Potential Hip Problems in Shetland

[js]

Had the vet out to one of my Shetties (5 year old) yesterday who is walking very wide (she described it as 'extreme') on both his hind legs. She is not sure what the problem is exactly but is pretty convinced it's a congenital problem with both his hips, but it is worse on the left. She has already got me an appointment at Newmarket for early new year, but I wondered if any of you have any thoughts ? His trot is better than walk, but although she says he doesn't appear to be in pain as such, she feels he is probably uncomfortable and finding his own way of dealing with it / compensating.

If anyone has seen this before and may know what I 'might' be up against, I'd be glad to hear it.

Rest assured I will be doing whatever I can to give him a long and comfortable life. He's my main man !

[anon]

Hip Dysplasia?

You may not be able to give him a long and comfortable life if it is. Even people with hip dysplasia have very uncomfortable lives - until they have a hip resurface

[varkie]

Not aware of a high percentage of hip problems in shetties - though locking stifles can be a problem of the breed, sadly sometimes caused by irresponsible breeding.

I think its going to depend on exactly where Newmarket diagnose the pain to be coming from, and how bad a degree. If it is a hip dysplacia type problem, this doesn't always have to be terrible. It's all dependant on how bad it is.

At least you're going to be in the right place in Newmarket - they are good there.

[carrie]

A friend of mine has a minature shettie with locking stifles. she's been like it from a 2 year old and is now approaching 4. Again, she appears to not be in pain. The vet has advised that she shouldn't do anything about it until the mare is 5 and fully grown. I think she will eventually have the ligaments snipped. The other point of waiting is that obviously insurance will only cover each problem for a year so best to wait tio investigate until she's ready for the op incase that's what she needs!

[js]

Thanks for your replies. She seemed to rule out locking stifles and admitted before she came out that it was what she was expecting.

Varkie - thanks for the reassurance re Newmarket, I've been told that by others so I'm glad he's going there. Don't think he'll enjoy the journey much because he's not very used to travelling, but we'll take it slow for him. He came back from a yard this week which is literally 10 minutes away and he was sweated up already. I just don't want to exacerbate the problem for him.

[varkie]

Have you tried travelling him loose? We do it with ours, if they are travelling alone, or with others they get on with - they do travel much better.

[js]

I'd never thought of that - and actually and maybe naively didn't think you could, although I can't see why not now. So literally loose ? It's about a 2 hour journey from here (probably a good hour by car, but we obviously won't be going that fast). I don't have transport of my own but are borrowing a friends lorry with adjustable partitions because I felt for that length it would be better in a smaller partitioned area for him. Do you still recommend that would be a good option ?

[varkie]

Yup. I still think its a good plan. Take out anything he could get stuck over/under/on. Either remove partitions, or move them & tie them to the sides. Give him a nice straw bed & just leave him totally loose - he'll find a nice position for travelling & be much happier for it.

We travel all our shetties this way where possible, and they much prefer it. Normally they will either stand facing backwards or diagonally.

[js]

That's bizarre actually because he managed to get himself round and travel to and from the other yard backwards. OK - I'm going to do it because he was obviously trying to tell me something anyway. Thanks for the tip.

By the way - had a look at your website - great ponies. My two standards are cream Dunn and my mini is black. I just love the little chaps !

[varkie]

Oh, you lucky thing - I'm after a cream dun next when buying a stallion/broodmare. That & a blue dun. Just love the duns.

Good luck with the travelling & appt - let us know how it goes.

[js]

Will do - thanks Varkie !