Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐! This was a request!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Wobblers syndromeโs proper name is ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ, and it is a common cause of ๐๐ญ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ (irregular gait due to neurologic issues) in horses. The main problem in Wobblers is compression of the spinal cord due to an irregular shape or positioning of ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ (the bones in the neck).
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Both dogs and horses can get this condition, but today we are going to focus on the ponies!
๐๐๐ข๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ?
There are two basic types of Wobblers! Type I primarily affects young horses, and typically has ๐๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง in this type of Wobblers. This means that the spinal cord is only compressed when the neck is flexed. Thereโs a few things that can cause this, including a poorly shaped vertebra from birth, enlargement of the growth plates, or having vertebrae that are misaligned. All of these problems can lead to some part of the bony structure of the vertebrae squishing the spinal cord when the neck is bent.
Type II primarily affects older horses, and typically has ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง. This means that the spinal cord is always compressed, regardless of whether the neck is flexed or not. Typically this is caused by arthritic changes in the vertebral column, leading to formation of ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ๐ญ๐๐ฌ (boney nodules) or other malformations that can compress the spinal cord.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ?
Type I Wobblers has a lot of risk factors, including inheritance, the diet the horse was fed, trauma or having a fast rate of growth. So it is very important to speak to your veterinarian about appropriate nutrition for your young horses, to help prevent these types of conditions! Beyond that, both types of Wobblers are primarily found in Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods, and typically affect male horses.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
To help diagnose this condition, the veterinarian will complete a ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ, a series of tests designed to help the veterinarian figure out where the horseโs neurological issues are coming from. On this exam, the veterinarian might see weakness with toe-dragging or scuffing, and an irregular gait that is worse in the hind limbs than the front limbs. In general, the signs will affect both sides of the horse equally. Horses may trip or stumble frequently, and generally do not seem to know where their legs are at any given moment. When standing, some horses might have a wide stance.
After the veterinarian has done the neurologic exam, they might proceed to taking X-rays of the neck to see if there are any obvious abnormalities. If they are at a referral or specialty center, they may also do a special kind of X-ray called a ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ, which is where they put a liquid into the spinal canal that is ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐จ–๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐, meaning that it will show up as white on the X-ray. This liquid helps the clinician visualize where the compression points are occurring, or if theyโre even present at all. Horses can also have flexed myelograms completed, to assess dynamic compression like in Type I Wobblers.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
For young horses showing early signs of Wobblers, management is focused on adjusting the diet to reduce their rate of growth and reduce risk factors. Adult horses showing signs of arthritis can have the vertebral joints injected to help reduce inflammation and swelling, and slow the progression of arthritis. Some horses may be eligible for a surgical procedure, where an implant called a ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ค๐๐ญ is placed. The purpose of this implant is to ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ the vertebral joint (prevent it from flexing or moving), to reduce the compression of the spinal cord.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A beautiful diagram I made of the different types of compression (they donโt pay me to make art, people).
2) A myelogram showing static compression of the spinal cord.
3) A myelogram showing dynamic compression of the spinal cord.
4) An X-ray after placement of Bagby baskets.
5) An example of static compression at necropsy.
6) An example of dynamic compression at necropsy.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Johnson, A.L., Reed, S. Cervical Vertebral Stenotic Myelopathy. Equine Neurology, Second Edition 2015.
Photos 2-4 courtesy of Johnson and Reed.
Photo 5-6 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
