DSLD?

[tbrescue]

Does anyone have any experience with this? My friend's horse was just diagnosed and she's heartbroken. The vet didn't give her a very positive prognosis.

Thanks in advance for any info

[niaru]

Sheesh I saw this thread and thought it was Moose! Glad it's not him, and I'm sorry for your friend. I have no experience whatsoever with DSLD, it's when the suspensory system fails in the pastern, right? What kind of horse does she have?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

We had a mare at the farm for a while that had this. It's like the elasticity in the suspensories is shot. It's very unfortunate. I'm sorry for your friend. Good nutrition might slow the progression down some. I've heard good reviews of Smartpak's Smart Tendon.
www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=7478

[samantha]

Oh no I have seen a couple of cases. Both horses were euthanized, unfortunately. I don't know how the prognosis is if it is caught immediately, though.

I'm so sorry for your friend.

[pfht7]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's horse.

While there is no cure for DSLD-ESPA, there is a palliative treatment developed by Dr Eleanor Kellon which has helped alleviate the pain for many many horses. The treatment, along with emotional support and other information such as farrier care and nutritional needs, can be found at the DSLD-Equine Yahoo Group. Other helpful links:

dsldequine.info/

marimbatlb.blogspot.com/

[tbrescue]

phft, Thanks so much for that info.

Niaru, it's not Moose thankfully. It's one of the horses he goes out with. Griff has had dropped pasterns since he's been with us, the owner said he was over-jumped when he was younger. He's on permanent free lease to a friend of mine, and she's had him for a year now. He just suddenly started having soundness issues, looked NQR behind and was having trouble holding his front feet up for cleaning, so I suggested she have the vet out to look at him. The vet confirmed DSLD and basically said he would get progressively worse until he could no longer move around at all. I don't have a good feeling about him unfortunately. He seems really unwilling to weight his LH, and keeps that toe pointed and tucked under his body. The vet did a full neuro exam too cause he seems that unsteady.
He's a very sweet boy, her first horse and I feel bad that they are having to deal with this. OTOH, she doesn't ride very much, so any possibility of soundness for him as a pasture pet will be ok with her.

[Pam]

DSLD is genetic, it doesn't come from overjumping. It's more common in Peruvian Pasos and Arabs than other breeds. It can be debilitating, and at this point in time, there is not much to be done for it. Added support in the form of heart bar shoes can sometimes help for awhile. New research has also shown that the disease reaches beyond the suspensory ligaments, affecting all the connective tissues in the body. I wish I could offer you some better information, but unfortunately, in most cases the horse ends up being euthanized to relieve it's suffering. I'm so sorry that your friend has to go through this.