Misty is a sweet Peruvian Paso mare that arrived in late October to our ranch with severe acute DSLD - Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease. Many readers will recognize her from earlier blog entries on the BioScan and Grand Adventures Ranch blogs. Due to surgery on his ankle, our vet did not see or evaluate Misty until she had been with us for 6 weeks - and that delay may have saved her life. Dr. McMillan had received our reports and the veterinary diagnosis from the previous vets in Phoenix and was keeping abreast of our therapy protocols. When he did finally see her, he was blown away by her progress and stated baldly that, if he had seen her when she arrived, from the photos and reports he had been given, he would have euthanized her immediately.
Thank goodness for BioScan. With almost daily treatment with the lights on her legs, neck, back, poll, hocks, etc - Misty has made amazing progress. She now stands straight legged most of the time, with very little palmer flexion at the knee. Her hind legs are now properly aligned under her hindquarters instead of tucked up under her. Originally, she was so weak in the hindquarters that the slightest tail pull could pull her over. Today, she is pulling back strongly and can handle side pulls as well. She rarely lays down and is now able to handle short round pen exercise at the walk and jog. In fact, she scared her owner this weekend by dragging her to the pen and proceeding to run, buck and rear in fun!
While not out of the woods completely, this beautiful mare has made amazing progress. The vet has warned her owner that she will never be rideable - but we don’t want to count it out! Our guideline now is whether or not the nuchal ligament from poll to withers can retighten. It is very weak and flaccid. But after her light therapy, Misty is happy to let us stretch and exercise her neck and as she continues to strengthen elsewhere, her neck is sure to follow.
So don’t let a “death knell” diagnosis prevent you from trying. With light therapy, proper nutrition and detoxification, anything is possible.
Kay Aubrey-Chimene, RMT
“Your Healthy Animals are our First Priority”
Grand Adventures Ranch
Holistic Equine Cancer Recovery Center
www.GrandAdventuresRanch.com
520.455.0202 or 800.797.8274