He really is so so cute. And that poo is wierd looking. Please do keep us posted and good luck.
@starsandsun I ordered the Equilibrium pad and did a nutritional consult w Martha Faraday and have my guy on a plan for improvement. I’ll keep ya’ll posted.
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Hi - I guess I didn’t see this! Sorry!!!
When he was doing the muscle trembling thing, it was long, low warm up - like15 minutes walking in hand and under tack. Trot that was consciously planned for pony trot, a ‘good’ trot, and more of a working trot within each ‘set’. The itty bitty pony trot is excellent for triggering stabilizer muscles over power muscles.
I also got him moving over ground poles, and in-hand work to step under himself. I think it was all helpful.
I can’t remember the ranges, but when my horse was first tested he was at 90 ug/dL and that was described as critically low - I think in EDM territory. He’s been on 8000 units per day, and last test put him at 5.3 ppm, right in the middle of normal (serum vitamin E in adult horses is 2 to 10 ppm).
Thank you for both these responses. So helpful!
@starsandsun – Did your gelding present with any excess gassiness during his rides? I know you mentioned he seemed frozen in his back and unable to take contact – did you ever notice excess gas or more comfort after gas passed?
Also curious if any of his initial bloodwork (white blood cell counts, etc.) would point to the bacterial infection you eventually found?
I have a younger warmblood gelding who has struggled with intermittent mild gas colics for 1+ years now and incredible gassy-ness during rides… I’ve gone down traditional paths multiple times, with limited success.
I’ll certainly contribute more later, but just wondered if these markers were present for you, when getting to the bottom of your gelding’s diagnosis.
Hi - well, there was a period of time where was super gassy under saddle, but that didn’t last long and was not evident in the last 2 years before things went south.
I tracked all his blood work through all the years, and honestly there were never markers that suggested inflammation. I did see weird liver values occasionally, and there were surprises (like sudden colic/not colic that landed him in biosecure emergency room, with zero findings of why he was so sick). Only with biopsies did they see eosinophils, but that was discounted that despite other indications we might be dealing with gut inflammation.
Another COTH-er has had similar issues and had her horse evaluated in the same manner as mine, and found some shocking stuff in his stomach that is being treated. Please reach out to me either here or by PM if you want to talk more about what your boy is going through. It has taken me years to get to a place where my horse is healed. Oh, we just had a re-check yesterday for gut inflammation by ultrasound, and he is PERFECT!
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My update is we started a new feed program on 2/2 and all supplements on board by 2/9 and pretty quickly the big long gases stopped. The ABC (Advanced Biological Concepts MOP) was onboard early and I think that was a huge help on that. He’s feeling much better in his body - allowing light grooming and now stretching down more on the lunge. I use my whole arena as much as possible at the trot.
Manures have days of looking almost normal and then go back to cow patties. I also got the Equilibrium Pad and very impressed with the quality and can see how it helps the back muscles relax.
Also received bacterial results from Univ of Delaware’s Microbiome Project but they don’t test for the bad guys like Stars references. Both my horses have more firmicutes that most horses and less Bacteroidetes. The nutritionist I worked with feels intestinal inflammation is the cause of my guys issues MORE than the PSSM. And she said it takes a while to heal the hind gut. If this helps anyone.
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I thought it would be of value too to add we’ve had no colics, no biting at me, no pawing while we’re working, trying to lay down.
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Updates wouldn’t be boring at all! Please do share 
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It is about time I update you all on Zeteo, thank you Pippigirl for the prompting.
I took him to see Dr. Polkes on Feb 9.
Evaluations performed:
Scope - checked his fasting pH, biopsies of his stomach lining, took sample of stomach fluid to culture
Rectal biopsy
Ultrasound to look for thickening
Results:
Ultrasound showed no thickening 
pH = 7 (normal fasting pH 1-2) 
No wonder he’s a mess!
Culture of stomach fluid showed heavy growth Serratia (thrives in pH of 7-9) which should not be present in a healthy stomach.
Rectal biopsy revealed significant inflammation with a predominance of lymphocytes and plasma cells. The type of inflammation was “not specific but typical of inflammation occurring with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease” IBD.
Stomach lining biopsies show lymphocytic/plasmacytic and eosinophilic enteritis and proctitus.
