I have an 18 year old 3 months pregnant mare that is much loved and treasured, but unfortunatly hasn't luck at her side (it is the same mare that had the hydrops allantois 1 1/2 year ago on which I posted)

She made a terrible fall last month (sudden deep hole in the ground due to flooding and the poor horse felt in and was able to crawl out of it).

She has since a severe form of ataxie on her both hind legs, but most on her right hindleg. The ataxie is atypic : she walks lilke a drunkman but once walking a few steps in a straight line, she walks straight and one can only see the ataxie on the length of her steps (and on occasion as she doesn't lift her hind legs that much).

She got a good week last week, but has fallen a lot the last days, having trouble to stand up again. Had to call two vets yesterday as she couldn't stand up. It is awfull to watch.

Got a number of good sport horse vets over to see her.

As my treating vets advice against transport, she is suspected of having the abductory mussles partly ripped and a crack in the hip, but only diagnosed on the way she walks/rests/manual examination.

She is luckily in no pain, she just doesn't understand why her hind legs are not cooperating.

As she falls to often, can't take turns and also falls backwards on her rear legs, she can't be put in the stable and can't be attached. Hence she is in a little land at my place with a company-pony.

Vets say that the biggest risk is not the ataxie, but the fact that one day she can fall badly and injure herself. They don't see an objection as to her carrying out her pregnancy. Even better: giving birth might help to get the nerve back to it's place.

As she is pregnant, she didn't receive bute, but only cortisone-injections.

I am of course very worried and want to give her every support possible. As the first month has passed without improvement, it is unlickely that the nerve damage will completely heal.

Who has experiences with ataxie through a fall ? And in pregnant mares ? How did they do in labour ?

She gets freshly cut grass daily, and supplements, including glucosamine in its pure form (no other ingredients unless the kalium that keeps the gluco stable).

Anyone that can give me suggestions on how to help her, including feeding/caring advice ?

Thank you !

Just a question,
Have you any horse chiropractors anywhere near you? A good chiropractor is worth their weight in gold and can help a lot of times that vets can't.
Try to find one as this could save your mare a lot of problems.
Sandy

Hello,

One of the vets I'm using is also an ostheopate, but I keep my eyes open for a second opinion. However, as it's not a protected profession, plenty around in the area, it is hard to find a good one that has experience with ataxie.

As far as I am aware. bute is not contra-indicated for pregnant mares. I realise the problem of transporting her, but your mare really needs x-rays if at all possible. If she has a broken pelvis (which can sometimes also be felt by internal manual examination per rectum by your vet) it should heal in time. I am sorry to say this but if she does get to the stage where she is repeatedly falling over and unable to rise unaided, you do need to consider her quality of life and whether you need to take a very hard decision. The vets will not make this decision for you. Wishing you all the best for your much-loved mare.

I forgot to add, has your vet checked for a neck injury?

I've had several sporthorse vets over, one also an ostheopate. X-rays are not possible, as the portable machines don't go deep enough, and the mare is to unstable to be transported. She was "felt up" two times internally to check for hip & pelvis, and that seems ok.

She was also checked for head & neck injury by two vets, nothing found.

At this moment, the vets think she has quality of life : she is happy, ears pricked forward, eats well, is attentive and friendly. The ataxie itself is not a reason to end her life, but she could injure herself heavily when falling. Untill now, her falls (soft pasture ground) have not caused her any big injuries. She is in discomfort when she falls and tries to get up, but clearly has forgotten about it 5 minutes later.

We are now 1 month after the accident. Past week, she didn't fall at all. Over the last 3 days however, she felt one time a day.

What I really would like to know : whom has experience with prengancy & ataxie ? And what can be given to her as supplements ?

Is there a specialist forum where I could post these questions ?

I can't help with the combo ataxia and pregnancy other than get her in a padded room until delivery and then be bunking with this mare for the first month post deliver to be sure that she does not fall on the foal. If it was me I would be sure that she foals outdoors in a safe pasture where if she falls, she's not confined to the area immediately next to the foal.

My only personal experience with ataxia was a two year old filly about eight years ago. She flipped over on concrete. Ultimately she suffered three broken vertebrae in her whithers and was so neurological she could barely take a step. She was on three days of IV DMSO treatment for the inflammation. 30 days of stall confinement, 30 days of monitored confined turnout. Ultimately her functions returned and she went on to show in Halter and Performance.

Hi Sigrid,
ik ken ook iemand die een merrie met ataksi had. De veearts en de osteopaat konden er niks mee, maar toen ze op advies van iemand een botterkraker langs liet komen, is de merrie enorm vooruit gegaan!
Misschien een idee!
Succes!

Groetjes!

Tiens, ik dacht dat een osteopaat (officiële benaming) en een kraker (volksmond) in sè hetzelfde was ? Kan je me misschien de gegevens van die persoon doorgeven ?

In de volksmond wel,maar als het er op aan komt, hebben ze toch verschillende behandelingen.
Hier het nummer van mijn bottenkraker.
Ze is super, maar komt wel uit NL.
+31 620541174
Haar naam is Ingrid.
Succes!

Groetjes!

Hello Sigrid,
Just a thought for you:
- in my clinical practice (with humans),I've seen individuals get great relief from accupuncture(or accupressure) from a qualified accupuncturist skeletal muscular pain such as sacral nerve pain,herniated discs,and many other issues r/t pain.A good accupuncturist can also teach YOU to apply pressure at the point(accupressure) to relieve pain in the animal when they're not available.That is of course,if pain is/or will be an issue with your mare.
Assuming that you've gotten equine vet's best clinical evaluation,a horse chiropractor may be good too.When I have a "mystery" ailment,of unknown etiology,I will use a vet,(or chiropractor vet)or practiced in using ,"applied kinesiology"(muscle testing) as a diagnostic tool for determining exact problem and appropriate treatment for the horse.
I also have another clinician who works with me and/or my vet using something similar to muscle testing that we've used w/amazing success for medical ,evaluation,and breeding issues.This one is the most cost effective one of the three(Vet,accupuncturist,chiro),pm me if ya have any interest,he can work abroad.
-sarah