Texarkana - can you tell us some of your experiences with those horses that you held? What were the owners/vets thinking it was (what symptoms?) and what actually showed up? I am just curiously interested. Thanks!
J.
[QUOTE=Personal Champ;8617478]
My mare is at Furlong right now getting a bone scan today.
I was quoted $700-$2600 before the exam, depending on areas to be done. $2600 is for whole horse, and that’s what we’re doing as we aren’t sure where the problem is sourced at, just where it’s manifesting.[/QUOTE]Always a good idea to do the whole horse. Had I done that the first time with Star, I might not have needed to retire him at age 14. Hope you get an answer that is definitive and quick, easy and relatively cheap to fix.
[QUOTE=Peggy;8618813]
Always a good idea to do the whole horse. Had I done that the first time with Star, I might not have needed to retire him at age 14. Hope you get an answer that is definitive and quick, easy and relatively cheap to fix.[/QUOTE]
Hers is a “mystery” lameness that is showing as a right hind thing, though she’s not lame at all, just unwilling to work (collect/step under). Dr. Furlong is thinking either SI or neck/spine. We should have the radiologist’s report today and then will decide if she needs MRI, ultrasound or radiographs.
Thanks for the good thoughts!
I did a bone scan last month. I had my suspicion with SI injury. Of course when he showed up to the vet he managed to walk off the trailer limping in front (wasn’t limping when loaded 5 hours earlier). $3000 later vet verified he indeed had a soft tissue injury in SI and all he needed was stall rest and injections. The limping was an abscess. :-/
Bad luck I guess you can say, but I wish I stuck with my gut and just did a few X-rays and ultrasound.
Has anyone taken a horse who is showing severe ataxia in for a bone scan? I am not sure what it would show; possible nerve pinching/cervical narrowing?
This horse has never run a fever or had an increased heart rate – so vet says “no pain”. If there is no pain, but still obvious neuro damage, is this a reasonable test to discuss with the head vet (at New Bolton)?
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8620488]
Has anyone taken a horse who is showing severe ataxia in for a bone scan? I am not sure what it would show; possible nerve pinching/cervical narrowing?
This horse has never run a fever or had an increased heart rate – so vet says “no pain”. If there is no pain, but still obvious neuro damage, is this a reasonable test to discuss with the head vet (at New Bolton)?[/QUOTE]
I don’t know that the scan would have the resolution to show the narrowing, but it might well show increased bone metabolism at the site, so you’d know where to radiograph.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8620488]
Has anyone taken a horse who is showing severe ataxia in for a bone scan? I am not sure what it would show; possible nerve pinching/cervical narrowing?
This horse has never run a fever or had an increased heart rate – so vet says “no pain”. If there is no pain, but still obvious neuro damage, is this a reasonable test to discuss with the head vet (at New Bolton)?[/QUOTE]
(I’m not a vet), but if neck arthritis is suspected, would it not be cheaper and more definitive just to x-ray the whole neck? I just got charged about $900 for lameness exam, and films of the whole neck and spine. Still much cheaper than a bone scan.
If the neck looks absolutely fine on x-rays, then what else could be causing the ataxia that would show up on a bone scan? (Genuine question, I’m curious).
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8620488]
Has anyone taken a horse who is showing severe ataxia in for a bone scan? I am not sure what it would show; possible nerve pinching/cervical narrowing?
This horse has never run a fever or had an increased heart rate – so vet says “no pain”. If there is no pain, but still obvious neuro damage, is this a reasonable test to discuss with the head vet (at New Bolton)?[/QUOTE]It might be useful in the soft tissue phase to look at the neck. Might pick up on soft tissue remodeling that’s not detectable via radiographs. And Not particularly invasive or hard to do on a neuro horse.
