The note I gave to the vet for Tonto's medical history
Summary
- about 20 years old
- up to date on tetanus, not on flu
- retired since 2013
- history of back pain, believed to be muscular but not fully investigated
- has arthritis in hocks
- ringbone in front feet
- history of being a good dooer but struggling keeping weight on in recent years
- often has thrush infections in feet
- has had unusually mucky sheath of late which he has found uncomfortable
- suspected of Cushing’s but tested negative on tests
- has some behavioural issues – needle phobic (I have aural sedation to hand for visit)
- seems to have a very high threshold for pain
- condition is on the decline and debating PTS due to reduced quality of life
- owner wants to rule out all possibility of improving quality of life before deciding on PTS
Diagnosed with chronic ringbone effecting joint margins on
both front feet in 2011. Was continued in light ridden work and prescribed bute
as needed. Shoes were removed.
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| Autumn 2010 photo - the day I saw he was lame |
Summer 2013
By 2013 Tonto was showing indications of increased pain.
Some difficulty holding up right for when picking out feet and had a
‘goat-on-rock’ stance when saddle was presented to him, his back was also sore.
Tried putting shoes back on, but didn’t help. We re-Xrayed and confirmed
significant degeneration with damage surrounding the ligament connective tissue
in front feet and arthritis in both hocks. October 2013 fully retired to field
livery and on bute during winter months. Shoes removed.
Autumn 2014
2014 blood test for Cushing’s. Came back with normal result.
Summer 2015
Summer 2015 living out on lush grass field but not gaining
weight the way he used to (now a healthy weight). Had some episodes of choke
with his feed.
Autumn 2015
October 2015 started to loose weight despite good grazing, was
seen separating himself from the rest of the herd, noted he seemed
uncomfortable behind and had repeated episode of choke despite having wet feed.
Teeth were investigated and rasped, on inspection there were some sharp edges,
but nothing very significant. Tonto continued to loose condition and developed
a mite infestation in his feathers. Saliva test revealed he had tape worm. Had
a bit of a runny nose on and off. Bloods were taken which revealed slightly
elevated white blood cell count but no other significant markers. Cushing’s
re-tested with cortisone levels slightly higher than normal values but below
threshold.
December 2015, was not coping with mud, with regular trips
and falls in difficult footing so put on stable livery. He put on weight but
appeared withdrawn on occasion. He started a course of catrophen to see if this
could ease symptoms. A slight improvement was seen – but this realistically
could have been optimism on the owners part.
February 2016, moved to a dry flat field to try and help
mobility and living out. He was given an unlimited supply of hay and a daily
feed and was taken off bute. Lost a little condition but not too much,
occasionally seen standing with head lowered and withdrawn – but difficult to
observe as field was remote.
Spring 2016
April 2016, moved to field livery at westlands. Re-tested
for Cushing’s, again borderline but negative. Given a booster shot of
catrophen. Continued to struggle with mobility but fairly happy in himself.
Weight was healthy – but needed daily feeds to achieve this (always thinner than
the other horses on similar grazing).
Summer 2016
June 2016, was seen weight shifting on back legs. Vet called
to find he had fly strike in his sheath. This was treated but he still seemed
uncomfortable behind. Seemed better after a night on box rest with limited
socked hay. Pulses felt by farrier, but not by vet. Tested again for cushions,
with a borderline negative result. Decided probably not lamanitic and so
injected hocks with steroids (with a conservative dose for safely). When
injecting vet noted there was very little space left in the joint margin (by
feel). Some immediate improvement seen but not long lasting. Other bloods ran,
no significant markers barring a slightly elevated white blood cell count.
Weight healthy – but needing daily feeds to achieve this.
July – August 2016 continued issues with mucky sheath and
having to work hard to keep weight on (feeds daily). Some weight shifting seen
on and off behind.
Autumn 2016
September 2016 lost more condition – with some further
muscle wastage and tucked up behind. Seemed depressed. Moved to rich grazing
and extra fatty feed but no improvement. October 2016 moved to stable livery.
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