DSLD - My Name is TigerLily

Another Case of DE

From the Horse.com Forum
13 y/o Peruvian Paso
http://forum.horse.com/tm.asp?m=767749&mpage=1

I am wondering if anyone has experience with dsld horses. I have a Peruvian Paso mare that is around 13 years old and has been having some issues. She started about 5 years ago and then stabilized with a barefoot natural trim. It seems as if things have been progressing and she is having more troubles walking with her hinds- very dropped fetlocks and tight muscles, walking wide, ect. I have the vet coming out today, but wondering if anyone had any other ideas.

DE Article written for Andalusian Owners

Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) Can Affect Andalusians

IALHA member Peggy Meeker had never heard of Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) before she bought her Andalusian gelding RBF Banador 13 years ago. Since that time, though, she has become all too familiar with the disease. She decided to share her story in hope that it might be of help to others who find themselves facing similar situations.

Later, when the stumbling continued, Peggy decided to investigate further. She noted that the left hind pastern looked very different from the right hind pastern. Because DSLD is a degenerative condition, this ‘looking different’ became increasingly noticeable over time. Peggy’s vet eventually diagnosed Banador with DSLD after sonograms and x-rays.

Click here to read complete article.

High Suspensory Ligament Injuries in Horses

Interesting article on suspensory ligament injuries. Note the last sentence in the quote below. I wonder if any of the nonresponsive horses were examined for DSLD/ESPA according to Dr Mero's protocols.

High Suspensory Ligament Injuries in Horses: "While shock wave therapy is able to help most of the non-resolving cases, there are specifically difficult situations. First, older horses seem not to respond as well to therapy and in my experience seem prone to re-injury. Second, horses with hind limb high suspensory injuries are often career threatening. While the horse can return to a reasonable degree of athleticism it is often at a lower level than where they were at the time of injury. And finally, horses with progressive chronic dropping of the fetlock are often not responsive to therapy."

Getting rid of DSLD-ESPA (horses that is)

Hmmm, a couple more links:

http://www.bluebonnetequine.org/about/contact.htm

http://www.topix.net/forum/city/eubank-ky/T0D2905NHMTM83DHU/p2 (scroll down to last post)

Could this be a trend? Note on the equine rescue website it states:

Crimson was donated after developing Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD).

And here's a quote from the second link:
The breeders in Peru would cull horses that had any defects by shooting them. They would not sell them or even give them away because they did not want these faults in either gait, confirmation, or temperament passed down. Breeders in this country get rid of their culls in a different way, they sell them to some unsuspecting person. At one time I thought the Peruvian Pasos were probably the safest horse to buy. I have changed my mind completely though since DSLD is very common in the Peruvians now.