Hopefully this thread will educate a lot of us to be aware of the early signs. But I noticed within an hour of the first sign (he was fine at 7am, and had neuro symptoms at 8am). Vet was out within an hour and he was shipped right up to NC State. After 5 days, when they could not figure out what to do, I had him shipped/ambulanced to New Bolton. And in another week, he was dead.
So, sometimes even the quickest responses cannot save a horse, but it can get the horse immediate medical intervention and relief from the worst of his symptoms and pain. Sadly, in those cases it cannot reverse anything. But the horse will be taken care of in the best way possible. All we can do is all we can do
As an update, vet thinks it her first heat of the year starting, her ovaries are really sore, and hormones out of whack. Not sure what to do with this information now. Her rearing behavior is just so concerning.
This started in November. You need a new vet NOW. The horse needs to be shipped to an equine hospital where they have the equipment to diagnose things much faster/better than a farm call vet. Having worked at such a place for quite a few years in the past I can tell you that is where you need to go to. Get a team of vets who who all be involved.
I cannot imagine your vet is correct if the symptoms youâve stated are accurate. Iâd get yourselfâand your mareâa second opinion.
My (non-vet) opinion? Screams EPM.
Beginning of January she started spooking hard at very strange times for no reason, and was also very unwilling to trot a circle. Sheâd try to stop whenever I asked her to circle. Itâs also very difficult to lunge her because sheâs started exploding on the lunge line at anything more than a walk (rearing, striking out, bucking, running backwards). Which I have to reiterate is strange for her because of how solid she is. I chalked it up to the fact we had been in the indoor arena so much in the last two months because of Canadian winter.
At the Beginning of February she tripped at a walk and went down onto her knees, while walking in the arena under saddle. I was worried, but I was also about to get her feet trimmed so I let it go againâŠ
middle of Feb now and she has refused all work. She plants herself and when asked to move forward she rears and multiple times in a row.
However now, just handwalking her she rears and spooks, trips herself, and strikes out.
I cant say enough how out of nature this is for her. She was a happy go lucky, try her hardest, life loving girl and it seems she so angry about life now. Iâm concerned it may be neurological.
Nope. Did you tell your vet the WHOLE timeline? Or did the vet just not listen?
Things starting in November, and progressing like youâve laid out, are not from âthe first heat of the yearâ.
Obviously youâre finally getting concerned, but you donât seem to be concerned enough. Itâs been 3+ month with increasingly abnormal and dangerous behavior. That isnât from low heels a hormonal change that occurs 2+ months after all this started.
If your vet is so nonchalant about this, not caring to listen to what I hope was you saying this started in November, then find another vet. Donât ask yours for a referral, just start calling. If you canât find a vet close enough who will come evaluate the mare, then start calling hospitals within a dayâs drive and ask them for help.
Thinking about you and your mare. I hope you get an answer that makes sense. Just curious, did your vet do a basic Neuro test? Walking up and down hills with her head held up so she cannot see her feet (tests for proprioception), the tail pull test? The walking in tiny circles? The putting one foot across the other to see if she realizes it and moves her foot back?
Those are the basic tests that an owner can do. The harder part is understanding the results . But if you do the tests on a sound horse, then on yours I bet there will be some big differences.
