This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Seizures & Fainting » Narcolepsy, Cataplexy, and Fainting »
  Discussion on Clinical sign of narcolepsy - front of fetlocks frequently raw
Author Message

Posted on Saturday, Oct 28, 2000 - 11:36 am:

Hello Dr. O and all,
My mare, Moonlight, which I have owned for 8 years, often has open wounds on the front of both fetlocks on the front legs. I have not figured out how she injurs them - have suspected that she bangs them into the fence or some hard surface. She digs a lot. I would turn her out more, however, she tends to be overweight and I have had her on a strict diet because she became very cresty. (This site is responsible for me becoming concerned about her weight.)
During her fall check-up, the vet said that wounds on the front of the fetlock are a clinical sign of narcolepsy. I have read the article and associated forums and she does not have any of the signs mentioned in the article (such as falling asleep when tied, etc). However, I have observed when she is napping in the sunshine - especially in the winter - that she sometimes loses her balance and startles herself awake, just like is described in some of the forums. I have never seen her go down completely in front, however.
I would like to hear any opinions on the association of the wounds on the fetlocks and narcolepsy.
Thanks in advance for any information.
Lilo

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2000 - 7:38 am:

It is hard to imagine that she creates wounds on the front of the fetlocks from chronic or recurrening injury and the cause is not readily apparent. The narcolepsy/stumbing awake is possible but the answer lies in going out and checking after one of these episodes to see if it freshens the wounds. I think you are just going to have to commit some time to watching and listening to find the cause. I think most commonly what would be happening, considering all the factors, would be banging the fronts of her fetlocks aganist the stall wall. Why not make her a paddock and be sure she always has some stemmy but palatable hay available. Also important in weight control and for its irrefutably calming effect on horses: lots of exercise.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2000 - 2:37 pm:

Dr O,
I have not observed the "stumbling & waking" in quite some time. Unfortunately I am working very long hours, and even often on weekends. So far I have been trying to figure out if she re-injures the fetlocks at night or during the day. Now, that I am watching like a hawk, she has not opened up the sores in 2 weeks!!
Just trying to understand your recommendation: Keep her out of the stall, in a paddock, with plenty of stemmy hay (so she won't pick up weight)? I could try that at this time of the year, but would be concerned if she could not get out of the weather in the middle of winter. She has started spending more time in the stall, now that she is getting older and just a little bit more settled. She is quite spirited (half-Arab, half Saddlebred) and yes - she could do with a lot more exercise. Unfortunately, my job is demanding and I am lucky if I can ride on the weekends (no indoor arena available).
Thank you for your response. I will keep trying to figure out exactly how she does it.
Does anyone else out there have a similar experience?
Lilo

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2000 - 6:40 pm:

Hi Lilo
My horse had the same type sores. Lucky for me I found out how he aquired them. Although he always had hair missing on the front of his fetlocks the sores happened when he was kept in his stall due to bad weather. He lived in 1/2 the time but during bad snowstorms/weather he stayed in. I caught him banging his stall door and found the bloody sores. I did what I could to avoid keeping him in and if he was in a possible situation where he would bang the doors I wrapped or put boots on his front legs.
Barbara

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2000 - 9:11 pm:

If you have a computer with internet at home you can hook up a cheap web camera in the stall/ paddock so you can watch her from work if you have a computer there too. I am not sure exactly how to do this but any "computer geek" (like my partner) can do it for you. i was going to do this for my preg mare but i moved her to a supervised place instead (darren's, aka unicrn) Good luck, these things can be so frustating, i have a mare that scoured all the time and i did not know what irritated her until i had some time to sit around and watch (she likes australian native plants just TOO much)
I hope it is something simple and easy to rectify.
Julies

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2000 - 11:13 pm:

If she lays down a lot on hard ground she may be getting the sores from that. Horses that have foundered and are down a lot develop calluses on the front of the "ankle", sometimes, in my experience only on one foot, the one they use to get up. It's more of a rub that develops into a sore and then a callus. There is a boot made especially for this called a "bed sore boot". It looks like a reverse ankle boot with the opening in the rear for the fetlock joint and the front is covered in soft fleece.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 31, 2000 - 1:55 pm:

Hello all,
Thank you for your responses. I guess nobody really feels that narcolepsy is the main reason for this type of injury. I like the "bed sore boot" idea - maybe I could put something goopy and vividly colored on the outside of it (like the pink swat) and figure out what she bangs against. I have not seen it advertised, Lois. Could you give me a clue?
Thanks again,
Lilo

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 1, 2000 - 8:19 pm:

Lilo...Bed Sore Boots are made by Royal Riders (www.royalriders.com). I did not see them on their website but you can e-mail them. If they have discontinued making them you can e-mail me and I can send you a sketch & measurements of the ones I have. They would be very easy to make. The RR ones are made of synthetic fleece on the skin side and a knit fabric on the outside. If I were to make them (or have them made) I would use a piece of natural sheepskin for softness, flexibility and durability. Good Luck. I have not found any other boot design that covers the place where these sores start...which on my horse is exactly on the bony ridge on the front of the ankle. Ankle boots are above it and bell boots are below it.

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2001 - 2:09 pm:

Spring 2001: I finally figured it out. The mare's fetlocks healed in the fall, and stayed healed all winter long, with no change in management.
Now the spring grass is coming in, and I am keeping both horses off the pasture, because the pastures needed to recover, and the concern about colic/founder. On Saturday I looked out of the window and saw my mare going down on her front legs and sticking her head under the lowest rail of the fence (only about 10-12 inches of the ground) so she could snitch a blade of green grass. I checked her right away, and she was not bleeding yet, but one fetlock showed the dirt where she had contacted the ground. The next day the blood was running down that leg. I am going to lower the bottom electric strand and see if that will keep her from going through those contortions. If that does not work, I'll get the Bed Sore Boots.
Happy trails,
Lilo

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2001 - 6:59 am:

No kidding, goes down on her fetlocks to reach a blade of grass or two. I have seen burros and minis do this, not only for getting something low but during fighting to get lower than there opponent, but never a full size horse manage the trick.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2001 - 1:11 pm:

Dear Lilo,

If it makes you feel any better, I knew a broodmare who would figured out how to crawl into the babies creep feeder. She would get down on her knees and scoot herself forward until she was all the way in. Then stand up and have herself a feast. Luckily we caught her at it before she managed to founder herself. It's amazing how much ingenuity these guys manage to pack into a small space.

Glad things turned out so well for you!
Nancy

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2001 - 2:00 pm:

I did not know whether to be glad she is still so flexible (she turns 15 this year) or really mad. However, I would be worried if she continues this trick that someday she actually might get stuck. I know handgrazing encourages horses to snitch grass when being ridden, but I am considering taking her out for a few minutes every day so she can get her "green grass" fix. Of course, then I have to take the youngster out too - fair is fair.
Lilo

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2001 - 3:07 pm:

Lilo, just a quick idea. I've been scissor-cutting grass for my laid-up horse; since you have two, you could split what you have cut between them. Dawn

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2001 - 10:15 pm:

My 16 hand 1300 pound gelding does the down on the knees trick for grass too, A dry lot is a real test of ingenuity and flexibility!

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 17, 2001 - 8:35 pm:

Thanks - at least I know my horse is not the only
one. I may go with your suggestion, Dawn. It is less time consuming than hand-grazing.
Lilo
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