Showing a horse with unsolved health issues

[leighbo009]

Anyone shown a horse that has some health issues that causes questions and be successful? My horse has a urine/bladder incontinence issue. (I started another forum in horse health). We have done a very through investigation, but still don’t have complete answers or a solution.

I feel fine showing at schooling shows, they are much more low key. But I worry about going to a recognized show. I would hate to waste the money to get to a show and be told we are “unsound” to show. It causes no other issues beside he dribbles pee almost consistently, except while he is working. So we when stop it comes out. Will an official question it and eliminate us? We are only running novice, possibly training. I do have all the documents from the vet visits.

If it wasn’t quite so noticeable, I wouldn’t worry so much about it.

[skydy]

I would absolutely get to the bottom of the medical issue before even riding him, let alone showing, but that’s one (my) opinion.
Constantly dribbling urine makes him very prone to dehydration. What diagnostics have been done?

[LittleMare]

@skydy

I would absolutely get to the bottom of the medical issue before even riding him, let alone showing, but that’s one (my) opinion.
Constantly dribbling urine makes him very prone to dehydration. What diagnostics have been done?

Dribbling urine will have no effect on hydration. The kidneys regulate urine production based on hydration and electrolyte status. The bladder stores urine. Dribbling will lead to plenty of skin issues and could indicate an underlying problem that will increase the risk of developing a UTI, but it won’t cause dehydration.

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[skydy]

@LittleMare

Dribbling urine will have no effect on hydration. The kidneys regulate urine production based on hydration and electrolyte status. The bladder stores urine. Dribbling will lead to plenty of skin issues and could indicate an underlying problem that will increase the risk of developing a UTI, but it won’t cause dehydration.

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If we knew that his kidneys had been imaged I’d agree, but which diagnostics have been done are not clear.

[Willesdon]

@leighbo009

Anyone shown a horse that has some health issues that causes questions…
I feel fine showing at schooling shows, they are much more low key. But I worry about going to a recognized show. I would hate to waste the money to get to a show and be told we are “unsound” …
If it wasn’t quite so noticeable, I wouldn’t worry so much about it.

Your horse is not fit - dribbling urine is NOT normal - and you still wish to compete?

[JustTheTicket]

You should probably save the show fees and put it toward diagnosing what’s wrong. An official may or may not say anything, but your fellow competitors will notice that you’re showing a horse who isn’t healthy.

[NewYork_Marx]

I would not show or perhaps even ride this horse, but I tend to be quite cautious…

[enjoytheride]

Yes, if he was cleared by my vet to ride and show.

I have no idea what you’ve done or what your vet says but I would if he was cleared to ride and I knew the urine issue wasn’t going to be made worse by exercise.

[skydy]

@enjoytheride

Yes, if he was cleared by my vet to ride and show.

I have no idea what you’ve done or what your vet says but I would if he was cleared to ride and I knew the urine issue wasn’t going to be made worse by exercise.

How could the vet “clear” the horse to be ridden without knowing the cause of the incontinence?

[leighbo009]

I was trying to not weigh down all the details. But he has been seen by 2 different vet teaching hospitals at university’s. He was admitted at both for full weeks to do testing. As well at follow up visits monthly. And both got to a point of still no real answers.

One believes it to be autoimmune and the other believes it to be neurological but only effecting bladder. Possibly autoimmune attacked nerves that control the bladder. Began with ulcers in the bladder wall, able to treat those and they are gone for the most part besides when sabulous material iterates the wall lining since he doesn’t flush it out.

All sorts of testing has been done, and from the knowledge we can see, it only effects the bladder. If they are other suggestions I am willing to investigate more with him. But the vets are not sure what the next steps are.

it has not gotten worse in the 2 years. We didn’t do anything for a full year while we where doing the investigations, but since there are no changes I am trying to decide if that should even be a goal. He gets more upset about not doing anything and not being worked, than the bladder issue.

[leighbo009]

And based on these responses, I guess I’ll not worry about trying to get back out showing. He has a lot to show younger riders and a lot more to offer me, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to deal with people questioning if we have done what’s right and probably talking about him behind our backs.

[Willesdon]

Given the history, with clearence from the vets and your insurence company, perhaps contact the Organiser of the event, explain the situation, and ask for their agreement also. Should your horse be unhappy, or the problem evidently be made worse, you can always withdraw. Should other competitors comment, you’ve sought advice before you entered.

I’m sorry that you are having to deal with such a challenging problem.

[skydy]

@leighbo009

And based on these responses, I guess I’ll not worry about trying to get back out showing. He has a lot to show younger riders and a lot more to offer me, but I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to deal with people questioning if we have done what’s right and probably talking about him behind our backs.

