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  Discussion on Ataxi
Author Message
New Member:
nicola

Posted on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 1:17 pm:

Hi

I have a strange and worrying problem with my showjumping belgian warmblood horse. He has always had a strange gait particularly behind but it never seems to have affected his jump although obviously his flatwork had to be managed. However recently he suddenly got a lot worse and stumblin more than usual until eventually he fell down on top of me twice unable to recover his balance after stumbling. AS i live in egypt it is very difficult to get good veterinary help. A french vet was visiting and he diagnosed ataxia and treated him with mesotherapy. This achieved nothing and he got worse although perfectly ok at walk his canter was terrible and transitions dangerous. Head always going up and down as trying to find balance. French vet reccommended Dexaphynly Arthrite over 16 days intravenously. Local vet refused to administer as said he would founder. He took xrays and says he has arthrosis of the articular facets and should be treated with hylauronic acid and prednisone by injection usin ultrasound. What do you think? I love this horse but i can't ride him now as dangerous and can't realise how this got so bad so quickly
Member:
stevens

Posted on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 - 4:59 pm:

I am under the impression that ataxia is a symptom; loss of control, and not a disease. Until you know what is causing the ataxia, I don't know how you could treat it.

Personally, I'd have to go with the vet that did an exam and the xrays/ultrasound which it sounds like the local vet from your post. I certainly would not be riding him at this stage, you need to be careful of your own safety.

Good Luck,
Chris
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008 - 6:42 am:

Welcome Nicola,
Chris is correct, ataxia is a symptom and can be caused by many diseases however it does sound as if your veterinarian has found a potential cause with the articular changes he found on radiography. If there is just degenerative joint disease of the facets your veterinarians recommendations seems right on with a guarded to fair prognosis for further riding which will always be a touch risky since you don't know when a horse may stumble and fall. Your vet is wrong about the dexamethasone therapy and founder however as you can read about in the article associated with this discussion.

Unfortunately "arthrosis" of the cervical spine is often accompanied by pressure on the spinal cord which will not be treatable without surgery to stabilize the spine. I do have a few questions: What is the age of this gelding? Does the horse resist manipulation of the head form side to side and up and down?

You should note that the diagnosis of either DJD of the cervical vertebral articular facets or cervical vertebral stenosis do not have a good prognosis for continued work. You should do all you can to confirm the diagnosis. Then there are 2 articles I want you to study to better understand the diagnosis of lameness vs ataxia:
  • Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse
  • Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors »
  • Diagnosing Incoordination, Ataxia and Weakness

The article on ataxia has a link to the article on cervical stenosis so you can learn more about this condition. After you study these let us know what you decide. If you continue to have any doubts about the diagnosis I would recommend you ask the veterinarian for a second opinion of the radiographs and have them mailed to a equine veterinary referral center.
DrO
New Member:
nicola

Posted on Saturday, Feb 2, 2008 - 12:55 am:

Thank you very much.

Will read the articles today (actually i think i already read them before contacting you)

Lugano is 9. I have had him for 3 years and he has always displayed a particular gait with the left back hind leg showing uncoordination especially in extended trot.

If he is asked to turn his forehand (move his haunches in a circle while his forehand remains stationary) he cannot cross over the back legs. if he is asked to flex his head and neck to right or left he finds it difficult although I have seen him bite off a fly as a reflex and achieve what he was unable to do with a tidbit to tempt him. Same for up and down. If he does do it with effort the next day he is more unbalanced.

The vet actually did the treatment with prednisone. As he refused to carry out the other one (recommended by much more talented french vet called olivier le page) I had no choice unless I was prepared to fly him to france.

So far (2 days later) the difference on the lunge is indeed considerable. He no longer searches for balance by moving his head up and down at the trot. But he does keep it very low at the canter. I will ride him for the first time to day.

After reading your email i am concerned still about personal safety. I was competing in 1m 20 classes and I don't really fancy crashing to the ground at speed between fences! Especially as at 42 i am no spring chicken and have a family.

Three questions

1) if there is no risk of founder which was also just confirmed by Le page yesterday could i also do the anti inflammatory treatment (if i can find someone to administer it)
2) how long does it take for full benefit of prednisone to take effect and is it gradual
3) if the arthrosis diagnosis is correct (judging by the improvement so far I am tempted to believe it is) is there a surgical solution that would achieve a more conclusive CURE. If there is I would be prepared to fly him to France to a place called Cirale where they have amazing facilities

I really appreciate your help!

Thanks Nicola
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 2, 2008 - 8:02 am:

1) For more on founder and corticosteroids see the "Adverse Reactions" section of the "Overview of Steroids" article.
2) Prednisone is not effective in horses, for more on this see Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Prednisone, Prednisolone, Methylpred.
3) Nicola without examining your horse I cannot say if he is a candidate for further therapeutics but you will find a discussion of them at, Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Wobblers or Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy.
DrO
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