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  Discussion on Sudden Onset Ataxia
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New Member:
Howard04

Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 12:36 am:

I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience with a positive outcome. Or perhaps someone can provide another avenue to help this horse.

I have a seemly healthy, normal 2 yr old Quarter Horse Gelding suffering from ataxia. He placed 3rd in a fairly deep Western Please futurity two weeks ago and today he doesn't seem to know how to control his back legs.

Here's some background: On Sept 10th he competed in the Futurity, On Sept 11th he was received his booster vaccinations for WN, Rhino, and I think Tetanus. We decided to give him that week off from any work. He was turned out a couple of times but mainly on stall rest.

On September 16 he did bump his head on the top of his stall door. There were no visible signs of trauma and he showed no signs of pain. He was not and currently is not tender anywhere.

He went back into training on Sept 19th and started a light workout. Trainer did not notice any signs of Ataxia, weakness, or change in movement nor behavior.

On Sept 21st trainer pulled him out of his stall to find class 4 ataxic horse. (Vet classified 4)

Horse was showing no signs of discomfort, fever, trauma, or muscle atrophy. Eating / Drinking / functioning normal.

One vet believes it to be Wobblers, one Vet says EPM, and third Vet thinks it may be injury.

Horse was treated 3 days with IV DMSO and Banamine. Improved to class 2 ataxic within 3 days.

Evaluated by very reputable clinic. X-Ray showed "perhaps a suspicious" area between 5 and 6 vertebrae however measure normal ratios between vertebrae.

Currently treating with Marquis, Dem, and stall rest.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 10:18 am:

Welcome Joni,
As you have seen there are several possibilities and even some not mentioned above. You will find a description of likely causes and ways to differentiate them at Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Diagnosing Incoordination, Ataxia and Weakness.
DrO
New Member:
Cbuck894

Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 3:59 pm:

Joni,
If they keep your horse on DMSO & Banamine consider getting him on meds to prevent ulcers and stomach upset immediately. The damage to the stomach and intestines is what caused the most problems with our stud which eventually led to his death.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 7:36 am:

I disagree Carol that this is essential. We have used bute and Banamine (flunixin) in horses, sometimes at very high doses or for long periods of time, in hundreds if not more than a thousand horses and have never had a serious ulcer problem with its use. I think this risk is overstated especially in horses well managed for ulcers. There will be the rare idiosyncratic reaction but these are not common complications of NSAID use in horses. I am not a frequent user of DMSO and its effects are not as well studied but I don't know of any work that suggests this is a effect. In fact there is some work to show DMSO ameliorates gastric damage in some disease processes.
DrO
Member:
Cbuck894

Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 9:37 am:

The DMSO and Banamine was what they were giving Stormy for the WN treatment. The consultant at KSU that our vet talked to after the stomach and intestinal ulcers were found said they had heard of several incidents of the same problem with this treatment procedure. They indicated that preventative treatment was preferred to having to treat the ulcers after the fact due to the problem most horses they knew of had virtually gone completely off feed and had drastic weight loss before the ulcers could be healed.

Stormy never went completely off feed but still lost considerable amounts of weight. We never gave him any ulcer meds before he got sick of course because there was never any indication that he needed it.

I'm sure not all horses will have the same reaction to the meds, just as all people won't have the same reaction. However if there is no warning that the problem is developing (Stormy gave no indication of stomach upset)I personally would rather use the preventative measures just to be safe.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 3, 2006 - 9:56 pm:

I understand Carol, but I don't know of any such other evidence, a logical mechanism, or other work to support the idea.
DrO
New Member:
thos100

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 - 5:25 am:

My horse George is exhibiting very similar traits as to what Joni Schumann (Howard04) describes above. No trauma, was led in from the field, quite wobbly, listing to the hind left. Since then tested negative for EPM and Herpies, radiographs show no trauma to the neck, no abnormal arthritis, no temp, normal appetite. Only change was he was being treated for bacterial pneumonia with antibiotics.

He's regained some coordination but still ataxic. Current recommendation is restriction to round pen and wait and see.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. What happened in Joni Schumann's case?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 - 9:20 am:

Welcome Thomas,
Though the question about Joni's horse is appropriate here you should start a new post about your horse. Let me help you get started off right as there are several advantages to you if discussions are kept separate:
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However there is a article and list of discussions that may be more germane to your problem at Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Diagnosing Incoordination, Ataxia and Weakness. Before posting you should review the article as you will find helpful information. If it does not answer your question and you don't see a related discussion that answers your question you should "Start a New Discussion" with your question. For more on this and other important information see Help & Information on Using This Site » Welcome to The Horseman's Advisor.

Thanks for helping us stay organized.
DrO
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