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  Discussion on Ataxia at front end, lameness at back
Author Message
Member:
frances

Posted on Friday, Aug 2, 2013 - 2:49 am:

Hi DrO,

This post is related to the "persistent estrus, atrophied ovaries, nymphomania" one I posted elsewhere.

Ten days ago when handwalking my horse as I usually do before mounting, I immediately noticed first that she was hesitant, and then that her RF was crossing over her LF, sometimes actually landing on the LF hoof. Every so often, her RH would give way, but I later found out that she had overdone things when being lunged 2 days before and had been lame then, so that would likely account for the RH pain, particularly as she has a history of back pain, affecting the RH more than the left. Thus, the RH pain might have been unrelated to the ataxia.

(As I mentioned in my other post, when the vet arrived she exhibited extreme hormonal signs - she had in fact been in season for about 4 weeks by then but had never screamed like that; in fact she is usually very docile when she's in season.)

WNV was of course suspected, but the other events have kind of clouded the diagnosis. The vet found severe back pain, and there was the hormonal issue.

Anyway, after 2 days of Flunixin and Dexamethasone shots(1 in a.m., 1 in p.m.) and then 3 more days of Dex only, followed by 3 days of 1/2 dose Dex, she is now off the meds, appearing much better, and being handwalked once a day for a week until the vet returns for a last look.

She is still a bit off in trot on the RH, which I think is due to back pain. The vet (who is not my usual vet and doesn't know the mare) felt her back manually, she kicked out violently, but he said it's because she's still in season. Is that correct DrO, would she have a painful back from being in season?

The only thing I notice now, which may not mean anything, is that when I lead her out to her paddock at midday and the sun is in her eyes, she stops, seems unsure and looks around. She'll do this a couple of times and then continue on her way.

This has been such a confusing matter, with three possibly unrelated things going on. I didn't know whether to post under lameness, endocrine or WNV, so please move anything around as you see fit.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - 1:26 pm:

Hello LL,
The reason mares might kick while hormonal is not that the back is painful but resistance to approach from the back. However this usually occurs during diestrus and not estrus.
DrO
Member:
frances

Posted on Friday, Aug 9, 2013 - 3:25 pm:

The vet called to tell me she's tested positive for West Nile, although he said since she's recovered now it doesn't change anything. He recommends vaccinating her at the end of August.
Member:
frances

Posted on Saturday, Aug 10, 2013 - 3:27 pm:

If a horse has WNV and recovers, will he/she have immunity to the disease?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 16, 2013 - 3:48 pm:

Hello LL,
Yes infected horses with healthy immune systems will develop immunity, immunity that is stronger than that received by vaccination. However I cannot find any information on how long that would be, almost certainly greater than a year.
DrO
Member:
frances

Posted on Saturday, Aug 17, 2013 - 3:45 pm:

How can I find out whether her immune system is healthy? Her age (26) and the cortisone she had as the mainstay of supportive therapy for the WNV might mean that she does not.

Would you recommend another blood test, this time to see the level of antibodies to WNV she's formed? And also to make sure that she has no ongoing active infection?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 23, 2013 - 2:34 pm:

Hello LL,
Concerning testing for a healthy immune system, this is a very complex question because the immune system itself is so complex, and often not well understood... A history of normal amounts of disease problems though individuals will have exceptions and then normal recoveries are probably the best indication of health. A normal CBC with dif, normal levels of serum globulins are both indicative but not proof of immune health. Concerning the globulins they can be fractionated into groups and if the profile of the groups fall into a normal profile that would be a good sign. Titers in response to vaccination might, but not a certain, indicator of immune health.

It is important to note here that it is a well established observed fact that WNV is much harder on aged horses than the effects on the young adult to middle age. This is true of humans as well.
DrO
Member:
frances

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 28, 2013 - 12:38 am:

Thank you.
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