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Discussion on 1 vet says Stringhalt, the other momentary UFP
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Member:
cmora
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 6, 2007 - 3:33 pm:
I'm so bummed about either diagnosis but don't know who to believe. One vet did a visual inspection of my horse at walk, trot, canter on a lunge line and advised he suspected momentary fixation of the patellar. He pointed out the 'hitch' appeared at all 3 gates and worsened on unlevel ground or muddy soil. He firmly stated it is not fixed...but intermittent.
The 2nd vet initially suspected UFP but after xrays and a more thorough exam came back with the diagnosis of stringhalt.
The horse did have a suspensory ligament injury in the same hind leg 2 years ago.
Both vets are HIGHLY regarded as "THE leg guys" in Houston and not at the same clinic.
I see from some of the articles that UFP and stringhalt can be hard to differentiate.
How can I be sure what is going on?
I am considering a visit to A&M for a third opinion.
Either way I am saddened that after raising my guy from 3 months old to finally having him old enough to ride he has either problem. He was going to be my first well bred horse that I had very high hopes for....
I just want to be able to fix it - whatever it is.
How can I be sure what it is?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 6, 2007 - 6:14 pm:
Cheryl, if you can get a video in a MPEG format emailed to me I will see if I can get it posted and review it. I would like to see the horse walking and trotting both ways at a steady gait for at least 4 strides. The camera should be on a tripod and as far away as possible but zoomed so the horse just fills the frame. Close ups where the effected leg fill the frame at the walk and trot would be good also. The light must be behind you. Lacking that consider a third opinion.
Don't forget you can treat both of these diseases with the prognosis for the UFP being very good though the stringhalt is a little less certain.
DrO
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Member:
cmora
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 6, 2007 - 8:39 pm:
I will see if I can get you a good clip this weekend.
Thanks
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Member:
cmora
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 - 5:02 pm:
DR O - I have a video clip of my horse that has been diagnosed as both stringhalt & UFP. It's not great (you might think bad) but I'd like to email it to you. What email address would I use? Mine is cmoran1DISCARD@earthlink.net
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Feb 23, 2007 - 6:48 am:
Hello Cheryl you should email it to the address at the Help & Information ยป Still Need Help: Contact Us. I notice you choose not to display your email address in your profile (which is what we recommend) so have edited your email above to prevent it from being used by spambots that come along websites and harvest emails to send junk email to. Put LAME HORSE VIDEO in the subject line.
DrO
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Member:
cmora
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Posted on Friday, Feb 23, 2007 - 9:53 am:
Thanks for changing the email....
I've sent the video.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 24, 2007 - 7:20 am:
I have got the video and I will try and review it this weekend Cheryl.
DrO
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 - 8:29 am:
Stringhalt or Upward Fixation of the Patella
Cheryl, I have uploaded the movie and it can viewed by clicking on the link above. You will need a Windows Media Viewer to play it...I think.
I do find it a bit hard to see but there are several good steps demonstrating the problem at the walk toward the end of the clip. I would like you to note that following that best example where the left hyperflexes as the horse walks away from the camera that the right has one step of hyerflexion that is much less pronounced suggesting to me a bilateral problem.
I can see the reason for the confusion the hyperflexion begins just at the point that you would see the medial patella to become fixed however I do not see a catch in the motion and that suggests to me this is a stringhalt-like disease. However I think there is a way we can get more information easily. When I have had a problem like this I have someone walk the horse while I walk along side. I place my hand on the front of the stifle and you can feel the patella as it travels in the groove of the distal femur. You want to see if you can feel a "snap" at the point of the hyperflexion or does it jerk smoothly with the jerk of the leg. Spend some time getting the horse use to this as some horses find the sensation of someone with the hand on the moving stifle odd and may kick at you.
DrO
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Member:
cmora
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Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 - 11:54 am:
I'm glad you see it on both sides. I thought so too. Thanks for taking the time to look at the clip. I will take your advice and walk along side with him and see what I feel.
I'll let you know - just for closure.
I will continue exercising him and enjoy him for a while and see how he does.
Thank you.
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Member:
savage
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Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2007 - 7:27 pm:
Hi Dr.O when clicking on the link to see the video it says that the page has been moved. Is the video in another location?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 6:07 am:
Odd Linda, I had the link working yesterday. When I get in the office this morn I will check it out.
DrO
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 6:15 am:
Linda, I have it working right now, but this will be an experiment to see if when I post to the forum is the link corrupted with the regeneration of this page.
DrO
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Member:
tuckern
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 2:49 pm:
Hi Cheryl, I don't have any knowledge of stringhalt or UFP, but just wanted to say what a lovely boy you've got there! I hope you're able to figure out what's going on and get the problem fixed, and I'll be sending positive thoughts your way.
Nicole
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Member:
savage
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 27, 2007 - 7:01 pm:
Hi Dr. O I tried to play it using FireFox, and also using Explorer and it doesn't work, I get a screen with nothing but code.
I called a friend and she was able to play it, she sent me a copy of the video in Email and it plays fine. So it's my browsers, for what ever reason it didn't like it.
Thank you for checking that for me 
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Member:
cmora
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Posted on Friday, Mar 2, 2007 - 8:12 pm:
Dr O ~
Hi. As i continue to absorb everything about Stringhalt a question has come to mind that seems stupid but the more I read the more I believe it is worth asking. One of the 2 known causes for stringhalt is from some Australian weed and/or dandelion. So, (here comes the stupid part I think) I assumed this plant could never be the reason for Stringhalt in the US. I live in Houston. Could my pasture possibly contain the harmful weed? I have two other horses on the pasture - they dont show signs.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 3, 2007 - 7:17 am:
Yes there have been reports of pasture related stringhalt from both the America's and Europe and it is not uncommon to have some individuals effected and some not.
DrO
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