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| Discussion on Possible lower back or kissing spine | |
| Author | Message |
| Member: Liezelh |
Posted on Monday, Sep 20, 2004 - 2:47 am: Hi y'allJust some history on this case: I have a 5 y.o. Quarter Horse gelding. The breeder where he came from, grazes his horses almost exclusively in kikuyu grass. I have read about the calsium deficiency in kikuyu as well as the possibility of 'leaching' calsium. I bought the horse at 18 months old and proceded with a normal feeding routine - no kikuyu. At 3 years he suffered a navicular fracture in the near hind, but recovered to 100% soundness. But ever since I got him we have noticed a shortness on both hind legs. Originally we thought its just lack of muscling. We have treated with glucosamine and notice a definate improvement. The horse is in regular work now (reining training) but we notice a lack of back muscle development especially in the lower back. When not in the joint supplement he can become stiff and unresponsive, holding in his body, and tail swishing when backing up, or the horse might run through the bridle when asked for the stop. I know this is going to be a problem to diagnose - I am just posting here to hear some ideas, as South Africa is basically still a 3rd world country when it gets to equine diagnosis and stuff  The horse also from time to time will drag his back toes in trot. One vet suggested possible kissing spine, another thought it was sacro iliac. The chiropractor felt nothing wrong in the pelvis, but thought the withers and poll were sore. Granted a chiropractor cannot feel degenerative joints. What are your thoughts on this? summary *dragging toes in trot *unwilling to use hind end *muscling on lower back not what it should be at his level of training *when not on joint supplements, training and performance issues like swishing tail in backup, and running off through the bridle when asked for the stop. General stiffness and unwilling to bend and soften. |
| Member: Liezelh |
Posted on Monday, Sep 20, 2004 - 4:19 am: Just to add something: I spoke to a vet who suggested looking at PSSM as a possible in this horse - polysaccharide storage myopathyI have just read a couple of articles on this and it might be worth looking into. This horse shows 'heave lines' or hollows in front of the hips quite often. And when in regular work, the symptoms described above are definately much less noticeable. Will keep you updated, any other ideas still welcome! 
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| Moderator: DrO |
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| Member: Miamoo |
Posted on Monday, Sep 20, 2004 - 9:27 am: My (at the time 5 year old Appendix Quarter Horse) mare went through all the symptoms you describe. To the point that we took her to Tufts and had a complete bone scan. They found a bit of inflamation in her spine and injected it and sent her home. No help, much worse (They had pulled her shoes for the bone scan - this will make sense in a minute). I have been over hill and dale with this mare trying to figure out what is wrong. I have spent more than she is worth. I had a bioposy pulled for EPSM, everything you can think of.This year I had a new vet go over her for a fresh outlook. He started from scratch. Guess what - all that attention we gave her back and hind end and she has severe heel soreness and thin as paper soles up front. With corrective shoeing she is sound and tracking up to the point of being concerned about overreaching and pulling her shoes. I have to constantly keep her in bell boots. She was looking bad behind because she was trying so hard to avoid putting weight on her front feet. I don't know why the bone scan at Tufts did not pick it up. I'm not saying that your horse has the same thing. What I am saying is don't get caught up in only looking in one area because they can fool you. Mine Did and I am dramatically poorer because of it!  Ella |
| Moderator: DrO |
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| Member: Liezelh |
Posted on Thursday, Sep 23, 2004 - 12:48 am: Hi Dr OThanks for the advice - my horses back feet are squared off, he has been barefoot all his life, but I have a very good farrier for the trims. (he won our National farrier competition and has shod horses overseas in Canada and Turkey) My horse has been getting a balanced diet since I got him at 18 months of age. Still waiting for my vet to schedule the biopsy to test for EPSM, will let you know how it goes
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| Moderator: DrO |
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