at 23 yrs old) helped enormously for well over a year. I lost him a couple years later to another issue but by then there were some increasing signs of more neuro issues.

@OP Thishorse is a bit of a different story IMO given the cushings and vision issues in addition to arthritic signs. Perhaps horse owner could get neck xrays and and assessment, including costs if injections are warranted and then decide. They are not inexpensive to do and horse may have to go to a clinic for them. He should also understand that the steroid component of the injections could bring on a laminitis event (given the cushings).

[NaturallyHappy]

Thank you for mentioning that!

[IPEsq]

I’ve seen neck injections not work for a horse who had a previous neck injury that led to development of arthritis. Once there were neuro signs developing, it was too late for effective treatment. For a horse this age with Cushings that is retired due to the eyesight issue, I would not go with injections. Too risky with potential for no reward. But if it was something aggravated by the dental and not necessarily time for more difficult decisions, perhaps acupuncture or some less invasive modalities could help for the short term.