This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Suspensory Desmitis, Strain, & Sprain »
  Discussion on My poor dressage gelding was made permanently lame by a cocky and negligent vet!
Author Message
New Member:
dms04

Posted on Friday, Mar 14, 2008 - 9:40 pm:

I own a wonderful and sweet (used to be extremely talented) 8 yr old imported Hanoverian Gelding. He started to feel funny to me when he was being ridden primarily by my (FORMER) trainer-from age 4 to 5. He always felt like he was not connected and through. After I took him away from her i immediately decided something was wrong- he could not maintain a cantor, and he drags his right hind toe. I started with the usual vet exams by my farm vet, x-rays, rest, etc. No better. I then made an appointment for him to go to UGA to have a full lameness eval.
At that same time I was selling another horse and the vet who came to my farm to vet that horse -well he and I started talking and I told him about my horse and all the lameness issues and how my vet could not find what was wrong.
He took my horse out to the ring- we watched him lunge for less than five minutes!!!, put him back in the stall and he magically declared "he knew what was wrong with my poor horse". He had "intermittent upward patellar fixation" and I was so lucky because he was the country's "expert on this condition!" I asked if he was sure- he said absolutely! I asked could he fix it he replied "Oh that is baby food" His immediate, and improper diagnosis yielded the following prescribed treatment- injected the patellar ligaments with iodine and then work him at the trot up and down STEEP HILL!!!!! So off to my friends farm where she had very steep hills. he went there, injected my horse (which was a cruel and inhumane procedure) and then seeing her very steep hills instructed her to ride him every day up and down those damn hills! So she did, and then she called him crying it was making him worse. "Oh no, keep it up, he will get worse before he gets better" Again doing as told by this negligent quack- up and down until we could no longer take it- called and told him we did not feel he had a clue as to what he was doing!!
My horse did then go to UGA where the finest Vets spent many months trying to find out what was wrong with my poor horse-who now when sitting on him will not go forward even at a walk- he will pin his ears back and go backwards!!
My UGA vet team finally diagnosed a right high end suspensory mass. He then went to NC State for surgery by the amazing Dr. Redding- one of a few surgeons who do this procedure. Dr. Redding opened him up and said he could not find his nerve as the suspensory was so macerated. Had the surgery- just trying to clean up the suspensory, and home.
Two months stall rest-- ABSOLUTELY NO IMPROVEMENT!!
Now before we throw in the towel and retire him to pasture permanently he is getting shock-wave treatments. That vet thinks too much time has gone by-too much damage.
I am an attorney, but have never brought a personal lawsuit. i am about to! I am filing a malpractice suit against that arrogant vet and I can promise it won't be baby food. my sweet and lovable and talented horse now can just graze and give kisses. He was reserve champion his first year of competition for our region!!!! I am simply mortified that there are practitioners out there who do things like this. I for one will not stand by silently and let him harm one more animal!!
Member:
stevens

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 12:16 am:

Wow, that's quite a story.

As I think you know, my horse had a severe tear to his superficial flexor tendon. Given that it seems there was a lot of damage before your horse had surgery, I'm not surprised that he isn't well after only 2 month of rest.

What kind of rehab protocol were you given and what was the prognosis for recover? Was your horse considered a candidate for stem-cell treatment? I know it's not cheap, but then neither is 3 rounds of shock-wave treatments. I think in my area, it is nearly a wash financially.


I'm very sorry about your horse; I know how heartbreaking it is.

Good Luck,

Chris
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 7:36 am:

That is quite a story, I had a quack vet once too and one of the reasons I had to put a horse down years ago.

That is when I joined horse Advice. It is the best thing I have ever done for my horses health. I research everything on here and ask Dr.O.'s opinion before I do anything major. I firmly believe he helped save my mares life years ago. I was using quack vet then. Too bad it was too late for my other horse.

Good Luck with your boy such a sad story.
New Member:
dms04

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 9:03 am:

Thanks Chris and Diane E.!! This is my first time on any message board group. I came here out of desperation hoping to find answers and other horse people to talk with. Looks like I may have hit a jackpot!
Chris- as it turns out my vet at UGA is very involved in stem cell research and in fact i was going to ask him about that. The shock wave is fully covered by my insurance. But I don't know how much of the stem cell would be covered. if I am successful in my lawsuit i may look into that. Thanks! If you all reading this story think this isn't enough for any horse owner to go through, go to my other horror story on another board -my other horse may have wobblers!!!! I bought him 4 months ago as a replacement for my poor gelding. Tomorrow he goes to UGA and I pray that is not the diagnosis. I have been hit really hard lately. . .
Member:
stevens

Posted on Saturday, Mar 15, 2008 - 11:32 am:

Check again with your insurance company; mine paid for both shock-wave and the stem cell (in my case bone marrow injection) treatment. It is my understanding that the insurance companies would rather pay out for the stem cell treatment as opposed to a mortality or loss of use claim.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC