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  Discussion on Wobblers confirmed in 3 1/2 year old gelding
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Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Friday, Oct 27, 2006 - 5:13 pm:

This week we got back from the University and my 3 1/2 year old gelding has been clinically diagnosed with Wobblers.

I am totally dumbfounded by the news and my heart is breaking. This was my baby that I bred for and raised, with high hopes for him and I, not solely for show purposes, but just looking forward to raising a foal from birth, watching him grow, teaching him, watching him progress, and mainly - grow old with. I have had many horses but none as special as this boy. He stole my heart and everyone elses who come in contact with him. He is the sweetest tempered horse I have ever had. And has the most personality of any horse I have ever had. He loves people and is such a joy to be around

So...Enough of my tears...now on to my questions.

I have read everyone else's posts, about living with wobblers, and I am hoping that many of you still have your beloved friends still with you on the farm. Dr. O, your articles are great, but I still am grasping at how this could have happened.

A little background on my gelding. He is a registered Quarter horse. He was never pushed as a baby. Always fed the best hay, always had the hay tested, fed a complete feed specifically designed for growing babies. I tried to do all the right things. The mare was also kept in top condition and fed broodmare formula, etc during the complete gestation. No foaling issues, healthy baby, the whole nine yards.

This gelding has never taken a lame step in his life. Never had any inflamation anywhere, had x-rays as a yearling, just to be sure there wasn't anything (For my peace of mind and no other reason) We didn't push him, he was left to grow until he was over 2 years old. He didn't grow quickly, just a steady growing colt. Only matured at 15.2 hh
I then sent him to training, he was never pushed, just let him go at his speed. I didn't care how long it took, just don't push him. And he loved it, he excelled with all the basics. When he approached 3, we started asking him for more. He seemed to have issues with picking up his right lead, and was a little stiffer on one side that the other, but as long as he was flexed prior, he was good. His movement was excellent, and to this day, still is.

I brought him home this past June and started showing him at local shows. We were having a great time, he still had a hard time with his right lead, but I was chalking that up to him being "left handed" and not right.

Then a few weeks ago, at a show, I asked for the right lead, he got it,then lost it in the back, DrOpped back to the jog. I asked again, and he refused, then he bucked and reared. Very strange for him, as he has never shown any signs of this type of thing before.
Show season is now over, so we have been trail riding and letting him have a break and be a horse.

Then last week, I brought them in from the pasture and went to take off his halter, and he stumbled in his stall. He got up, shook his head, and went back to his grain. I brought him out to walk him and he seemed to be fine, but I called the vet anyway. He came right out and checked him.

Everything appeared normal, no signs of ataxia, but he had a significant stiff neck.

After a few days on Bute, Banamine, things didn't get any better. So they suggested taking him for further tests at the equine clinic.

We met with the Neorologist and she did all the tests (circles, walk with head up, head down, downhill, etc) and he never took a lame step. No neorological deficits detected.

Cervical radiographs however showed:

- multiple sites of stenosis
- OCD Lesions C5-C6
- degenrative joint disease C6-C7

Consistant findings with a diagnosis of "wobblers" suspected to be secondary to OCD. Neck pain due to spinal nerve root impingement.

Since we have come home, we have DrOpped his dose of bute from 2 grams twice daily, to 1 gram twice daily today he hasn't received any. He seems his normal self. Even his neck pain seems to have gotten better and he is flexing it easier.

I know the ill fate of most horses with wobblers. I asked about surgery, but because there is multiple sites, he unfortunately is not a candidate for surgery.

A few questions I have:

Because the OCD predisposed him to the wobblers diagnosis, is there any signs of OCD in the spine that I should have kept an eye out for? I know what to look for in the hocks, stifle, etc, but what signs would show in his neck. I never recall him having any issues with his neck.

