Sidewinder?

[GigiBecker]

Hello,

There’s a horse at the barn that appears to have “sidewinder”. It became obvious just a couple of days ago and the owner’s vet (who didn’t come out) said it sounded like “sidewinder”. I never heard of that before.

The horse is a 23 yr old g, long since retired, but has lost a lot of weight recently. Is treated already for Cushings. Pretty much, the horse’s balance is really bad and he walks kind of in haunches-in. At feeding, he looks like he wants to go to his bucket and hay but also looks like he really has to work to coordinate his body to get there. It came on really quickly so is likely the neurological form.

Anyone with experience with this? The vet upped the Cushings meds and said it “may or may not work”. From what I’m reading, it’s likely not going to resolve. I’d like to know other peoples’ experience with this awful condition. Thank you.

[Simkie]

Did you test for epm?

[GigiBecker]

The vet didn’t even come out. I think EPM falls under the “sidewinder” umbrella. I think the definitive EPM test is done post-mortem, right?

[Simkie]

@GigiBecker

I think the definitive EPM test is done post-mortem, right?

Epm can definitely be diagnosed and treated in a living equine.

And that should be considered for any neurologically abnormal horse in areas where it exists. Which is most of the country.

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)

[CanteringCarrot]

Yeah, the most recent case of “sidewinder” that I’ve witnessed, was due to EPM. Once treatment started the horse improved dramatically.

[GigiBecker]

The owner is never out and I’m guessing she won’t even want to try an antiprotozoal regimen. It’s cheaper to just try the drugs rather than that type of diagnosis. Thanks for the information.

[RhythmNCruise]

Bless. If upping his current meds doesn’t help, she should go ahead and euthanize. No fair letting him struggle and risk hurting himself.

I understand that not everyone has the money to treat something like this in an older horse. No shame in letting him have a dignified death before things get worse.

But I know that’s not your call.

[GraceLikeRain]

I hope the owner is responsive. A neurologically compromised horse is scary for the horse and anyone handling the horse. Without even a basic vet exam I also don’t think head trauma should be ruled out although EPM seems most likely.

[McGurk]

If the horse previously has had symptoms of shivers, it could be the progression of shivers.

But based on your description, I think EPM is more likely.

And if they’re not willing to treat, the horse should be put down. He can’t tell where his hind feet are. It’s no life for a horse. He should not be turned out with other horses, at the very least.

[NaturallyHappy]

Neck arthritis can cause this, as well. And right…it’s frightening to the horse and dangerous to people. OP, perhaps the barn owner can insist upon a veterinary exam for the safety of all involved. I do not see how increasing medication for Cushings/PPID will improve this. Best of luck to you and the dear horse.

[xQHDQ]

We had a horse with sidewinders. Our vet said that it usually occurs in horses who had in the past some type of neurologic issue (he did). It starts with the horse just walking a little sideways (hence the name), and eventually progresses where the horse only walks in circles, and if it falls down, it won’t be able to get back up. We euthanized ours before winter, so he wouldn’t have to navigate frozen, slippery ground. At the time, he was leaning on the fence a lot to walk straight. Sorry you’re dealing with this.

[ClearDonkey]

I said goodbye to my gelding at 26 years old, who began sidewinding. I had been treating his Cushing’s for four years (and I believe he went undiagnosed for at least two years before that) before he became neurologic. I had a vet out who believed this was the Cushing’s progressing. Her opinion was he may sidewind and be happy in the pasture for years to come, or he could suddenly get worse and hurt someone or himself.

I laid him to rest that day. I personally will not have the liability of a horse unsteady on its feet around, even this horse, my heart horse and other half. His greatest joy was playing in the pasture, and this neurologic development kept him at a walk and unable to cause a ruckus any longer.

[Night_Flight]

My mare gradually started walking slightly sideways and unfortunately we were never able to diagnose whether the cause was physical or neurological (neuro test was inconclusive and nothing came up in blood tests) because she ended up with supporting limb laminitis after we tried the hock injections suggested by one vet since she couldn’t localize exactly where the “lameness” was but thought she saw some hock stiffness. I hope things go better for your friend’s horse.

[awaywego]

My best horse came in one morning with sidewinder. It was so strange looking but he did not appear to be in pain. I made an appointment immediately with Dr Johnson, the New Bolton neurologist, who diagnosed it as sidewinder. He was put on equioxx and gabapentin for a month - at which time we did a bone scan to see if a pasture injury was the cause. There was no indication of remodeling or injury so the cause was “unknown.” I was told to wean him off the gabapentin, at which time he became increasingly unsteady and I had to put him down. I will never stop regretting that I didn’t push harder on asking why EPM was not considered a possibility or why we didn’t just try treating him for EPM to see if he had any improvement.

According to Dr Johnson’s own research, the prognosis is very poor and generally fatal. My horse had Cushings - I asked of there was a possible connection and was there is no known link.

If it were me now, I would treat for EPM.