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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
    
| just4fun - 2016-01-20 5:44 PM
Anniemae - 2016-01-20 5:38 PM just4fun - 2016-01-20 3:35 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2016-01-20 5:28 PM could it be PSSM? Maybe...but I thought they got better with work/exercise? He seems to be the opposite...
I added a video above. You can see (especially at the end) that he isn't driving behind.
I will go ahead and test for PSSM. I thought about it before, but just put it off...
There are at least two types of PSSM. One is tested by hair or blood and the other is tested with a muscle biopsy. The mare I suspected to have it did NOT get better with exercise and I have never heard that being the case. However 24/7 turnout is recommended. A change in diet made a HUGH difference in her. She moved much like your horse, was extremely sensitive to brushing her back, was VERY resistant to giving her chin when you asked or demanded. Which makes sense because the big muscles in her back were tight and HURT! Pretty much all of that went away when I switched to a low starch/high fat feed program. Keep in mind this mare only actually tied up once, after I had had her for 5 years and it wasn't typical. One day she came in appearing lame in the front and the next day, when I was able to get her to the vet, she was goose stepping in the hind end (thought it was stringhalt!). Vet told me she was tying up , but even then her bloodwork did not show elevated SGOTs.
I would switch feeds. What harm could it do? I never tested that mare, the muscle biopsy lays them off for several months, I think. Why wait?
Good luck and sorry for the loss of Ratniss.
edited to add: unlike Diane, I think that PSSM is probably responsible for much of the vague lamenesses we are seeing. It is insinuated into the genetics of a large percentage of out QH and related gene pool. Much of the time it is not expressed so badly that it prevents the horse from being used and the genetics get passed on. I think it may even be tied to a higher quality performance horse much like HYPP is tied to extra muscle mass. I feed everything as if it were PSSM. They are all fat and healthy and I come to realize that the high grain diet we have been accustomed to feeding is really not "natural" at all.
Try it, what can you lose? I saw results fairly quickly, maybe a couple of weeks. Cheaper than a body scan!
Edited by rodeoveteran 2016-03-04 9:55 AM
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Well, we finally have a diagnosis. He has a neck injury (c1 & c2) and DJD in all joints of his right front leg. No more X-rays were taken as these findings were enough to conclude he is not safe to ride. Our options are euthanasia or turn out.
I have so many mixed feelings.
Thank you for those who offered advice and encouragement on this long journey.
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | just4fun - 2016-11-15 3:12 PM
Well, we finally have a diagnosis. He has a neck injury (c1 & c2) and DJD in all joints of his right front leg. No more X-rays were taken as these findings were enough to conclude he is not safe to ride. Our options are euthanasia or turn out.
I have so many mixed feelings.
Thank you for those who offered advice and encouragement on this long journey.
I'm sorry:( that's devastating news.Prayers for you |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | Oh my. I am so very sorry. |
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 Saint Stacey
| just4fun - 2016-11-15 1:12 PM
Well, we finally have a diagnosis. He has a neck injury (c1 & c2) and DJD in all joints of his right front leg. No more X-rays were taken as these findings were enough to conclude he is not safe to ride. Our options are euthanasia or turn out.
I have so many mixed feelings.
Thank you for those who offered advice and encouragement on this long journey.
I'm so sorry. Those neck injuries suck. Especially once the start to turn neurological. I had Sidekick as a pasture pet for about 3 years. When they do finally reach that breaking point, it's not good. He would have good days and bad days. I kept him as long as he seemed happy. My daughter found him down in his stall one morning in huge amounts of pain. I have no answers. Just don't let anyone guilt you no matter what you decide. You WILL have well meaning people question you, or tell you that you should have done more. Don't listen to them. We all do the best we can. Hugs! |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | In am so so sorry, many prayers for you and him. . . . |
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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I am so very sorry. Praying for you. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | So sad to hear this.... |
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