Since he is showing no signs of ataxia, am I being hopeful to think that I can still have some quality time with him, even if it is just him being a pasture horse. Will his condition continue to degrade over time. I will continue to guard him, but I don't want to keep him locked in a stall 24/7. I want him to be a horse and enjoy his time. I have been turning him out with my older gelding, and he still likes to play. I assume this may cause him to deteriorate quicker?

I know there is much debate over the genetic thing. From my standpoint, I own his dam and she is a great broodmare, or so I thought. I checked back through the sire records and contacted the owner, and there are no signs of this in any of his offspring, so now questinging my mare.
I have a weanling colt out of the same mare (different sire)
Should I consider not breeding her again?
The new colt I have out of her now was bred to be a halter horse. My intentions were to fit and show him as a yearling, not to pump him up like some of the breeders do, but I do want to condition him for show. Will I be taking a chance on predisposing him to this as well?

Should I cut back on his diet to ensure a slow growing colt? I keep a close eye on them, so would think I would catch something in the bud, but since I didn't this time, I am scared that I may end up with the same thing again.

I realize that these things happen, but I guess I am grasping at straws here in hope that it isn't something that I did that brought on this.

Sorry the post is so long.

I would also be interested in anyone else who is living with a wobbler and see what your experience has been.

My main objective is to keep him as long as he is comfortable and living a good quality of life. If things deteriorate, I will make the right decision, but for now, I think he is happy being a pasture horse.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Oct 27, 2006 - 6:29 pm:

Shawna, I'm so sorry about your colt. I know just how you feel due to Libby's injury. It's very rough to deal with all this, especially when you first find out about a "crummy" diagnosis. I'm going to have to read up on wobblers now as I don't know much about it. You've asked some great questions. I'm sure you'll find answers here; I just hope they are the answers you'd like to hear.
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Friday, Oct 27, 2006 - 9:28 pm:

Wow, I am sorry about what you are going through. I have a nine year old qh with some changes in his spine as well. I wish you all the best. I know exactly how it feels to have this expectation built up, only to have it come crashing down on top of you. Based on what I have learned, I think that wobblers is a more general term for "something going wrong with the vertebrae". It is not necessarily a grim outcome like it once was thought. I am sure Dr. O can shed more light on this, but I do think that every horse and situation is very different!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 - 8:19 am:

Hello Shawna,
I am sad to hear about your foal, taking your questions in order:

No there are no external signs of OCD of the vertebrae prior to the onset of pain.

No this is not too much to hope for as long as your horse remains free of signs of ataxia. However Wobbler's is a disease where the spinal cord is impinged upon by the incorrect conformation resulting in ataxia and sometimes pain. This does not exactly describe what is going on in your horse. In fact considering his age, until the horse becomes ataxic I would hold onto hope that the horse may be readable but then again I have not seen the radiographs. I would consider instituting recommendations of for the daily management of arthritis and consider the "pinched nerve" diagnosis speculative at least from the information you have posted here.

Yes you should be questioning use of this mare. This one incidence is not an absolute indication but yes, you should question it.

Our suggestions for dealing with the early diagnosis of Wobblers are in the article. I would be interested in what the person making the diagnosis recommends however.
DrO
Member:
Sjeys

Posted on Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 - 10:32 am:

Shawna,

Everything you love about your horse is still there, you are just going to see it in a little different way. This essay was written with children in mind, but since our horses are our children...it is from that Dear Abby column from years ago.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability -- to try to help people who have not shared the unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this ...

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip -- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo's "David." The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The flight attendant comes and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!" you say. "What do you mean, Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. You must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around, and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills, Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.


