Does your horse have abnormal difficulty backing up? Shows unexplainable muscle loss in the hindquarters? Bunny-hopping (crow hopping) while at the canter? Constant tripping or irregular uncoordination that does not resolve with correct shoeing?
There has been a rise in awareness for a disease that can encompass all of these symptoms. It is cervical vertebral instability, better known as Wobbler’s Syndrome.
According to EquineWobblers.com, the major causes can include:
- spinal cord damage include malformation of the cervical vertebra
- trauma to the vertebra from falling
- viral (herpes or rhinopneumonitis) and protozoa (Sarcocystis neurona) infections commonly called EPM.
“The clinical signs of each of these problems can be very similar as each one can damage the spinal cord in the neck region. In order to provide accurate information for the treatment and long term prognosis it is necessary to obtain a complete diagnosis as soon as possible. Arriving at a clinical diagnosis usually requires combining the information from a complete neurological exam, radiographs of the skull and cervical area, a myelogram, and spinal fluid testing for inflammation and EPM.”
If you suspect your horse has a combination of the above symptoms that are not resolved by diagnostic suggestions by your veterinarian, consider having a talk about Wobbler’s Syndrome and having a consultation with a specialist.
For more information on what to look for and how it’s treated, visit EquineWobblers.com