People will probably notice and will probably bring it to your attention, thinking that you are unaware of the problem. You might spend more time explaining than you’d like.
Perhaps @Janet could address the issue from an official point of view and give you an idea of what you might be dealing with from that perspective.

What a frustrating problem. Is there any chance of getting a new consult? Long ago we took a filly to a University hospital and, long story short, the vet there advised euth. The second hospital said nothing to be done. The 3rd consult did surgery. Filly recovered well and was fine. Sometimes it pays to keep on trying .

It sounds as if you’ve been thorough though. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this.

[leighbo009]

@skydy

People will probably notice and will probably bring it to your attention, thinking that you are unaware of the problem. You might spend more time explaining than you’d like.
Perhaps @Janet could address the issue from an official point of view and give you an idea of what you might be dealing with from that perspective.

What a frustrating problem. Is there any chance of getting a new consult? Long ago we took a filly to a University hospital and, long story short, the vet there advised euth. The second hospital said nothing to be done. The 3rd consult did surgery. Filly recovered well and was fine. Sometimes it pays to keep on trying .

It sounds as if you’ve been thorough though. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this.

there’s one more I want to consult, and mt local vet agrees, but we gotta get that travel figured out because it’s a full day drive away. But hopefully we can.

I’ve gotten used to explaining, normally people tell me he’s trying to pee. And then I explain. Which I can deal with for the most part.

[enjoytheride]

@skydy

How could the vet “clear” the horse to be ridden without knowing the cause of the incontinence?

I don’t understand the question at all. What’s the difference in clearing a horse for schooling shows and clearing it for recognized shows?

Clearly the OP is riding the horse at home and going to schooling shows and her vet has cleared the horse for those activities. The horse appears to otherwise enjoy his job and the bladder issue doesn’t get worse with work. She has clearly spoken to vets on numerous occasions and has never been told to not ride or take the horse to schooling shows.

Now you have some internet warriors telling her that they wouldn’t take him to recognized shows, calling him unfit, unsound, and in danger of dehydration. The horse’s medical issue doesn’t know the difference between schooling and recognized and the vet has signed off on it. She knows her horse, she’s talked to her vet, but this post has just justified that people will make assumptions and talk about her behind her back without having any idea what is actually happening.

[NewYork_Marx]

@enjoytheride

I don’t understand the question at all. What’s the difference in clearing a horse for schooling shows and clearing it for recognized shows?

Clearly the OP is riding the horse at home and going to schooling shows and her vet has cleared the horse for those activities. The horse appears to otherwise enjoy his job and the bladder issue doesn’t get worse with work. She has clearly spoken to vets on numerous occasions and has never been told to not ride or take the horse to schooling shows.

Now you have some internet warriors telling her that they wouldn’t take him to recognized shows, calling him unfit, unsound, and in danger of dehydration. The horse’s medical issue doesn’t know the difference between schooling and recognized and the vet has signed off on it. She knows her horse, she’s talked to her vet, but this post has just justified that people will make assumptions and talk about her behind her back without having any idea what is actually happening.

The OP asked… Vets can and are wrong sometimes. In this case? Hard to say…

Internet warriors? really? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?

I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable riding this horse if it was my horse, others can ride the horse and show if they prefer. I tend to not be able to mentally move past something like this to enjoy the ride.

[Ghazzu]

@skydy

I would absolutely get to the bottom of the medical issue before even riding him, let alone showing, but that’s one (my) opinion.
Constantly dribbling urine makes him very prone to dehydration.

It does not.

[enjoytheride]

@NewYork_Marx

The OP asked… Vets can and are wrong sometimes. In this case? Hard to say…

Internet warriors? really? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?

I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable riding this horse if it was my horse, others can ride the horse and show if they prefer. I tend to not be able to mentally move past something like this to enjoy the ride.

She didn’t ask if her vet was wrong.

She asked if people at recognized shows would judge her.

The answer apparently is yes. People are accusing her riding an unfit, dehydrated, lame horse yet she has been in close contact with her vets who appear to be fine with her riding and showing this horse. I’ll take the advice of my vet over the advice of random strangers on the internet any day, but if she’s asking about being judged this is a pretty good place for that.

[skydy]

Good lord. Read the opening post again.

The OP is concerned that if she took her incontinent horse to recognized show, her horse may be considered unsound by the officials. I don’t know the answer to that.
I was hoping @Janet being an official, might have an answer for the OP.

[skydy]

@Ghazzu

It does not.

Thanks Ghazzu, I stand corrected.

Have you ever encountered unresolved incontinence in horses? It seems unusual to me, but I’m not a Veterinarian…