Appaloosa mare LAST STORY (Storyman [World Champion] x Smokes Rocnroller)http://allbreedpedigree.com/last+story
Sharon Williams aquired Story when she was 2 yrs old and noticed she was down in
the pasterns.
Then the "shape shifting" in the hind quarters started and she was going post
legged. Story never carried a foal and aborted twice. Story seemed to lay down a
lot, but still had bursts of youthful energy and would run and buck, but her
back pasterns would hit the ground - as she aged (still a young horse of 5 at
donation) they continued to drop further - she was an orphan when born, but the
baby pics of her showed her very upright in her pasterns. Story was donated to
the University of Georgia for the study on DSLD in Spring 2004. She was
confirmed DSLD. Here is the necropsy report-
"Tendons in all of her four extremities, patella and the nuchal ligament were
affected. There were also mild signs of DSLD in the aorta and eyes."
Last Story is the first documented case by the university of DSLD in the
Appaloosa.
Thoroughbred mare SOUTH BEACH BABY "Hope" (Line In The Sand x Miss Starquest)
Ashley Williams bought the Thoroughbred filly from the Ocala Breeders' Sale. She
said she was a beautiful mover but 5 months later she noticed her pasterns began
to drop. She was not lame but had several bouts of unexplained colics. She then
progressed to a stiff walk and had a hard time getting up. She had several vets
check her and they did not consider dsld because it was not known to be a
disease affecting TB's. After doing her own online research and contacting Dr
Mero did the thought of dsld come into play. Hope was diagnosed postive by flex
test & ultrasound. She was then donated to research. Hope was euthanized on Nov.
16, 2004, four days after ultrasound diagnosis. She was only 16 months of age.
Necropsy findings: the disease had attacked her front and back legs, the main
arteries in her heart, her stomach lining and her liver.
Hope was the first comfirmed case of dsld in the TB by the research
universities. Hope's owner has dedicated herself to educating owners/breeders
and the veterinary community about the disease and had an article published
about Hope's unique case at TheHorse.com
Thoroughbred gelding ONO EAGLE JOE (Ono Brandt x L'Eggie Lou) http://allbreedpedigree.com/ono+eagle+joe Eagle was
purchased at a sale and thought to be a QH in need of some good farrier care.
Linda Kielland was quite shocked to find out he was actually a registered
Thoroughbred when sale was final. Also a surprise were in his bloodlines some of
the great TB racers like Native Dancer, War Admiral, Swing On (dam of
Seabiscuit), Man 'O War and Bold Ruler (also sire of Secretariat). Bold Ruler
was known for putting those nice muscular rumps on his decendents. Linda had
previous experience with her dsld Peruvian Paso, Tranquillo and was getting
suspicious with Eagles post legged stance and dropped fetlocks. Learning that
confirmed cases in a registered TB was rare she agreed to pursue Eagles case by
having ultrasounds done on April 28, '05 by Philchuck Veterinary Clinic. The
ultrasounds confirmed that Eagle was indeed positive for DSLD and another
confirmed case in TB. The ultrasound showed disrupped ligament tissue mid
suspensory and also an enlarged suspensory. Linda has donated Eagles blood
samples to be included in the genetic research at U of KY and also the iron
research study conducted by Dr Kellon. Eagle was be donated to help research at
the following universities U of GA, U of FL anf U of KY. Thanks to all who
worked to make this possible. Eagle was euthanised June 2005 at Washington
University. To read Eagle's Story go here-
Click Here
Peruvian Paso gelding RLP EL FARO (RLP Cacique de Oro x RLP Arena de Oro) http://allbreedpedigree.com/rlp+el+faro
was a strong, upright foal and into young adulthood. Beginning at age 7, owner
Terry Barrall noticed that he was a bit off his gait. He showed abnormal
swelling of the lower legs after use and developed very mild, but persistent
lameness in one front leg. She was convinced something was wrong, even though
Faro showed none of the 'classic' signs of DSLD. With the help of Dr. Jeanette
Mero's diagnostic protocol Faro tested positive before age 8. The photo shown
here is just before his disease forced him to retire. It illustrates how DSLD
does not always cause pastern drop or extreme, dramatic lameness. During three
years of retirement, he had gradual deterioration including 'false' colic from
damage to stomach and intestines, hypersensitivity to touch, gradual changes in
hock and fetlock angles and increased lameness. White hairs came in on his ribs
and rump where he had been hypersensitive. Although he had periods of
stabilization, his symptoms worsened each year. Winters were hardest, with
weight loss, depression and increased pain on palpation. Faro was euthanized in
Nov, 2004 at age 10. On necropsy his ligaments showed cellular changes,
thickening, and deposits of cartilage.