<<Side note in case any of you are wondering, he’s never been on ulcerguard or other ulcer treatment, which raise pH>>
Treatment: treatment of Baytril (enrofloxacin) for 3-4 weeks and see him again to re-evaluate
Zeteo update:
Today is day 9 of enrofloxacin. Days 6 - 8 the size and shape of his abdomen has reduced to a low to moderated amount of bloating and has been steady and unchanged. That may sound insignificant, but I assure you it is not! His demeanor has a calm to it that I have not seen in a very long time. It is obvious he is feeling better. It is WAY too early to say what the future will hold but it is certainly a hopeful start.
What’s next?
I will take him back to see Dr Polkes in a few weeks. I expect her to do a scope and we will go from there. One day at a time.
About the IBD / inflammation as some of you are undoubtedly wondering, it responds well to systemic steroid treatment however everyone agrees bacterial overgrowth and pH must be under control. While the report does not state this, I am sure the bacteria and pH are throwing everything out of whack and after lifelong gut problems, of course he has inflammation. It is my continued hope that the rebalancing of his stomach pH via antibiotic will hold and over time will allow his body to do its own job in keeping things balanced.
That’s where we’re at, definitely a promising start and I’m happy to say my greatest anxiety that we see Dr. Polkes and come away with no answers / no direction / no hope has not been realized.
Thank you all for your support, questions and suggestions. There is no such thing as to many ideas when dealing with the unknown.
Until next time…
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I am so so so happy for you. You cannot know how much it means to me that in sharing my story it has helped you and Zeteo.
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@Epanafero Your update is profound. I’m so happy for you and your horse. And your observation of his chill disposition. Imagine not feeling the discomfort he’s felt for so long. So look forward to your future reports and knowing you are helping more horses because this stuff is going to be a paradigm shift in horse keeping. I have no doubt.
I also have to report that yesterday we had cantering in the field on 4 occasions with NO bucking. I celebrate that. Have not seen that in the 10 months I’ve had this horse.
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Please post new pix of Zeteo, and his manure! 
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This poor horse must feel soooo much better. Sounds like he is having a better day every day.
He is lucky to have an owner who is determined to make him comfortable!
This thread is definitely a learning opportunity for horse owners. And a cautionary tale as well. And an encouragement - not just to keep searching for answers for an unhappy, uncomfortable horse, but also some tips on where to search.
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I forgot to ask you, how does the vet collect a stomach fluid sample?
Hi - during the gastroscopy, they just suck out some of the fluid that’s in the stomach into a reservoir container.
@starsandsun @Epanafero @Dark_horse17 What’s the latest with your horse’s gut health and behavior? I came back to this thread to read it again for more clues to helping my guy. He started refusing some of the gut supplements and I thought well let’s see what happens and we went off them. He’d been on them 3 months so…
Gas and once a day cow patties came back. Other poops looking fairly normal but never normal.
Of course, also managing grass intake and there is that factor. On arrival to me he also had the FEC of 2100 so I wonder about intestinal damage and is that the cause of all this?
So I get to thinking, “Is it not prudent to get a pH, bacterial culture in his gut and do an u/s of his intestinal lining?” What we spend on supplements and if it isn’t RESOLVING what is wrong then seems to not make sense.
Thinking a consult with Dr. Polkes would be money well spent.
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I would.
My boy has never, ever felt better. As you may have read, our story/nightmare started when he was six and was grinding in every ride. He was tight, uncomfortable, anxious, and an overall hot mess, although he could do the work. I pulled him from the trainer and it has taken me this long (what a journey) to get him healthy.
Just had a quarterly check, and he has no evidence of inflammation. I’m keeping an eye on behavioral indications - there is no evidence he feels uncomfortable. He is AMAZING under saddle, and I’m able to ride how ever long I’d like without grinding or anxiety. I’ve been keeping regular massage appointments, and he is finally putting on muscle that is relaxed and healthy, and only tight like a horse in work would be. He’s really using himself in a new way, and it’s obvious it’s working for him.
Manure is normal, he’s relaxed and happy, and he looks so so so good.
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Who knows how many horses your story will help? Shouldn’t your story be in Equus? Right? The Horse? And can ONLY imagine your incredible joy that you got him back. AND, how you describe how good he feels in his body. Imagine how many horses are going around with bacterial, pH, and hind gut issues and they could be solved and have a willing happy horse.
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Thought I’d update this thread that I’m reaching out to Amy tomorrow for a consult and plan to do the pH, bacterial analysis, u/s and biopsy if she thinks all warranted. I’d hoped after our root canal early April that I’d see big positive changes but we’re not.
He’s still gassy, colicky here and there and for the most part will not move with weight on him. He also has odd behaviors like in hand out walking my property he stops like he’s stuck and rests a hind leg.
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