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Discussion on Stifle? need help/ideas
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New Member:
Coolmule
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 8, 2006 - 1:40 pm:
I have a 5 year old mustang gelding that I have had for 6 weeks. He was untouched except for a brief stay at a rescue organization. We had been working with him such as lunging for the first 3 weeks and had never taken a bad step. Last week he was turned out in pasture and I notice him keeping his right hind leg out behind him and then jerking it up towards his belly. I had the vet out to look at him and he was diagnosed with a mild case of upper fixation of the patella. He did not believe he would have another problem in the next 10 years. The very next day, it happened 5 more times. I called my vet again nad he recommended 24 hours of turn-out or 24 hour stall rest and bute 1 gram twice daily,the choice was mine. I elected stall rest because our forecast called for freezing rain. After the stall rest we did not have a problem with him all weekend. Now this Monday I came home from work and noticed he was stretching out and jerking both of his hind legs, not just the right. While I was on the phone with the receptionist at my veterinarians, he stretched completely out with both hind legs and almost fell trying to pull them forward. I was again told to stall rest him and use bute but this time for 3 weeks! This is very difficult to do with a mustang! While trying to take him to his stall, he almost fell over again. After 24 hours of stall rest he again was taken outside and no lameness was present.however his hind legs were sticked up and there was heat in the coronet bands of his hind legs. We had questioned EPM after seeing this progress to both hind legs in a weeks time, however he doesn't always show the symptoms. My vet is leaning toward an injury or neurologic deficit. Does anybody have any recommendations or suggestions? I would really appreciate your help
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Member:
Chole
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 8, 2006 - 10:10 pm:
My experience turned out to be EPM diagnosis with 6 rounds of Marquis as the treatment and then they found a torn medial meniscus tear when doing orthroscopy. Guess you will have to figure cost-effectiveness of treatments. They were both expensive. Wishing you the best of luck. Chole
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 9, 2006 - 6:43 am:
I am not quick to diagnose EPM in these cases Erin and consider it unlikely. More likely is the change in the amount of exercise this horse is getting compared to his past life. Since you have not posted in the UFoftheP article page, I presume you have not found it, it explains much about this condition and you will find it at Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Diseases of the Stifle » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella.
DrO
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Member:
Coolmule
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 9, 2006 - 3:24 pm:
Thanks for the information, I will have a look at that page.
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Member:
Coolmule
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 9, 2006 - 7:59 pm:
I took a look at that page and found that he does fit some of the symptoms. What baffles me is that his symptoms seem to improve or disappear after being in a stall which is unusual for this condition. After 2 days of stall rest he has been turned out for 2 days with no problems noted. Since he is a mustang and only has limited exposure to humans, it is difficult to work him on a straight and to work him up and down hills. I appreciate all of your help and look forward to hearing your input. 
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Nov 10, 2006 - 7:25 am:
Erin if the problem returns it strikes me you have three choices:- See if the horse can work through it in the pasture.
- Attempt stall rest again.
- Consider the surgical options in the article.
It is not clear that one choice is better than another given the history of improvement with rest. But if the problem is too severe to allow to go on and it continues to return following rest, surgery should be contemplated.
DrO
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Member:
Coolmule
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 10:07 am:
Thank-you very much.
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