Left shoulder

[Johara50]

A friend of mine has a little Shetland and all of a sudden he started walking with a limp, he has had this limp for 3 months now and his front left shoulder muscle has deteriorated and concave. She has had the vet out on numerous occasions, xrays, medication, also the physio has been out to give us excercises to do but nothing is working. He had lost a lot of weight but has now gained it again, he doesn’t seem to be in pain but it’s so hard to actually know without talking horse language. His limp is pretty severe and the owner is beside herself knowing what to do. Any suggestions would greatly received.

 

[carthorse]

I'd be looking for a second opinion from another vet practice, that sounds like a severe lameness to give such drastic muscle wastage & the weight loss would suggest a lot of pain too. I'm slightly surprised that if it's that severe the vet couldn't identify the reason.

 

[Kite_Rider]

I'd be looking for a second opinion from another vet practice, that sounds like a severe lameness to give such drastic muscle wastage & the weight loss would suggest a lot of pain too. I'm slightly surprised that if it's that severe the vet couldn't identify the reason.

This ^^^^ with knobs on.
If my vet couldn't come up with a diagnosis with such a severe lameness I would be looking for another vet.

 

[Johara50]

I'd be looking for a second opinion from another vet practice, that sounds like a severe lameness to give such drastic muscle wastage & the weight loss would suggest a lot of pain too. I'm slightly surprised that if it's that severe the vet couldn't identify the reason.

Thank you so much for your reply I shall pass it on to the owner

 

[Johara50]

This ^^^^ with knobs on.
If my vet couldn't come up with a diagnosis with such a severe lameness I would be looking for another vet.

I agree and she is going to thank you

 

[chunky monkey]

Could it be some form of dislocation. I would seek another opinion. Has the x-rays not shown anything.

 

[Jessey]

Its impossible for anyone to give you any valid ideas based on that info alone, I'd second getting a second opinion, ideally from a specialist.
Having said that have they considered sweeny shoulder, that causes lameness and muscle wasting, I can't tell from the description if it could be as you haven't given any other details.

 

[Mary Poppins]

I echo the comments about a second opinion. If there is a definite limp in walk, there really is a problem and no decent vet would leave a horse in that condition.

 

[Johara50]

Could it be some form of dislocation. I would seek another opinion. Has the x-rays not shown anything.

The xrays showed everything was completely fine.

 

[Johara50]

Its impossible for anyone to give you any valid ideas based on that info alone, I'd second getting a second opinion, ideally from a specialist.
Having said that have they considered sweeny shoulder, that causes lameness and muscle wasting, I can't tell from the description if it could be as you haven't given any other details.

The vet did suggest sweeny should

Its impossible for anyone to give you any valid ideas based on that info alone, I'd second getting a second opinion, ideally from a specialist.
Having said that have they considered sweeny shoulder, that causes lameness and muscle wasting, I can't tell from the description if it could be as you haven't given any other details.

the vet did consider sweeny shoulder but no medication has been given.

 

[Jessey]

The vet did suggest sweeny should

the vet did consider sweeny shoulder but no medication has been given.

I don't think there is any medication for it really, a friend did months of physio rehab and stimulation work with her boy to recover it, but nerve damage is an especially difficult problem to fix

 

[Johara50]

I don't think there is any medication for it really, a friend did months of physio rehab and stimulation work with her boy to recover it, but nerve damage is an especially difficult problem to fix

It seems to be that way she won’t give up on him though