...just looking forward to raising a foal from birth, watching him grow, teaching him, watching him progress, and mainly - grow old with. I have had many horses but none as special as this boy. He stole my heart and everyone elses who come in contact with him. He is the sweetest tempered horse I have ever had. And has the most personality of any horse I have ever had. He loves people and is such a joy to be around...
Member:
Lilo

Posted on Saturday, Oct 28, 2006 - 5:12 pm:

Hi Shawna,

My friend bred her mare to get a special foal for the future (researched the bloodlines and conformation and temperament, etc.). The colt was born and for the first 6 months, all was well. Then, however, he started to show incoordination in the hind limbs. Just prior to that, she had seen him run and slip in the pasture and fall down. Was there a connection? We don't know.
Anyway, many tests and x-rays later he was diagnosed as having Wobblers. She put him on a very restricted diet, but, still today he is incoordinated. Lovely horse, plays with his younger brother (same breeding, no problems) but is not rideable. My friend is happy to have him in her herd as long as he is enjoying life (he is 7 now). He did have a setback recently, when he broke his withers. We don't know how in the world that happened, but it did. Anyway, he is healed up from that, and back to enjoying life as part of the herd.

I am hoping for a good outcome for your special gelding.

Lilo
Member:
Sonoita

Posted on Sunday, Oct 29, 2006 - 12:49 pm:

Shawna,
My friend in Panama Canal had a big colt that turned out to be a wobbler. He was eventually put down because he kept falling and walking around like he was drunk. Wings was a very big boy. This was twenty years ago and Panama was not all up in this as we are today. I wish you and your colt much success and well wishes.
Happy Trails,
Wanda
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Sunday, Oct 29, 2006 - 8:20 pm:

Susan, that was really inspiring. I have been battling with this type of issue for five years, and I think I am FINALLY beginning to change my plans for myself. Call me thick, but between vet visits, trainer changes and even attempts at finding my "handicapped" horse a more "appropriate" home, I have been struggling to find him a niche in the world. Just within the past few weeks, I decided to make myself a trail rider (no more dressage, hunter, eventing ambitions for a while), so that I can enjoy my boy for who he is. After all of these years of frustration, it is beginning to feel pretty peaceful. Shawna, I understand that almost "mourning" period (which they say many parents of children with disabilities go through). The hopes you had for this guy will probably have to change, but if I can give any advice from experience-leave no stone unturned now so that you may move on and enjoy him for the rewarding pet he is.
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Monday, Oct 30, 2006 - 10:53 am:

Shawna....good luck and so sorry to heal about your little guy. I don't know much about wobblers...just want I have read here....but I love the way Susan put it. Good luck to you all.
And Gwen congrats on changing your thinking because most of the time while we can't control the situation we are in, we can change how we look at it. Also great suggestion to leave no stone unturned so that Shawna will know that she has done all she could and after that can get on with enjoying a different view of her horse whom she is blessed with.
Member:
Lexi

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 - 7:58 am:

Hi Shawna
I read your post and thought my own post of two years ago had bounced back to me – it is exactly my situation and feelings for my own homebred wobbler. My heart goes out to you. I too bred from my own mare and don’t know whether to again – my vet advised against it (as I don’t think he could cope with my tears all over again!) although said even 2 diagnosed wobblers don’t necessarily breed a wobbler so you never know. I had fed my foal by the book with youngstock balancer etc and backed him lightly at 3 years. It’s now 2 years since his diagnosis and he’s doing fine as a pasture pet but is not safe to ride. He makes an excellent weaning uncle to the youngsters and rears, bucks and playfights like there was nothing wrong – he just looks very loose/’gangly’ and fluid and sometimes skids his rear end when stopping suddenly. His x rays showed only narrowing (see post ‘Is there any hope for a wobbler?’) but I keep him rugged ears to tail in winter and on a daily dose of glucosamine incase of OCD/arthritis complications. I hope that as his skeleton was just about grown when he was x rayed that he is in a static condition. It is not what I had planned out for him at all but he is happy and enjoys his life and doesn’t seem to experience any pain – I do clicker training with him and have taught him nose-football to keep his mind active as he is a very people centred inquisitive chap. I enjoy him in a different way and keep thinking that he never had any ambitions anyway! Keep in touch and let me know how your guy gets on.
All the best, Jo
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 - 11:38 am:

Hi all,

Thank you for all your thoughts. Susan and Gwen, you so right, I still have the same wonderful horse I always had, I just have to look at my hopes that I had for him differently. And that is exactly what I will do. He is still able to greet me every morning with his kisses and nickers, and this weekend I groomed him for hours. I think he is enjoying this relaxed way of living! He doesn't seem to be missing the saddle and riding, even though I am.

