HELP!? His back legs are buckling underneath him and he is having trouble walking!?

Question

I was just at work with one of my neighbor's horses (I train), a 16 month old Arabian colt named Pico. I walked into his pasture and he seemed kind of down, sick in a way. He is usually hyper and jumpy and full of spirit. Today he just walked with his head down.

I went over to him to brush him down and then start working, and he walked off so I just followed. He stoped in a corner then continued to try and walk. When he tried to take a step, his front [hocks] ankles locked up and he couldn't move. Then he was able to take a step and both of his back legs buckled right underneath him to where he was dragging them to walk and his bum was really low.

What is wrong? Is there an explanation for this? I had the owner call the vet and he is not able to come out for another 3 hours. So we are just keeping an eye on him and hoping it is not serious. Please help!

P.S. After it happens, he can walk normal again but he swings his legs out and around and is really stiff. It lasts for about 30 seconds, goes away, then comes back.

Answer 1

The intermittent nature of his symtoms is more indicative of an illness such as viral infection or toxic response affecting his nervous system than of a spinal or joint injury, which would more typically produce continual weakness/paralysis. Either way, protecting him from injuring himself while you await the vet is about all you can do for now.

Answer 2

I can only imagine your frustration! This is YOUR child and YOU know best when something is truly wrong. These symptoms are serious and need immediate attention (not in two months). Often, early treatment can mean the difference between a poor or successful outcome. I would echo a previous answer and encourage you to go to a children's hospital. If you are getting the brush-off when trying to set up an appointment, then I would head straight to the ER and they'll have to deal with you immediately. Just a hunch, but you might want to consider a pediatric neurologist for the symptoms you've described. Good luck!

Answer 3

I would be interested to know what it is when the vet comes but it would seem that he has slipped his stifles. These can go back in on their own, but is likely to recurr. Or he has pulled a muscle in his back or got sciatica (a trapped nerve in the spine which affects the leg actions further down.



The other thought could be azoturia but that is normally in older horses who have been fed hard feed on rest days and enforced confinement followed by hard exercise with no warm up. So more likely to be the first.

Answer 4

Is he in with other horses. I had a colt once that did something similar. He was playing with other colts and was kicked in head. He was falling around and his legs would buckle. The vet came out and said he might have gotten a concussion but that he was alright. After a while he was fine.

Answer 5

This could be completely wrong, but I just lost my beautiful, wonderful Hanoverian gelding to Colic two weeks ago today. I went down that morning and he wouldn't eat, walked with his head down, and had a hard time staying up. Is the colt eating and drinking? When he does go down, does he thrash at all? Again, I could be and probably am completely wrong, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If he is having these symptoms, check to see if he is bloated, a common sign. Try to keep him walking and keep him drinking water! Hope everything turns out okay.

Answer 6

I would definitely agree with whoever said it might be a spinal injury. It sounds like it. Just keep an eye on him till the vet comes and get him examined.

Answer 7

This really sounds like Wobbler's Syndrome. Does he seem unsure of where his feet are? Is he unable to balance on three feet (like if you're picking his hooves)?



Another possibility is that he injured himself in the pasture... possibly a spinal or pelvic injury.

Answer 8

my thoughts



wobblers syndrome - can hit at any age

epm

trauma to back end

cancer of the spinal column



i can't be sure without seeing the colt.



good luck.

Answer 9

It might be Johnson grass poison, botulism or west nile. I hope the horse is ok.

Answer 10

Could be neuro or physical. Also, the beginning of toxicity or botulism or EEE, for starters. Very serious stuff. Hope the vet gets there very soon.

Answer 11

This is a RED Flag....call your veterinarian immediately. This certainly sounds like an injury with either neurological involvement and/or impairment stemming from either an accident in the pasture with some kind of spinal involvement or lumbar/hip injury. Any time ambulation is severely affected from an otherwise sound horse its not something to take lightly. The other consideration is a stifle injury; "he swings his legs out and around".......a soft tissue injury...a ligament strain .......

Answer 12

uh, i don't really know what to tell you honestly, i guess just wait for the vet and pray its nothing to serious.

Answer 13

he sounds like he has EPM have him tested for that my horse was tested for that