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  Discussion on Surgery for Roaring? Anyone Had Any Success?
Author Message
New Member:
Botchi

Posted on Saturday, Jan 20, 2007 - 7:52 pm:

First of all, I did read the article on Roaring - good article.

I have a 5 year old Dressage prospect which I sent into training December 1st 06. He became unsound so the farm called the vet. The vet watched him go and the first thing he said was "have you had him scoped for Roaring?" I said, "no, I thought he sounded normal". His reply was that we should scope him before we spend hundreds looking for a lameness if in fact he was a Roarer..... So, sure enough he is a Roarer! Even though it was barely detectable - the vet said "he is the worst case I have seen". Completely shocked me!

Looking and reading all the reports on Roaring surgery has made me very uneasy. I know he will not have a career as a dressage horse if surgery is not done. And, he is NOT a trail type. At 17.3 and the hotter type of horse trail riding is no even an option. The hospital wants 3000 and a 5 day stay, the medical "center" wants 2000 and over night stay. Is the stay super important? I would think so. I am certain that a VERY experienced Dr. should perform the surgery but how do you ask if they are experienced and get a truthful answer without offending them? UGH!!!

Has anyone had the surgery done? If so what grade was your horse and which surgery did you choose?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Denise
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jan 21, 2007 - 9:17 am:

Denise, no noise and no signs of performance limiting blockage? Why do you think the surgery required? I have to wonder about the assessment of worse case since the amount of noise is usually a pretty good indicator of severity in my experience though I have not seen a study done of this. The problem is what you see standing is not always what occurs when exercising.

Also of consideration is that LH does tend to be progressive. But because there can be complications and failures and waiting does not lessen the prognosis of surgery, I recommend there be a clear performance limiting reason to do surgery.

And another thing, you can look at this the other way around: why do a 2500 dollar surgery if the hocks need a 200 dollar work up and a 100 injection or even worse, a permanant performance limiting late developing OCD?

Then again maybe I have missed somethng here and the points about LH in particular are in the article you have already read. Concerning asking about experience, just ask, if they act all uppity about it take it as a sign of something wrong and move on.
DrO
Member:
Botchi

Posted on Sunday, Jan 21, 2007 - 9:45 am:

His roaring is performance limiting. His work 'recovery' is compromised. He was tested diring exercise - not a treadmill. We worked him and then looked at is recovery and airway. It was VERY obvious that there is a problem. Articles I read mentioned that some severe cases did NOT make loud noises. He does make noise - but what I thought wasn't something bad. As soon as Dr. Donaldson - Hilltop Farm Colora Maryland, heard him his eyes lit up. So it was my mistake for not catching it.

It is not the hocks. Did I say hocks? He has soft tissue injury in his front left from (I think) shearing off three shoes in 3 weeks on that front left foot. He is only off slightly at the trot.

Surgery is a MUST. And I want to hear from people whom have had it done. I believe Dr. Donaldson especially since he does hundreds of pre-purchase exams on million dollar horses. Endoscopy for Roaring is standard practice on a high dollar purchase. So for Dr. Donaldson looking for trouble is as common as listening to a heart. I will also have the hospital look at him (of course) before surgery.
Member:
amara

Posted on Sunday, Jan 21, 2007 - 2:01 pm:

Hi Denise,
I really cant offer very much but many many years ago when I was at college one of the horses in our draft horse program became a roarer and he had the surgery done... there was some concern as to whether itwould work because of his size (18.3), and that it was a common problem with the very large draft horses...
He did recover from the surgery and get back onto the 6 horse hitch (the best in the country might i add), but I have no idea if it was a permanent fix or not... it was my last year of schoool when it happened
good luck
mel
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Sunday, Jan 21, 2007 - 8:25 pm:

Denise,
I had a barrel racing mare that was a roarer. I was a kid at the time and dont remember much but here is what I do:
Her roaring was loud. we had the surgery done at a equine hospital in phoenix. She recovered nicely. I had her for about 6 more years and she did fine.
Good luck with your horse
Member:
botchi

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 1:18 pm:

Thank you Melissa and Leslie for your input.

FYI - Grade 4 (out of 4) and completely paralyzed on the left side.

Denise
www.BryantFarm.com
Member:
paardex

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 2:18 pm:

Denise,
I bred a showjumper who had to have this operation, he was a bad case too. He performed very well [1.40 Light International] after the operation and ended his international carreer at 15 because of a tendon problem.
Usually in Holland this situation [if the operation was succesful] is not seen as a problem for a dressage horse or a showjumper.
Jos
Member:
botchi

Posted on Monday, Jan 22, 2007 - 4:09 pm:

Hi jos-
Glad your surgery went well. Do you remember if it was a "tie-back" surgery?
Denise
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 - 8:03 am:

Denise, my apologies. My mistake was to take your comment, "Completely shocked Me!" to mean there was no respiratory problem prior and this was discovered incidentally. I did not mean to suggest that scoping is not a reasonable prepurchase exam procedure. And the hock was used as a "for instance" example. Certainly if you think you have a compromised respiratory system have the surgery done.
DrO
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