I went through another tough time this weekend, as I had a stallion owner contact me about breeding this spring. That too, I now need to put on hold until I do some more investigating around weather to breed this mare again or not.

My mare who I didn't ride much lately will now become my new show horse and I think she will be happy to come out of retirement. She really enjoys the showing and riding and I think missed that when she was having babies. Funny how things turn around in a few short days.

I guess as horse owners, most of us will at one time or another be given some heartbreaking diagnosis, and we can either let it get us down, or as Gwen has done, pick up and move on in other areas. Thank you for the inspiring words.

Dr. O, your post has given me a bit of hope. I was encouraged by your words and I will treat him as an arthritic horse. I am constantly watching for signs for ataxia, but I am hoping that since there is none, other than the one fall in the stall last week, maybe there is some chance that this isn't what it appears to be.
Since I have an old lad in the barn that is arthritic, I will just incorporate his treatment to my gelding. To look at him this weekend, you would never know that he isn't well. I have asked the clinic if I could get the radiographs and if I do, I will post them. They didn't seem very willing however.

When you said "However Wobbler's is a disease where the spinal cord is impinged upon by the incorrect conformation resulting in ataxia and sometimes pain" did you mean the horses actual confirmation faults? Maybe I misunderstood you, but that brings up another question...does certain confirmation faults predispose a horse to this?

As for the recommendations for my weanling out of the same mare, they didn't recommend anything special. Just to watch his intake and monitor his growth. I asked about extra added Vitamin E but they said there was no proof that that would benefit.

As for the OCD, is it common that horses will not show any signs of OCD in hocks, stifle etc, and only in the spine?

I guess what I am grasping at, would it be worth taking precautionary measures where my weanling is concerned and get radiographs of his spine throughout his growth?
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 - 11:53 am:

Jo,

Thanks so much for your reply. I actually had read your original post before I had posted, and yes, sounded exactly like what I was experiencing. I am so happy to hear that you still have your guy around and he is coping and doing well. As I have said in my post, you would never know anything is wrong with my gelding. He shows no signs of ataxia and the whole diagnosis is solely from the x-rays.

When they did all the neorological tests at the university, I was sure I was home free. He passed them with flying colours, that is why when the read the radiographs, it took the wind out of me.

As you, I hope that my guy is in a static condition, but both the university and my vet both suggested that he would deteriorate. But I hope he proves that theory wrong

I guess sometimes we try to do everything right, but things still happen.

I have also been recommended not to breed again. I am having a hard time with this as this mare was my basis of my breeding and she threw 2 great babies and I was hoping for more. Her colt this year is exceptional, But I don't want to take the chance....just in case. Like you, too many tears!

I would love to email you off line to see what type of things you are doing with your guy. If interested, please email me at shcrawford@rim.com

Shawna
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006 - 12:49 pm:

Alright, I need to ask a follow up question about the diagnosis of "wobblers". I just read the article again, and want to clarify something. A horse can have malfunctions (i.e. arthritis) within his his spine, but unless it impinges upon his spinal cord, it is not considered "wobblers". RIGHT??
My boy has "changes" between two vertebrae and sweats frequently on his neck in the area of the arthritis. My vet said that the sweating was probably due to neurological issues related to the problem vertebrae,but that it is probably a superficial thing and not "wobblers". That doesn't seem to jive-RIGHT???
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 1, 2006 - 9:00 am:

Shawna,
Considering the dire prognosis they have given, I would have thought they would be glad to have the radiographs reviewed by a veterinary radiologist and suggest you have that done.

I agree you should not do anything special for your healthy foal just general good care which includes not allowing them to get fat. If you have reason to believe your foal's diet deficient in selenium of vitamin E this should be addressed. There is more on this in the nutrition section but you should start with general good nutrition and work down not looking at specfics and working up.

