Diablo Blanco is in this lineage and might be one to research… read that his short choppy stiff-legged gait may have been due to muscle issues.
Thank you benstar, appreciate that.
Just to add, I forgot to mention that I spoke to the girl who was in the stall when woape was gelded - we arrived on site just after he went down…she said he went down very slowly and comfortably, with no dangerous movement.
I hope your little guy is continuing to improve. Did you get the other test results from Germany?
[QUOTE=Cayusepapoose;8721930]
I hope your little guy is continuing to improve. Did you get the other test results from Germany?[/QUOTE]
Thank you.
Still waiting…
Hoping to hear from the vet tomorrow…
woape does seem to be improving slightly…I just hope that this really is the start of his recovery…his exercise walks were extended over a week ago and we’ve just had some extreme heat (not far off 100f last week) but he seems stronger and today, did not drag his feet or stumble at all. Tight turns seem no problem and he rises without issue after his nap. We also managed to clean his hooves a little - first time for a few weeks but woape dealt with it OK.
Best wishes to all involved with Woape; it is so hard emotionally to deal with day after day and trying to glean even the slightest positive things to keep yourself going. Lots of people are pulling for you!
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts…it is warmly appreciated.
Some good news…
Today, after an FEC test result returned, woape has been cleared of worms, which we are obviously happy for.
With regards to the blood tests…we are still waiting to hear from the German lab…really don’t understand the delay…
Last 3-4 days, woape was on a small grassed enclosure that overlooks the large pasture (and herd) for an hour at a time, just to see how he does with the grass. First day, he was calm and just munched away happily…second day, he went a bit mental jumping, kicking and running around several times - guess he felt that pent up energy…a few times on landing, his back legs gave way slightly but nothing that brought him down…then today, he was visibly tired and stiff inside the grassy enclosure until I walked him outside…when he fought me every step of the way trying to get to the grass at the side of the path. He spent yesterday evening and last night in the box with his pony buddy because the farm had a large hay delivery and we had to rebuild woape’s area…that was finished so he is back there now.
Have you are your vet asked the German lab why the delay? Could you talk to a Czech vet school and see if they could do further testing?
Hopefully your horse will recover soon!
Thank you.
We are going to ask the vet to chase it up on Monday. We had the first two tests (PSSM1 and GBED) back a while ago, both thankfully negative…but here, they don’t do the other three tests from the standard five panel test…hence why we are waiting on the lab in Germany.
We are really hoping that woape can grow through this…and that perhaps whatever it is/was, that it may have been caused by a really sudden growth spurt…that sparked when he had his gelding procedure and was confined for so long…we compared photographs this week and noticed with shock, it is such a big difference how he looks now compared to even just two months back…everybody at the farm says he didn’t grow for the first 4-5 months since he arrived at the new place then all of a sudden, wow…he is much taller…but I am still going to address future tests too…my mind cannot rest…
Recently, I found sycamore trees overhanging the road/path we walk down…with seeds all around the ground - made me think of atypical myopathy…
Then I noticed what looks like Johnsongrass that grows at the edges of the same path…and after reading up on this and how after a frost it can turn toxic…I remembered the night of his castration…I stayed outside his box all night and it was very cold…then during the next week or so, he ate plenty of that grass…
There are so many possibilities…it is scary…whatever can be done for him will be done, I will ensure that…he is simply too precious to think otherwise.
So today I took hair samples myself, followed the correct procedure as advised by VGL, Davis California. They will be sent off first thing and hopefully, we’ll at last have the results in the near future.
I did this as we just found out that the laboratory in Germany, where the samples were sent by our vet over three weeks ago…no longer does the test…I cannot believe we waited so long…for nothing…only to find out that they can’t help us…unbelievable…talk about a lack of communication…
Last ten days or so, woape has been spending between an hour and three hours on a small grassy section by himself - although next to the main pasture. He seems to be improving, hopefully that is indeed the case.
Just got the results back from VGL, California. Pleased to say that woape does not have HYPP, test results were normal. I am really glad to rule that out, especially after finding his dam has a genetic link to a descendant of Impressive.
Last two weeks or so, woape has been walking much better…he really does look stronger.
Carl
So good to know you can can put that behind you and Woape is still putting one little hoof in front of the other and progressing well. It might be one of those things that will never be figured out but hopefully it’s all behind him now and he never looks back!
This is GREAT news! I would have been totally surprised if he’d come back positive for that. I do still wonder if this is/was some sort of mild wobblers that couldn’t be detected.
[QUOTE=JB;8755191]
This is GREAT news! I would have been totally surprised if he’d come back positive for that. I do still wonder if this is/was some sort of mild wobblers that couldn’t be detected.[/QUOTE]
Thanks JB. Yes, I wonder that also…only a myelogram can identify / confirm wobblers 100% and we’d need to transport him to Germany for the test…after all the stress he has had of late, I am reluctant to do that right now - want to see if he can grow through this with diet and exercise control which he has been having for a while now. I was told that a sudden growth spurt can cause it so I am aware we cannot rule it out.
Appreciate the kind words folks, thanks again.
Wobblers generally don’t improve so the fact that he is getting better is a good sign I think. Hope that continues and he is good as new.
Thank you Laurierace. I will try to post a few more recent photos and videos on his facebook page later, then post a link here. If I remember correctly, which my memory kindly lets me do from time to time 
only around 10% of horses with wobblers improve without medical attention (surgery, injections, diet control and exercise management etc) so what you say is correct…I hope it is / was growing pains and he comes through fine…he sure seems to be doing well the past two weeks or so. We’ve gradually increased his time on grass - small enclosed area where he is alone but next to the large pasture and big herd. Hooves are being checked / cleaned daily too and he is able to scratch himself without any balance issues. This morning, he also had his hooves trimmed for the first time in a while.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8755446]
Wobblers generally don’t improve so the fact that he is getting better is a good sign I think. Hope that continues and he is good as new.[/QUOTE]
There is some evidence that Wobblers, or “wobblers” may be more appropriate, can arise out of a fast-growing youngster, then resolve as things even out, sort of like contracted tendons.
[QUOTE=JB;8755722]
There is some evidence that Wobblers, or “wobblers” may be more appropriate, can arise out of a fast-growing youngster, then resolve as things even out, sort of like contracted tendons.[/QUOTE]
I agree with this. I believe the famous hunter mare, Rox Dene, had wobblers that was managed carefully as a foal, and allowed her to recover.
[QUOTE=JB;8755722]
There is some evidence that Wobblers, or “wobblers” may be more appropriate, can arise out of a fast-growing youngster, then resolve as things even out, sort of like contracted tendons.[/QUOTE]
That is sort of what I was trying to say in that it may be wobbles caused by growth as opposed to being flat out wobbles. Either way, I am glad it is progressing in a good way.
