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Expert
Posts: 1409
 
Location: Oklahoma | Thought I would share. Keep in mind that I went to vets that are very well known and have used both throughout the years. My horse was short on the back right hind leg. I knew it was in that leg just wasnt sure exactly what. Went to 1st vet it showed back right hind leg. Vet says locator says push off. Palpated showed the stifle was really sore, also palpated all over but not showing sore anywhere else. I asked if we should check the suspensory since he has had holes in it four years ago. Vet said no that it is stifle normal wear and tear so I let him inject. Off for three days and went back to riding Almost back to normal except horse was having trouble turning to the right. So went back a week later. Palpated and now the SI extremely sore which did not show sore before. Wanted to inject without ultrasound I said no not without ultrasound and asked again if maybe soreness is coming from below since stifle was sore last week and now SI sore this week. Something has to be going on. Said that I had two different problems and that no point in ultrasounding leg. That all he would do is inject. I left without him doing anything for my horse. A week later got into 2nd vet Did the lameness locator showed back right hind leg but impact. Did blocks (which the first vet did not do and said waste of time) Went sound when we got to the suspensory and therefore we ultrasounded and he has a small hole in suspensory. If I had injected SI and started running I know I would have had a bigger problem! The 2nd vet said that when I come back for recheck and if the suspensory is healed then we will put the lameness locator back on him again and see what it reads. It is worth doing the blocks! Hope this helps someone else! I believe in injections but sometimes it is more than wear and tear. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
  
Location: Bandera, TX | Thanks for sharing! My best for your horse hope he heals rapidly! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I honestly think the lameness locator had nothing to do with your diagnosis.
The first vet, should honestly be reported to the vet association, as he blindly injected, did not do a thorough assessment, had no scientific evidence to support his diagnosis.
The first vet would never touch my horse.
The second vet did what every vet should, assess, block, xray/ultrasound, diagnose, develop a treatment plan |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | cheryl makofka - 2015-11-22 1:58 PM I honestly think the lameness locator had nothing to do with your diagnosis. The first vet, should honestly be reported to the vet association, as he blindly injected, did not do a thorough assessment, had no scientific evidence to support his diagnosis. The first vet would never touch my horse. The second vet did what every vet should, assess, block, xray/ultrasound, diagnose, develop a treatment plan
I have to agree. I have had too many tell me the lameness locator didn't do anything but cost more money. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I think the main take-away is that while you might want to cut costs in diagnosing--it's usually worth it to spend the money. Thanks for sharing your experience!! |
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 Horsezips Number One Fan
Posts: 3519
Location: on a horse | Totally agree with Cheryl, but I also agree that the la,needs locater helped then the blocks just finalized it. Have been there also, but not with two vets, just one who blocked till we found it |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Vets are not a one stop shop...anywhere. I've had some excellent vets miss some super obvious simple issues. There are vets that I use for joint issues when I'm fairly certain what I'm dealing with, some that I use for cheaper diagnostics when I'm guessing and want to look at something without spending a fortune, and there are those that we use for surgical or major problems that require indepth diagnostics. None of the vets I'm referring to would be my pick for any repro work. They are human and have their strengths and weaknesses.
You did the right thing. You trusted your gut and got a second opinion, but that doesn't make the first vet negligent. That vet was using his experience to diagnose your horse and in this case, he wouldn't have been wrong. He was just narrowing down the soreness issues for you. It's up to the owner to be diligent and not think that one injection is going to fix the problem. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | the lameness locator is just a tool, it spits out vectors and it suggests what leg it might be. When used correctly, it gives you a region to start blocking. It's designed to give you an idea of where to start localizing the lameness. |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | I didn't know what to expect with the lameness locator. Why I wanted to share my story because if my friend hadn't told me how her vet did the lameness locator I would never have thought any more bout it. In her case the naked eye and palpated showed that it was in one leg but the locator said another and that is where the problem was so if they would have done what the naked eye and palpating showed they would have missed the other leg. By the time I made it to the 2nd vet my horse moved like he should. The second vet didn't see him when he was short in the back but because I did the stifle injection and laid off so by the time I switched to him my horse was moving pretty good. But the locator said he was off on right back leg. I knew it was that leg before the locator but just wanted to cover my basis and after the blocks he went sound and it also showed on the locator as sound. Once he is healed I will use the locator again to help make sure that we are not missing anything else, as well as the vet and my eyes and whatever else. :)) |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | I don't want to get in the battle of vets :)) but the first vet was wrong. I asked him 2x and 2 different vet appointment to ultrasound the leg in question. All he wanted to do was inject my horse. I even told him that I believe that when you have a soreness and you think you have fixed and a week later you have a different soreness that it is coming from somewhere down below because the soreness was traveling up. He disagreed. I told him that I was willing to dig further even if that meant ultrasounding or xrays I was willing. He said no that it was Si and that the week before was stifle and that 2 different problems not coming from somewhere else. Yes he located my soreness but not the problem I didn't argue with him. I just went somewhere else. But I shared because Im hoping that it helps someone else. Not to bad mouth a vet. He believed what he did and I don't think for one minute that he means harm for my horse! Just set in his ways. I do believe in injections, I do believe that they help! But I think we need to look at the whole picture and not be so focus on one thing. Thanks to all! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Turnburnsis - 2015-11-23 1:45 PM
I don't want to get in the battle of vets :)) but the first vet was wrong. I asked him 2x and 2 different vet appointment to ultrasound the leg in question. All he wanted to do was inject my horse. I even told him that I believe that when you have a soreness and you think you have fixed and a week later you have a different soreness that it is coming from somewhere down below because the soreness was traveling up. He disagreed. I told him that I was willing to dig further even if that meant ultrasounding or xrays I was willing. He said no that it was Si and that the week before was stifle and that 2 different problems not coming from somewhere else. Yes he located my soreness but not the problem I didn't argue with him. I just went somewhere else. But I shared because Im hoping that it helps someone else. Not to bad mouth a vet. He believed what he did and I don't think for one minute that he means harm for my horse! Just set in his ways. I do believe in injections, I do believe that they help! But I think we need to look at the whole picture and not be so focus on one thing. Thanks to all!
Vets that are set in their ways and are not doing BEST PRACTICE or adhering to CODE OF CONDUCT, or VETERINARIAN STANDARDS OF CARE should not have their liscense. The first vet did none of the above.
It doesn't matter if his intentions were good, if you wouldn't have gotten a second opinion, more damage would have occurred |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I'm shocked that you specifically asked him to ultrasound and he refused. It's not an invasive therapy, so what is the harm in doing it? It should have been yes, maam, i'd be happy to take a look. If you have the money to pay for the diagnostic, then why not do it? It would be different if you were requesting he do something that could be harmful to the horse or not the right treatment or is invasive. I have to agree with Cheryl on this one. So many vets (and owners) are so quick to go to the needle and inject the joints. I had a 2 YO who was lame and had the vet come out and look at her. Wanted to x-ray to make sure nothing was fractured. The vet recommended I either inject her coffin joint or give her an Osphos injection. No thank you. I asked her if she knew why the Osphos medication was no longer used in human medicine, and she didn't. I shared it with her and she was shocked.
Don't count on anyone to do your research for you. Unfortunately both the medical industry and the veterinary industry are both driven by the same monstor.....the drug industry. Bottom line is there is "no money in the cure". It's a very true statement.
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