Gwen, not exactly right. A horse should not be considered a Wobbler unless he displays symptoms of spinal cord or nerve impingement. The problem with radiographs alone is that clinically normal horses often have degenerative and congenital malformations when compared with normal. So when the symptomology vague many abormalities on radiographs less significant. If you have quoted your veterinarians comments accurately, it is speculative and I would replace the word "probably" with "perhaps" and agree that it seems unlikely. Many horses have unusual patterns of patchy sweating with no other signs of disease.
DrO
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 1, 2006 - 4:07 pm:

Hi Dr. O,

No they didn't suggest to get a second opinion. The radiographs were reviewed by the attending vet at the university, a radiologist and the neorologist. I have asked my vet clinic if they can get them.

As for the young ones diet,I am not concerned with a deficiency. I am going back over his intake to be sure we are feeding correctly and everything appears to be in check.

Thank you again for such a great website! I hope I can get the radiographs because I would love to hear your opinion.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 2, 2006 - 7:12 am:

Shawna, it sounds like they are more experienced than I am at evaluating these radiographs. I would also be interested in reviewing their written evaluation.
DrO
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Thursday, Nov 2, 2006 - 9:54 am:

Dr. O,
I just got the typed detailed report last night in the mail. I will post the contents tomorrow.

The discharge statement short Summary is as follows:

Summary: Neck pain and reluctance to bend the neck (R>L)
No neurological deficits detected
Occasional RF lameness during jogging in hand but possibly due to neck pain ??
Cervical radiographs showed:
-multiple sites of stenosis
-possible OCD lesion C5-C6
-degenerative joint disease C6-C7
These findings are consistent with a diagnosis of "Wobblers" SynDrOme (cervical stenohic myelopathy) suspected to be secondary to OCD. Neck pain due to spinal nerve root impingement.
No treatement recommended -> retire to pasture with pain control as needed for neck pain.
Please excercise caution when handling Zip to avoid risk of personal injury should he fall suddenly.
No further training or riding of any type should be performed for the life of this animal
Excercise: Restricted - no lunging or riding, halter classes of any kind - Stall rest with daily turnout with a quiet companion is recommended
Diet: Special - restricted according to level of activity
Medication: phenylbutazone as required to minimize neck pain

I will post the detailed report tomorrow.

Thanks again Dr. O
Member:
Sjeys

Posted on Thursday, Nov 2, 2006 - 1:19 pm:

Shawna,
I was the one who sent the "Holland" story to you, but boy this report sure makes me want to cry...not to depress you but what a tough diagnosis to take. I am so sorry; one bright spot is that he has such good care. I can only be glad that he isn't with someone who would send him off to less desirable circumstances when he was no longer "usable".

His a very, very lucky horse to have you and such outstanding care...I hope he beats the odds and has a healthy and outstanding life with you.
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Thursday, Nov 2, 2006 - 6:01 pm:

Dr., can I just follow up on Shawna's summary and ask about the statement of no neurological deficits? Isn't that what you said would make my horse NOT diagnosable as a wobbler?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 3, 2006 - 7:31 am:

Gwen, they are attributing the stiffness in the neck to spinal nerve impingement, though they cannot view the impingement directly.
DrO
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Friday, Nov 3, 2006 - 11:07 am:

Thanks Susan,

I have shed many a tear about it, and still do each time I talk about it, but I am lucky to still have him with me.
I am thankful that he fell in his stall that one night when I was in the barn. I think to myself, what would have happened if I wouldn't have seen him stumble. I would not have proceeded with a thorough vet exam, and may not have found out that he had these issues until much later. I would have continued riding him, and potentially deteriorating his condition more.
He is my baby, and to me, even though he is no longer rideable, he is still the best lawn ornament I could hope for!
He was never to energetic to begin with, so I think he will do well as a pasture horse.
Thank you for the good wishes.
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Monday, Nov 6, 2006 - 10:45 am:

Hi Dr. O.

