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  Discussion on Neurological or pelvic fracture?
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New Member:
skypilot

Posted on Thursday, Jul 15, 2010 - 3:00 pm:

This is going to be long so bare with me. …To start my 13 yr old gelding QH/Draft cross started having hay eating problems back in Jan after I moved him to my new home with 3 acres in Nov. At first we thought it was his teeth so we floated him…no improvement…then I took him to a expert horse vet/dentist, who opened his mouth and did a through exam and found nothing….next I took him to a osteopathy/chiropractor vet who realigned him and opened his TMJ…it was not until this time did we start seeing improvement….he started to eat hay again and quibbled less…we did this several times…only min improvement...during this time he started tripping real bad actually went to both knees twice…figured it was my old used saddle so went out and bought a new saddle that fitted him much better and the tripping stopped
Then for his TMJ we went to the next step and injected it…more improvement…stopped quibbing hay all together and muscle started developing in his cheek again…no later than two weeks later…on a trail ride he went dead lame…started out just fine half way through he started walking crooked…thought it was the saddle…so we stopped got the trailer and went home…next day rode him bareback went a few blocks fine then it started again…walked him home even took video of it, which I wish I could load up for u all to see…sent the video to my vet who became very alarmed because he is stiff walking straight but wobbly when he tries to turn almost to the point you think he is going to topple over….my vet came out and examine him to see if he was out then made me walk him up and down while she pulled left and right on his tail to see if it was neurological…all she said was he is stronger on his right then left, which makes sense cause when he walks it looks like his left hip hurts him more…I must note he always rest this leg and never lays down on this side either…next the vet asked him to lift each leg and hold it, which he did…she at that time thought it was a soft tissue injury…but I asked her to take blood any way and have him tested for EPM, which she did and sent it off….5 days later the test came back negative
It has been two weeks and it seems to getting worst cause now he is lame all the time just walking from hid hay to his water…I called my vet last night she now thinks it is a pelvis fracture and wants him put on stall rest….this is no easy feat since I don’t have a stall…so today my BF and I are building a stall/pen to confine him and keep the other horse away from him, which I should mention is a mare and just before this happened she came in heat and I caught my gelding trying to mount her….my vet wants to do an ultra sound though she said it might not tell us anything because it is a large muscle area…and I just can afford a bone scan at 1500…so at this point to tell you the truth I am confused
Is it possible that his TMJ and rear end is all connected that maybe his neck or front end is out and causing all sorts of problems…or are we not looking at enough neurological possibilities…or can it really be a fractured pelvis? Please help Dr O I am desperate at this point
New Member:
skypilot

Posted on Thursday, Jul 15, 2010 - 3:15 pm:

Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 15, 2010 - 6:48 pm:

Welcome Faye,
First let me say that a relation between the TMJ and the hind limb lameness is unlikely. However from your description and photo I am unable to differentiate between neurological from muscoskeletal problems and if muscoskeletal I see nothing that rules in or out a pelvic fracture.

When considering gait abnormalities and possible central nervous system neurological problems it is important to remember that CNS neurological problems tend to cause "irregular" gait abnormalites. When a neuro-horse is trotted on a straight line the gait abnormality is different from step to step. The leg or hind end swings to the left, to the right, the weakness is irregular. On the other hand MS problems tend to cause a regular gait abnormality each step, for more on this see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Diagnosing Incoordination, Ataxia and Weakness. These are just clues however and must be fit in to a complete exam.

At this point you need a good lameness exam on the rear leg and if your veterinarian is stumped (what is her basis for calling this a pelvic fracture?) I would recommend a referral to a good equine hospital for a second opinion.
DrO
New Member:
skypilot

Posted on Friday, Jul 16, 2010 - 9:23 am:

Thank you Dr O

My vet is not stumped she did an exam on him and took the blood test and feels strongly that it is pelvic fracture from the exam she did and the symptoms he has…but she can’t be 100% sure without a bone scan which I can’t afford and we talked about doing an ultra sound but they usually come up non- conclusive …so because I am at a dilemma of what I can afford and what is realistically worth doing that is going to help…we decided to treat it like that’s what it is a pelvic fracture and confine him to a stall/pen that I just built last night for him…I meant that I was confused because I am being told one thing by my vet, but my eyes and what I have been told and read from others sources have confused me that’s all ….thanks again and I will look up that info you gave me and see if that don’t clear up something’s for me
New Member:
skypilot

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 - 4:06 pm:

Dr. O

I posted to u earlier about my horse Captain under the Neurological or pelvic fracture? Thread.
I thought a lot about what you said about that if it is neurological there would be no pattern, which makes a lot of sense. For the most part my horse always rest his left hindquarter, but the other day I noticed he switched his resting leg and actually rested on his left for a short time. He still usually rests his left hindquarter and it still seems to be the leg that is the culprit to his pain.
What I am was wondering is if it is possible that it could be something out in his front?...I found a Human Chiropractor that specializes in horses and was wondering it would beneficial to have him looked at?
Or to have my regular vet come out and take another blood test for another neurological disease. The problem at this time my family is sick. So unfortunately my financial situation is strapped and I am unable to afford both right now. So I guess what I am saying is whatever I do decide to do I have to make sure it counts.

Any advice is better than none...thanks again and God Bless!!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 22, 2010 - 6:53 pm:

Hello Faye,
I have not seen the horse so anything in my mind is possible so answering the question yes has almost no meaning. And since I do not know what is wrong I have no way to assess whether your horse might improve following chiropractic manipulation. My advice remains the same: try to get a good diagnosis before you begin treatment.
DrO
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