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  Discussion on OCD, EPSM, Stringhalt...
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Member:
Aeowen

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2003 - 3:00 pm:

or what??

We have a 13 year old Irish Draught in the barn who is taking short and choppy steps, getting worse, he gets patchy sweats, and has no energy.

The vets here had his hocks injected after flexion testing him, but no other diagnostic tests were done. His joint fluid is excessive, and watery, indicating inflammation in the joint.

He is quite a large horse, who gets underweight every summer (which I find odd), so we have recently upped his hay and grain because he has little muscle and zero energy. The extra grain is helping his energy levels, and mildly helping his weight, but not in incredible amounts. He also is voracious at his salt block - a new one was added today and he is taking huge hunks out of it.

Another point is that the short choppy strides are most evident when he is first brought from the stall, at the trot they are more so, and at the canter he is practically bunny hopping behind. There also seems to be a slight hitch to the stride, especially on a circle. The front legs seem to sort of flip outward prior to hitting the ground.

He tracks very straight, unlike the other horses at the barn with chronic arthritis (they twist their hocks funny and bring their legs way underneath themselves, almost sashaying), but his hocks are somewhat straight. One does have an old curb, but the problem seems to be in both hind legs. The right front is worse than the left, but he's definitely not stepping out with either - possibly secondary to the hock issues? Flexion tests seemed to indicate soreness in the hocks and knees.

Could the increase in grain be the cause of this issue? How does a lay person determine when EPSM should be tested for instead of just the "injections" for arthritic joints. He is currently not under any hard work, nor any jumping or anything like that that I would suspect hock pain due to injury.

He is not my horse, but I am in a position to advise the owner as to what to do. I'm just at a loss. This whole joint injection thing is somewhat new to me and seems to be very vogue in the area for anything involving the hocks. Without a proper diagnosis, this worries me. I hope my questions make sense!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2003 - 9:05 am:

Bevin I think you are right there are a lot of possiblilities that should be investigated here but quite honestly we have only a limited time to spend with members problems and would like to limit case review to members.

Certainly you are welcome to take them a copy of the EPSM article and let them see how this applies to them. Your other questions and musings are addressed in the article on Diagnosis of Lameness and Arthritis Overview.
DrO
Member:
Jcsmoon

Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2003 - 10:35 am:

Bevin- As "Oil Bearer" for a mare with biopsy confirmed EPSM, the issues you describe in a breed that is has a high prevelance of EPSM certainly fall into the list of common symptoms of EPSM. Allthough the patchy sweating is not normally listed, I wonder if mind describeing that more. I have a personal interest in seeing if it is similar to the patchy sweating my mare does.
Member:
Aeowen

Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2003 - 12:20 pm:

Thanks Dr. O - I am the barn manager and this is a boarder, so my primary aim here is also for me, as a member, to learn. I tend to be a bit on the reactive side when advising clients, and I want to ensure I'm doing the right thing! I do understand, however, and will bring these things up when the vets come out again next week.

Emily, the patchy sweating that I see on him is interesting. It's usually around his flank and head, and it's when the other horses are not really sweating. It's not on the neck and body (as if having gone for a ride) and it's in sort of splayed out patterns. The sweating on the face is usually right around his eyes. He's a buckskin-y looking bay so it makes him look almost painted.

I think that's why I am so concerned that it was not brought up as an issue by the vets - the symptoms were so strongly EPSM in my opinion, that I feel it's necessary to bring it up as a question to the vets. He's a wonderfully sweet horse (I ride him as well for the boarder) and I would hate to see his care mis or under managed. I will admit that I'm slightly reactive (as I mentioned before) because I have seen quite a few horses, including my own precious mare, die or be crippled because of the "it's probably minor, we won't bother testing unless it persists" attitude.
Member:
Jcsmoon

Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2003 - 5:52 pm:

OK you have my interest on this sweating thing. When does this occure? morning, night, after work, when not worked, summer, winter, etc? Do tell more?

Has the horse been cleared by a vet on any possible neurological symptoms?

I would definantly suggest reading avalible info on EPSM and perhaps considering the diet. But if you or the owner ventures to try the diet, realize that it could be 3+ months before a change is seen and even then it may be for the worse. Useally effected horses will have ups and downs for the first 3-6 months then gradually improve.

Good thing is if it is EPSM, then it probably can be managed easily. My mare is 20years old and at 16 yo we were a fews days from haveing her put down. Well this weekend we are off with her to a weekend at the ocean. She now plays with the babies, bucking and running and is more muscled than she has ever been... as long as she gets her oil and alfalfa pellets every day.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 8, 2003 - 7:58 am:

I see Bevin, by all means we will be delighted to help you with a horse you are responsible for taking care of.

As I hint at above I too strongly feel that EPSM should be on the rule out list. The difference between a generalized muscle pain and stiffness vs pain in the hock should be fairly evident on just physical exam. With EPSM there is usually stiffness, reluctance, and overall shortness at the walk. Arthritis in the hock usually presents with rear limb lameness at the trot. We describe these in more detail in the Diagnosis article referenced above.
DrO
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Saturday, Aug 9, 2003 - 10:52 am:

Did anyone mention changing of hay? This could be an allergic reaction? or maybe even something in the hay that is toxic. Doesn' t poisoning symptoms look like this too? Lethargy, wobbly, wolfing down a salt block?

just a thought
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 9, 2003 - 11:49 am:

Hello joj,
You are starting at the wrong end of the diagnostic proscess: First you define the symptoms, then do a physical exam, possibly lab work up if the exam warrants, then you create a rule out list. To begin listing all the reasons a horse may be stiff and/or lame is does not yield a useful list.
DrO
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