My Horse Has Started to Drop Down All The Time.

[Lord_Helpus]

3 days ago I noticed it. Waldo has always kept his private parts private. So it was odd when he was dropped down on the crossties. Yesterday the same, and today same + he dropped down when standing still, with a rider on him.

I had the vet out for his butt muscle issue last week, and he is coming back for a recheck, but I thought I would ask y’all if you had any thoughts?

Could it possible be related to a pulled muscle?
Possibly a UTI?

PS: the butt issue is fine if he is on Banamine and uses his Back On Track sheet, and is just ridden at a walk. But if he does not have the Banamine or not have the BOT sheet on 2x/day he is very reactive to my running my fingers over his butt.

He has also started stumbling and/or collapsing behind.
Vet is stumped and so am I.

[jetsmom]

I’d say a spinal nerve issue…

[One_Two_Three]

I could be off base, given there are what i presume muscle issues with the horse, but I had always been told that when a gelding casually drops in the presence of someone familiar, though ‘icky’ it should flatter you that they’re comfortable and relaxed. Just a thought. Could of course, be an issue. when it’s dropped, is it clean? Icky?

[beowulf]

if this is a sudden behavior, consider it may be neurological in nature. a slipped or dropped penis that is out of the norm usually is. jingling and keep us updated!

[fordtraktor]

Have you had an EPM titer pulled on him? Haven’t been following your other thread.

[Lord_Helpus]

Oh God! I never thought of neuro…

Not a dirty sheath or bean problem. All my boys had a spa day about 2 weeks ago and Waldo was nice enough to let me to a thorough job.

[Lord_Helpus]

[QUOTE=One Two Three;8130371]
I could be off base, given there are what i presume muscle issues with the horse, but I had always been told that when a gelding casually drops in the presence of someone familiar, though ‘icky’ it should flatter you that they’re comfortable and relaxed. Just a thought. Could of course, be an issue. when it’s dropped, is it clean? Icky?[/QUOTE]

He and I are a pair, but we are not THAT close. And this behavior is new.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8130386]
Oh God! I never thought of neuro…

Not a dirty sheath or bean problem. All my boys had a spa day about 2 weeks ago and Waldo was nice enough to let me to a thorough job. :)[/QUOTE]

it could also be a blockage. definitely worth picking your vet’s brain over if it gets worse.

[fordtraktor]

don’t want to scare you but I would maybe think about that – it can cause hypersensitivity in the nerves in the hindquarter muscles. I have seen it. So can something pinching in the vertebra/spinal injury.

[fordtraktor]

the hypersensitivity in the hindquarter muscles can show up from EPM or a spinal injury. However, it is probably just a pulled muscle and an unrelated relaxation! And the stumbling… I would probably want to do a titer just in case because the treatment works better the sooner you catch EPM. BUT NOT trying to scare you because it probably isn’t!

[One_Two_Three]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8130388]
He and I are a pair, but we are not THAT close. And this behavior is new.[/QUOTE]

:lol: okay come on you make me sound dirty when you say that!!! My gelding hasn’t offered up his junk to me, but my BO’s two draft horses do it every time their mamma gives them a bath or good grooming, and after being a bit offended by it, asked the vet if all was well and he told her to feel appreciated. bahahha.

but I agree, given the situation and that it’s a new behavior (and presumably not a newer horse to you, right?) it could possibly be something else. OR nothing at all, too. Ask the doc!

[Lord_Helpus]

Talked to the vet. He said that it might be time for a round of steriods and wants me to give him Dex/Azium. That surprised me, but, having thought about it, I think that is what my dog vet would be suggesting for my doggie with a bad back at this stage, so I guess it is a natural progression.

I did not want to ask him about EPM (playing ostrich here), and he did not suggest doing the neuro tests (walking in circles, tail pulling, etc.)

[horsepoor]

Last year, that was one of the symptoms I noticed on my horse that was also having other sort-of-neurological issues. Was also having stumbling behind, wobbliness going down hills, his tail would be limp at times, and he was eating slow. EPM was on our list but he was negative, not even exposed (which knowing my luck was a surprise - I figured he’d be in that gray area of exposure but not sure it was affecting him). We then x-rayed his neck and found some abnormalities, injected and…he went back to “normal,” which for him is still always a bit odd, but the dropping, wobbling, and limp tail all went away.

Now, I’ve also seen some of my older guys get a little less shy about dropping, so I think sometimes it is just part of aging. But this guy started dropping and letting it swing about while I walked him to the arena, stuff like that, which was really weird for a horse that previously was never seen out except when peeing.