PAINT HORSE / QUARTER HORSE MUSCLE DISEASE - ADVICE NEEDED URGENTLY

[fordtraktor]

I feel for you. We had a palomino quarter horse when I was a kid. My brother and I each got ponies when I was 9, we knew nothing about horses. His turned out to have Wobbler’s. that is why seeing your horse’s splay-footed walk it immediately came to mind.

Do consider the treatment options because I know you say it doesn’t matter if you ride him, but that’s not the only way to get hurt around a Wobbler. The issue with our Wobbler is that he could just be running along in the field and wipe out. as a baby it’s maybe not such a big deal but when he weighs 1,000 pounds, this can do you some serious damage if you happen to be standing in the way. And it won’t be on purpose, they can’t help it. Ours was not a mean horse in any way – much the opposite, he was a sweetheart – he just had no idea where he was putting his feet and occasionally he’d fall totally out of the blue, on perfectly flat, even looking ground.

I would try to treat it if possible because you don’t want a horse to end up in that kind of situation where it becomes unsafe to handle on the ground. It’s heartbreaking.

[JB]

Woape, do you recall how he was laid out? When he went down, did he fall heavily, or did he sort of lie down and gently fall over?

How was the top hind leg tied up out of the way? Where was the rope tied on his leg, and where did it tie up on his neck? That’s the normal way to tie it out of the way.

[fordtraktor]

BTW, after we found out that horse had Wobbler’s we contacted his breeder and he’d been a difficult delivery. He’d gotten his injury being pulled out. The breeder knew all about it and had placed him in a nonriding home, they thought. How he got sold as a child-safe kid’s horse ten years later is a mystery known only to unethical horse traders.

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Woape, he is lucky to have you and your wife. Praying and jingling like crazy for the best outcome possible. He certainly has the best owners.

[WOAPE]

[QUOTE=JB;8698052]
Woape, do you recall how he was laid out? When he went down, did he fall heavily, or did he sort of lie down and gently fall over?

How was the top hind leg tied up out of the way? Where was the rope tied on his leg, and where did it tie up on his neck? That’s the normal way to tie it out of the way.[/QUOTE]

Thanks again to all.

On the day of his gelding procedure, we arrived at the site just after he had gone down. If I remember correctly, he was on his side more than his back and had one leg tied up (the top hind) - perhaps tied around the pastern/fetlock area…may have been higher though I honestly can’t remember exactly where…and his face was covered by a cloth, with an assistant checking him underneath regularly…another was positioned at the neck.

[WOAPE]

Just asked my wife if she remembers anything else about that procedure…but no, not really…other than she added once the vet left the box, the assistant was holding his neck down still while he gradually woke up…this took a while…I remember entering the box and they told me to get out until he was up and OK…tomorrow, I will ask the girl who runs the site as she was there through the whole procedure.

[JB]

Thanks for that - it sounds all very normal so far. I know some will keep the horse down a while as they start to come out of the anaesthesia so they don’t panic and try to fling themselves up while they are still too drugged to do that safely, but it depends on what they see as the horse is starting to become aware. My 2 were allowed to come out and up on their own because they were already quiet-natured to start, and behaved very respectably and politely as they came out of things, but she did say sometimes they have to hold the neck down for a bit.

I was just curious if something sounded off or unusual in how he was down, or came out of things, but it all sounds pretty civil.

[WOAPE]

Thanks JB, will update tomorrow after we speak with the girl who runs the place.

[vineyridge]

There aren’t any poisonous plants around, are there? There are quite a few edible, common poisonous plants that can appear in pastures. I have no idea what those plants might be in the Czech Republic, but there is bound to be a good bit of information.

You know that the Brits have something they call summer grass disease. We don’t have it here, so I’m only mentioning it as a possibility. H & H was cautioning about it only a week or so ago.

[WOAPE]

Thanks vineyridge…

One of the first things I looked at was atypical myopathy, with broad leaf trees being an issue in that regard. The girl who runs the place is good…and seems quite careful in that regard. She said the most dangerous types are not present, so hopefully, that isn’t an issue - but it is still something to keep in mind and I appreciate you bringing it up. Fortunately, I don’t think grass sickness is present in this case as woape has not displayed any of the symptoms (trouble swallowing, nasal discharge etc)

[WOAPE]

Just to update everybody, the vet conducted x-rays today (from neck to tail) and he said everything was clear. We are still waiting for the blood test results from Germany (remaining 3 from the 5-panel test) so I will update again later…as soon as we find out what those results say.

Vet also found 2/3 small sarcoids on his groin area, near the castration site, which we will monitor closely.

Carl

[Laurierace]

[QUOTE=WOAPE;8700929]
Just to update everybody, the vet conducted x-rays today (from neck to tail) and he said everything was clear. We are still waiting for the blood test results from Germany (remaining 3 from the 5-panel test) so I will update again later…as soon as we find out what those results say.

Vet also found 2/3 small sarcoids on his groin area, near the castration site, which we will monitor closely.

Carl[/QUOTE]

Wow, that is great news! Did he say anything about doing a mylegram or are xrays definitive enough?

[invinoveritas]

I hope it all turns out to be something that can be fixed. So hard, since you are in europe, to deal with something if it is QH related. Hopefully it is something that is in the environment so you can eliminate it. Good luck!

[WOAPE]

Thanks Laurierace, we were obviously really pleased to hear that. Vet said it does not look like it could be wobblers…he had me walk and trot woape today too…said he looks better…and also tested his tail while we walked, which was OK also. Vet said main thing now is wait on the blood tests from Germany…hopefully, they will be back soon. The x-rays of the neck and almost all of the spine were very clear…only the very last section near the tail was slightly harder to read for our vet but he said it was still clear enough for him.

[Didi]

Such promising news! Still jingling for you both!

[WOAPE]

Thanks Didi!

[Griffyn]

No advice here, just hoping you get some good news soon. I know hes been such a treasure to you and your wife.

[WOAPE]

Thanks Griffyn.

Still waiting on blood tests from Germany…

[starsandsun]

Hi Woape - any updates on lab results?

[WOAPE]

[QUOTE=starsandsun;8706851]
Hi Woape - any updates on lab results?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for asking starsandsun, as yet, no…still waiting on the results from Germany.

It has been quite warm here this week and woape has been sleeping a fair bit, which I am glad for. We just got back now and he was certainly better today - much stronger on his walk and we did several tight figure-8’s which he had no issues with. Sometimes, his back legs are crossing slightly or showing slight signs of weakness but overall, he does look better. Today, he lifted his hooves up for me and didn’t waver at all. Can only hope it continues…and we need to find out exactly what has caused this asap too…