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Would you do a bone scan?
Topic Started: Jan 23 2008, 08:24 PM (466 Views)
snaffle
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Is the meadow on fire?
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My horse developed a mysterious psuedo-lameness about 3 1/2 weeks ago. He's just off; it's hard to describe. He's very short-strided at the trot and feels like his back-end is not connected to the front when we canter. It's like one of those buses with the accordion thingy in the middle. He's better with more exercise and worse with rest.

He didn't respond well to a chiropractic adjustment. We xrayed his hocks and there were no significant changes from the xrays 2 years ago. My vet thought it might be EPSM, so we started on vitamin E and selenium supplements, have upped the corn oil in his diet, and did a muscle biopsy. The biopsy came back negative for EPSM, but there was some indication of change in muscle composition. (Not sure what that means as I heard this third hand from the BM and haven't been able to talk to the vet who is on vacation.)

So the options presented to me are:

- continue with the EPSM diet, see if it helps
- do another chiro adjustment and perhaps some shockwave on his back
- get a bone scan, which also includes soft tissue

I'm leaning toward the bone scan because I really want to know what's wrong...or what's not wrong with him.

Would you do it? Have you done a bone scan? Was it helpful? Are there any risks with the procedure?
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Kikki
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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What is his diet exactly? I'm sure you have posted it somewhere, but I can't seem to find it with the very little scanning I did.

The bone scan may tell you something, or it may tell you a whole lotta nothing. Its hard to tell. What happened with the EPM thing? Were you going to test him for that or did you? I can't remember. Might be worth going on and treating him for it no matter what. Its interesting that its better with more work - sounds more like EPSM or shivers or something like that. I have found muscle biopsies to be only slightly helpful - they can tell you if the muscle is normal or not, but horse that don't have a firm EPSM diet still benefit greatly and improve on a solid EPSM diet.

There are a few minor risks envolved in the bone scan, but they are minimal and include reacting to the radioactive agent they are given, etc. Nothing too scary. My biggest concern with that is it is expensive and often won't give you anything definative. But if you are willing to spend the money, go for it. It may very well help.

I feel for you - you are not in a good position right now! I have been there and it really sucks! Just keep wracking your brain and working systematically through the problem and you will get it figured out. Unfortunately it is just taking longer than you would like!
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snaffle
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Thanks, Kikki.

I'm not exactly sure what his diet is. :( My BM has been working with the vet on customizing something for him.

He was tested for EPM last summer and it was negative. Now tested for EPSM and also negative.

He's scheduled for the bone scan on Tuesday. Apparently he'll stay at the facility till Wednesday and when the results come back. If they see anything on the results, they can do additional testing immediately, if necessary.

It's so hard...you want to help him, but you don't know what's wrong. Sometimes I really wish they could talk. Where's Dr. Doolittle when you need him?
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Ride'emCO
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Has no one suggested stifles? I only mention it because I used to ride a horse with stifle issues and that "disconnected" feeling is spot-on the way he used to feel. Also matches the "better with work, worse without" part... Just a thought.

We'll be thinking of you on Tuesday, good luck!
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MissBri
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But, I don't care - it's 5:00 somewhere
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I also think stifles
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snaffle
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Well, everyone seems to be thinking it's something 'higher up'...so stifles, or maybe something in his back. I'm hoping we'll find out on Tuesday. :luck:
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heineken
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I am a firm believer in the bonescan/scintigraphy to at least rule out serious physical issues. I just did one on my horse to make sure there isn't anything "wrong" before we push on with more training and more advanced work. Showed some things that we expected and something I didn't at all: sore front feet. So, now we live in pads. Duh. Such an easy fix but never would have guessed he was foot sore without the scan.
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snaffle
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Thanks for the vote of confidence on getting the procedure done. For some weird reason, I am incredibly nervous about this whole thing.

A few months ago, one of the horses at our barn was put down. He looked a lot like my horse...we used to joke they were brothers. He seemed to have a mysterious lameness and they ended up doing the scan. Didn't turn out well for him, so I think that's why I'm so stressed about this. Not sure exactly what came back on his scan (it's hard to talk about), but between a team of vets, our trainers, and the owners, they all decided putting him down was the best thing. So sad.
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Ride'emCO
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Jingles for today! Let us know what the outcome is!
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snaffle
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Thanks, Ride'em!

I'm so glad we did the bone scan. He has problems in his neck, elbow, and cannon bone. Nothing wrong in the hind end, although that's where the problems showed up. The vet said he is really back sore from his withers to his croup and his muscles are really weak in the hind end.

We injected his neck and elbow. He's coming home tomorrow. He gets some rest, then back to work. The vet said he's been ridden in a tight frame too much and needs to go long and low and develop his muscles on his own. So we'll do a lot of walking and trotting and cavaletti.

So, hooray, we found the problem and have a plan to fix it! Overall, a hugely successful day. :clap: :cheer: :clap: :cheer:
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heineken
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I'm so glad you did the procedure and got good news! Isn't it funny where they hurt and how it isn't ever what we think? My trainer was sure it would be sacroiliac and it was front feet???
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Kikki
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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Congrats on the diagnosis! Sounds like a very managable issue and it won't be long until he is back to normal!
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