Peruvian Paso mare PRINCESA MARIA "Mariah" (Persico MSR x Lancera MGR) http://allbreedpedigree.com/princesa+maria Mariah was born down on all four pasterns. In a week she was upright but did have longer pasterns that always concerned her owner Bunny Reveglia. When she played hard as she got older if she would over do it, she would show some soreness in her rear fetlocks but she would be fine in a day or two. When Mariah was 4 yrs old and pregnant she came down with sudden acute lameness, swelling and heat in both front fetlocks. She could barely move. This onset lasted about a month. She then stablized and did fairly well for several months. Closer to her foaling date she had a very tough time, false colics, laying down alot and she started cribbing constantly, which can be a sign of pain and discomfort. She foaled a healthy upright filly (Xarina- PP x Curly who at 4 yrs is showing early symptoms and in May '05 had an onset in all four fetlocks http://allbreedpedigree.com/xarina) and seemed to improve after the birth. The weight of carrying the foal caused her front legs to buck at the knees and her pasterns dropped significantly. With pain management and suppliments she lived 4 yrs with dsld but at the time of euthanasia was extremely thin and had constant pain and layed down alot. Ultrasounds showed many lesions of the suspensory. Necropsy showed enlarged SL and it was spongy rather than firm because of the disease and deposits of cartilage. Also present was a gelatin like sage green liquid from the fetlock joint.
Mariah's dam PP- LANCERA MGR (Lancero Joven x Riviera MSR) http://allbreedpedigree.com/lancera+mgr showed mild dsld symptoms around 7 yr old her (age in the photo) and had dropped fetlocks but not severely. She had very flexy pasterns and would flex to horizontal when moving. She was a hard breeder and did not take AI when tried several times, her uterus showed unusual fluid build up. She also developed severe bug allergies, breathing problems and developed a slightly dropped crest around 8 yrs. old. She started to look much older, loose weight especially in the hind quarters and acted very depressed. She had a very bad episode once and she showed false colics, had trouble standing, was falling over and it was thought to be WNV. When her tests came back clear, dsld was suspected. She showed much swelling heat and pain in the front fetlocks, but was affected in all four legs. After that she could only walk and never gaited.
At necropsy Lancera was 11 yrs old and had a SL so enlarged it was almost twice the normal size.
Tissue samples from Mariah and Lancera were sent to U of GA and blood samples to U of KY.
PP filly PRINCESA ESTRELLA BRILLANTE (San Jose de Valeroso x Lancera MGR) http://allbreedpedigree.com/princesa+estrella+brillante second daughter of Lancera, she started showing symptoms at 2 yrs. old. She had heat and swelling with pain in one leg at a time and it seemed to move from leg to leg and from fronts to backs. She was showing dropped fetlocks and very flexible horizontal pasterns. Her first severe onset was to both hinds. (photo is one month after onset in both hinds, when she stablized) She had a definite personality change because of the pain during onset. She was donatated to research at U of GA. She was 3 yrs old.
PP stallion SAN JOSE DE VALEROSO (HI El Rey Valeroso x FF Aguilena) http://allbreedpedigree.com/san+jose+de+valeroso Princesa's sire, had his first onset at 7 yrs. in both hinds with heat, swelling and dropped fetlocks. He had no previous lameness, but did have wind puffs occasionaly and had a clicking sound in his joints when moving. He had a severe phobia to injections and some bug allergies on his lower legs. He had breathing problems during weather changes. DSLD horses often seek out something to sit or lean on to take pressure off their sore legs. Photo is of Jose leaning/sitting against a rock to relieve pressure and pain. Owner Susan, has observed Jose rock sitting several times.
Jose during a flare up one year after his onset. Swelling and pain in rear fetlocks, pasterns have dropped and he is going more toward a post legged stance. Jose was humanely euthanized 6/05.
*****************************************
Thoroughbred gelding EXPLOPONENT "General"
(Proponent x Lady Explo)
Owner Diane Erwin states, I have a very special 17 year old TB by the name of
General who has been stricken with dsld. I think that he has been
troubled by dsld for a few years now, but everyone (previous trainer,
chiropractor, vet) always thought that he was lazy or had hock or stifle issues
or just wouldn't pick up his feet, etc. etc. Thanks to my new, very observant
trainer, we decided to have him xrayed (showed a drop in the sesamoid bone) and
thoroughly checked out and it was discovered that he most likely has dsld -
ultra sound results have shown that his suspensory ligaments are in pretty bad
shape.
We have been very careful with him for the last 6 months. After his first
diagnosis, We had him correctively shod, we started giving him MSM on top of his
usual joint supplement, bute a couple times a week and more when he needs it,
and use sport medicine boots when riding or longing. At first he moved a lot
better and was obviously more comfortable, but during the past month, it is
obvious that he is getting worse. My farrier noticed that his angles were
slipping and we all noticed that he is swelling more and moves less comfortably.
He has never been actually noticeably lame and that is what is so frustrating
about this problem.
General started getting worse and leaning on his stall wall for support showing
obvious pain. He was humanely euthanised the end of 2004.
Page 2 Cases Click here
Links
