wyoming barrel racer - 2017-05-25 8:26 PM  Im thinking of trying chiro/massage. Id prefer it done by a vet that will first evaluate his xrays. He has the cushiest job in the world if I can get him back. Vitamin E is supposed to be the thing for nerve damage so I have some ordered. He can't put his head below mid cannon bone and doesn't want to flex past his girth on either side. His nicker isn't the same either, I've heard that nicker twice a day for nearly 4 yrs and I know it isn't the same.

lopnaround - 2017-05-26 12:51 PM

I am so sorry!  It's been such a terrible week for so many!

On the Wobbler's, do the xrays show how much it's compressed?

True story, when I was a tech we had a girl who had a Prix St Georges level dressage horse, 18 years old.   He was diagnosed with wobblers, as many dressage horses are because of the way they carry their heads in the bridle.   My boss basically told her there was no hope, he was noticeably ataxic.
She took him home, turned him out, and did some therapy (I wish I knew what) and he went back to competing!!  I was shocked when I heard that a few months later, as we thought she was gonna put him down.
Don't give up and look into altermative therapies, maybe Acuvet laser and acupuncture and herbs and ANYTHING that will decrease inflammation (IE change feeding program,)
 

jake16 - 2017-05-27 6:57 PM I. Have been thinking about you all day.Hope you are doing ok.

wyoming barrel racer - 2017-05-26 2:03 PM


 I have to get a myleogram to show the compression. Insurance should cover this. He's been on a wonderful diet to minimize any inflammation. He hasn't had processed grain in 3 yrs. He is ataxic, but I can't say how much. I wanted to be in denial about it, but the vet pointed a lot of things out to me.

Turnburnsis - 2017-05-28 8:09 PM I feel your pain. Please get a second and third opinion. I had a very good vet tell me that my horses neck was compressed and that I would need a Myleogram and that we would have to fly in a surgeon bc only bout one or two that does the surgery and that be 10,000 surgery at least. I was devastated and said if I didn't do the surgery that I would just watch him suffer and have to put him down! I bawled and bawled and bc I didn't have the money (thank GOD I didn't have the money or insurance) I couldn't do the surgery. I trusted this vet bc I been with him 2 years. Once I calmed down and of course praying like crazy I sent my xrays to 2 other very well known vets and was told yes there was some arthritic changes but no spinal compression. Figured out what it was went did some rehab and went back to running him good as new! Then we had another issue unrelated and off a year and now back good as new and running! My point is no matter how much you trust and love your vet get at least 2 more opinions and make sure that is what it is. I really thought it was the end! Praying for you and please keep us updated! It could be a number of other things that is wrong that is fixable! So many things can affect the neurologic!

wyoming barrel racer - 2017-05-29 8:43 PM


His neck vertebrae are very large and abnormal. So he was a born wobbler, but having his teeth floated agravated it enough to make it noticable. Crazy because he is only 6. I keep reading it pregresses so in time he will eventually get worse. It sad that insurance doesn't just automatically cover wobblers regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Because it can lead to a nasty end...and no one knows when. We talked about surgery and the vet said it really isn't a very positive outcome especially costing $10k per site. It looks like Audie just has 1 compressed area and insurance should cover that, but it just didn't sound like a very good way to go.

I have been chatting with another vet that wants to see his x rays and see if chiro/massage/acupuncture will get him back in the show ring...even if just for another year or two. Our long term goal of Over Fences classes is out, but if he can still do the flatwork that will be good for now.

I can't afford another prospect. I've soaked all my money into this one through the years and had really high hopes for him. 

Chandler's Mom - 2017-05-29 8:51 PM I know nothing about Wobblers----what is it and what happens when they have it?

wyoming barrel racer - 2017-05-29 10:09 PM


it's just a fancy word for a horse that is neurological from compression on the spinal cord from the vertebrae. Some like Audie were born with what is actually a deformed neck vertebrae. They are very large but if I understand the vet correctly, the hole in the bones that the spinal cord travels through si very small. As arthritis builds it makes the hole even smaller and pinches the nerve/spinal cord. They lose coordination of their legs, often can't tell where they are or how high they need to pick them up to step over things. Audie literally just has a stiff neck to most people, but when the vet made him go up and down hills and step over logs he wasn't doing it correctly. Other horses get it from an injury-fall or going over backwards etc.

jake16 - 2017-06-07 8:29 PM

Wondering how your boy is doing?