Neurological Issue? Need Help. Gelding with strange behavior that no one has seen

[Dressagelvr]

What a bizarre case. OP, I am so sorry you and your horse are going through this.

I have one question: is this horse still being bullied in the field? I ask because that could be exacerbating both the physical and mental components of the issues you’re seeing (including balking when being fed).

What about giving this horse 6-12 months in a field (with shelter, hay/feed as necessary), and an older buddy or 2 who won’t bully him … so long as he is comfortable in turnout (and it sounds like he ism bullying aside).

Maybe you could find a retirement place nearby that would be cheaper than where he is now.

This would lessen the pressure on you to make any decisions, ease the financial burden, allow time for the experts, and maybe give him to heal…if he can.

Good luck, OP.

[Warmblood1]

I believe OP said the horse had 9 months off prior to getting him and that he has been on bute without improvement. He was also at a sale barn where he was difficult to sell due to quirks. Signs point to chronic, long term issues and pain.

[NaturallyHappy]

I wish there were really good ways to evaluate neuromuscular, electrical pain in horses. Maybe there are but I’m not familiar. When I had radiation to my neck for cancer if I moved my neck the wrong way, it felt like I touched a BIG electrical fence with wet feet.

[cmdrcltr]

OP, I haven’t commented because I never felt I had any better input to offer than what was here, but I have followed this thread with interest and sympathy for you and your horse. I’m wondering if you found out anything new in the last two weeks.

[TXKing99]

Hi, thanks for checking in.
I did a bute trial with Jasper. He was on bute for a week. First 2 days, 2g and then remaining days 1 g. On the final day he had his farrier appt. I wanted to see if he was any better for the appt. My thought has been that he sits back when she gets to the 4th leg (right front) because he has discomfort in the back end, specifically on the left side.
He was no better for this appt. Just as nervous, I swear he didn’t take a deep breath the whole time. He moved away from the farrier more - so if she was on the right, he side stepped to the left and vice versa. I had to stand on his side vs. in the front like i normally do to keep him from moving away. Farrier agreed that the bute didn’t seem to make a difference.
I will be talking to the vet this week about an extended bute trial, or possibly steroids. Also an ultrasound of the pelvis and/or x-rays of the lumbar spine.
I took some video of him walking in the pasture just the other day (after bute trial) and he looks stiff on the side facing the camera, which happens to be the left side.
Here it is if you want to look: https://youtu.be/cXvReujBuVU
This is him playing with his BFF. He is the horse walking when the video starts. His buddy comes in and starts the roughhousing. This was taken a few days in to the bute trial. https://youtu.be/sosgZRH2EO8

[Warmblood1]

He’s very stiff through the body with no real, forward marching movement. It seems he is never fully tucked up in his sheath. Personally, I would extend bute and crank up the dosage. Maximum dosage is 4 grams a day, 1 gram is quite conservative. I think I’d do 3-4 grams a day for 2 weeks and add a gastric buffer such as omeprazole if I were worried about gastric ulcers if your vet agrees. At this point, I think it would be worth it. Alternatively, I also think a steroid is also worth considering, too.

[skydy]

He looks very uncomfortable.

[cmdrcltr]

Thanks for the update, OP. I truly hope you find some answers for you and for Jasper.

[Paint_Party]

@Warmblood1

It seems he is never fully tucked up in his sheath.

@skydy

He looks very uncomfortable.

Agree with these observations, while noting that it’s kind of hard to see much under these limited circumstances. But also, in the first video of Jasper alone, it looks to me like he’s favoring his left hind. As if the pain or lack of mobility is up high somewhere.

I hope you get some answers soon.

[TXKing99]

Thanks for the suggestion. Will discuss with the vet when we talk this week.

[ThreeWishes]

Poor sweet boy. He definitely looks stiff, tense, and guarded. Not sure upping bute is the answer if you saw zero relief. Has the vet discussed Gabapentin? The way he holds his tail and the protrusion of
his penis makes my completely veterinary-uneducated gut think nerve damage. Peripheral nerve pressure or damage. Sending all my healing horse juju / vibes to Jasper.

[TXKing99]

Guarded is a very good description of my boy.
I tend to think it is nerve related, but I guess the only way to really tell is do try a couple different things to see if they make a difference. I will ask about gabapentin when I talk to the vet.

We will take all the good vibes we can get.
Thanks!

[ThreeWishes]

Seriously @TXKing99 I wish you every good thing I can send. You’re a good egg. And Jasper is blessed to have found you. Positive thing is that he still looks like he likes playing bitey lips with Tommy.

[joiedevie99]

After watching those videos, I’d want to do a two week Gabapentin trial.

[Warmblood1]

@ThreeWishes

Not sure upping bute is the answer if you saw zero relief.

Me either. But I’m thinking, if you’re going to do a bute trial, might as well do a higher dosage for a reasonable amount of time so you know for sure, there was not sufficient response to bute versus - well, was the trial long enough and the dose high enough(?)

Then move to the next drug, so that by process of elimination, you know which drug the horse responds to. I think gabapentin is low risk and great for nerve pain and a very fair recommendation, too.

[JB]

@Warmblood1

But I’m thinking, if you’re going to do a bute trial, might as well do a higher dosage for a reasonable amount of time so you know for sure, there was not sufficient response to bute versus - well, was the trial long enough and the dose high enough(?)

Agree. I haven’t gone back to see how much was used for how long, but unless it was the highest dose, for a good week or so to allow the drug to build up to a good therapeutic level, it’s not the best trial. I don’t truly think that will make a difference here, but if the bute was used at 1gm twice a day for 3 days (for example), that’s not a good trial.

[skydy]

How is Jasper doing? Have you found something that gives him some pain relief?

[TXKing99]

Thanks for following up. Had a lengthy discussion with my vet last weekend. He has watched the most recent videos. It was a difficult conversation (for me) at best. We talked through the limited options and what the might or might not yield. The likelihood that what is going on can even be fixed. The progressive ejaculatory reflex seems to be a likely indicator of a tumor or lesion compressing a nerve. If that assessment is correct, he expects that it could/would lead to some sort of spastic paresis of the hind end. Not going to wait for that to happen.
It looks like I will be making the difficult decision to let him go. Though the vet agreed that in some of the videos of Jasper in the pasture looked stiff, there were others where he seemed to be having a good time with his buddy and moving more easily. Based on those videos he didn’t feel like there was a quality of life issue at this moment. Please know that I am watching him closely and love him enough to do what is best for him.

[wanderlust]

Big hugs, and I’m so sorry this was your first foray into ownership

[vxf111]

I’m so sorry. I know you’ll make the right decision.