Here is the detailed report from OVC.

On presentation, Zip was bright, alert and resonsive. No significant abnormalities were detected on routine physical examination, and vital parameters were within normal limits. Detailed neorological examination revealed that the neck muscles were tense and rigid on palpation. Cervical stiffness and reluctance to flex or extend the neck in any direction were observed. The stiffness was more severe to the right. Palpation of the cervical vertebrae elicited moderate pain and again this was wowrse on the right. A mild right forelimb lameness was evident during trotting in hand, although it was not possible to differentiate a true limb musculoskelatal problem from lameness secondary to neck pain. No proprioceptive deficits, ataxia, or paresis were observed, and cranial nerve function was within normal limits.

A cervical radiographic study was performed, which revealed moderate stenosis at multiple sites throughout the cervical spinal column. Dorsal articular facets on C5-6 and C6-7 showed radiographic changes suggestive of OCD and osteoarthritis respectively. A final diagnosis of equine cervical stenotic myelopathy was mad based on radiographs and clinical signs.

Episodes of neck pain and muscle spasm are likely a consequence of spinal nerve root irritation at the affected vertebral sites. Intraarticular facet injection of corticosteroids remains an option for reducing neck pain, although this may increase the risk of spinal cord injury and acute neorological decompensation through increased flexion and extension of the neck. Therefore, more conservative pain control by oral administration of phenylbutazone was recommended at this time.

Due to the advanced degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae, pasture retirement of Zip has been recommended. Use extreme caution when handling Zip.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 8, 2006 - 6:37 pm:

The question becomes, "when you cannot see the actual impingement how accurate is the diagnosis and how accurate can the prognostication about possible future spinal cord damage be?" This questions could be posed to the person writing the report: how sure can you be of this? Alternatively the radiographs could be reviewed by another radiologist. A third course would be as long as the horses neck remains stiff you could assume the diagnosis is correct but if the neck becomes well you could attempt slowly increasing exercise to see if the horse could come along. Start with ground work. It is a caution however that the increased prospect of stumbling and injuring the rider is a risk you have to be willing to take.
DrO
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Friday, Nov 10, 2006 - 1:57 pm:

Thanks Dr. O. I have been reading over and over the report, and had the same questions as you. How can they diagnose the impingment from radiographs alone?

You can't assume that because there is changes in the spine, that there is impingement correct? Do these type of changes usually cause impingement at sometime or another, or are these just cautionary words...keep him quiet and a pasture horse and he will be fine...work and ride him and you are increasing his risk of impingement?

I am wondering...if a number of horses were radiographed, what would be the chance that some (or many) of them would show some type of changes, but unless they were showing some signs of pain or incoordination, and had them radiographed, they would never have known, and could continue doing the work they were always doing before hand?

I guess I am just second guessing about the diagnosis. He is no longer on bute, and hasn't been for over a week now. He is on a glucosamine supplement, and his neck is increasingly getting better. His flex is increasingly getting better. He is running and playing as he always had.

The only difference in him is he seems to be very edgy. Ear pinning at feed time, and getting more "pushy" but I think that may be because of no work, and also a little spoiling happening from me
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 8:05 am:

"He is on a glucosamine supplement, and his neck is increasingly getting better. His flex is increasingly getting better."

My vet said recently that if it is wobblers, they are not expected to get any "better".
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 10:41 am:

If straws are all they have left us we will grasp those. Gwen though your vet is true in the long run, in the short run you definitely see improvements and exacerbations with Wobblers. I think it happens like this: the horse over does it, the pain prevents further trauma, so the horses improves to the point that again feels good enough to over do it.
DrO
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Saturday, Nov 11, 2006 - 1:53 pm:

"If straws are all they have left us, we will grasp those."

Okay, what does that mean Dr. O?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 - 9:26 am:

It refers to your statement about second guessing the diagnosis.
DrO
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Sunday, Nov 12, 2006 - 2:47 pm:

aahh, thanks!
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