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Discussion on Tick disease and tying up
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New Member:
marymck
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 - 2:01 pm:
Dear Dr. O,
We live is southern WI. Charlie is an 8yr old Paint/Arabian cross. He shows periodic symptoms of tying up. He tested negatively for PSSM but positively for selenium deficiency which has been resolved. He received shock wave therapy which improved his comfort and performance and we hoped the selenium would resolve the situation. But three months later he is showing signs again, raising his head and pinning his ears when saddled (so we stopped) and lately even refusing to trot on the lunge or in hand. He is scheduled for a nuclear scintigraphy, but I'm wondering if his reluctance to move and stiffness could be due to a mild case of ehrlichiosis. No signs of anorexia -- he bolts his hay. He definitely gets an anxious look when asked to do anything other than walk. He lives outside and I walk him in hand 4x/week. He recently developed an eye infection as well. Routine lameness exams showed mild hock changes but injections had no positive effect. I just have a feeling we're missing something. Are there other metabolic tests I should consider?
Thank you!
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 - 3:58 pm:
Hi Mary, have you considered a mild case of laminitis? Is your horse pastured on grass at all?
I don't live far from Wi. and our grass is as green as springtime from all the rain. Laminitis can make them reluctant to trot, stiff looking and kind of grumpy! 3 mos. ago would fit pretty well with spring laminitis too.. is he overweight?
Just something to consider
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 - 9:17 pm:
Welcome Mary,
I think you are missing something too, at least from the information you provide so far.
The only objective findings you list are not signs of lameness but signs of refusal. Refusal can come from a number of different causes including pain but I do not see clear evidence of lameness or pain. Even the description of your lameness exam comes up with nothing more than a radiographic abnormality that by itself is of little significance. So let's step back one level from diagnosis to symptomology.
What are all the symptoms you are seeing? Succinctly please, a few words per symptom or a single line at most, is all that is needed. I don't want a interpretation of what you are seeing just exactly what are you seeing in your horse.
If you feel strong about the diagnosis of tying up, what laboratory evidence do you have this is actually rhabdomyolysis? It is an easy laboratory diagnosis, to learn more about the symptoms and diagnosis of tying up (rhabdomyolysis) see the article associated with this discussion.
DrO
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