4 year old diagnosed with arthritis in hind fetlock

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Nt9

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Is there any hope, was very lame suddenly hence the xrays, now getting sounder. Is there any hope or any treatment worth pursuing. Any good news stories. Obviously devastated.
 
Any hope for what?

If aiming at a competition career then I’d save your money and time.

But with the right Vet support, and assuming not very advanced, I’m sure the horse could have a comfortable purpose as a hack for someone.
 
I presume in the immediate future a course of bute (or even long term low dose bute) would work, as would working her on a decent surface as part of a rehab plan which should be made in consultation with your vet. Long term maintenace would be remedial farriery to ensure the best possible foot balance and a decent joint supplement along with monthly physio sessions. Also joint injections with corticosteroid and HA.Every animal responds differently and there is no wrong or right way to tackle this, you just have to try and see how they respond by starting at the bottom of the ladder in terms of pain relief and then possible going up the rungs until you can do no more. So sorry for you, must be devastating news.
 
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My Appaloosa was diagnosed with arthritis six years ago when he fractured his hind leg . This was due to his weight not been carried down the middle of his bones but slightly forward Good news was that the x-ray showed new bone growing to correct this.
He still loves a good gallop and we barrel race, just would not take him on Endurance rides 20miles is his max
 
Nt9 said:
Yes was aiming for a competition career, no treatment yet only found out yesterday
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Although on thinking about it, it’s quite interesting that it’s an acute sudden onset of lameness - normally arthritic changes are niggly/performance issues to start with.

How was the diagnosis done other than X-ray? Could the Vet isolate a positive flexions to that joint and then nerve block it? Has any soft tissue damage been scanned for? Is the arthritis a bit of remodelling and where abouts or are you dealing with spurs/chips etc?
 
The sudden acute lameness is a concern to me too and if that fits with the diagnosis.

Diagnosis, from positive joint flexion, didn't nerve block went straight to scans and xrays, nothing showing up on scan.
Vet now suggesting we do nerve block to test this is what is causing lameness.
I think (brain is a bit fried) bone spur at front with a small bit broken off at the top. Two bits of what vet thinks it floating cartilage at back. Had a specialist vet consult too, will have further conversations with vet as unfortunately was in a work meeting when he called. Now just trying to get head round it. Had 2 other legs xrayed too no signs of arthritis, which I know doesn't mean anything.
 
Nt9 said:
The sudden acute lameness is a concern to me too and if that fits with the diagnosis.

Diagnosis, from positive joint flexion, didn't nerve block went straight to scans and xrays, nothing showing up on scan.
Vet now suggesting we do nerve block to test this is what is causing lameness.
I think (brain is a bit fried) bone spur at front with a small bit broken off at the top. Two bits of what vet thinks it floating cartilage at back. Had a specialist vet consult too, will have further conversations with vet as unfortunately was in a work meeting when he called. Now just trying to get head round it. Had 2 other legs xrayed too no signs of arthritis, which I know doesn't mean anything.
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Ok, well if you’ve got a bit of bone chip then that could account for things.
I’d certainly nerve block to confirm, I’m surprised they didn’t do that after the X-rays.
I’d imagine they are thinking arthroscopy to clean up the joint and I’d be inclined to run with that myself

(Obviously from the limited info!)
 
I brought the sudden onset lameness arthritis thing up with a more educated friend recently (after a friend's horse was BE novice eventing the day before- no loss of performance it was only his second novice then crippled and got a spinal arthritis diagnosis). She said it can happen quite a lot.

It does sound like it might be worth trying a clean up.
 
They actually said they don't think arthroscopy is worth it as it is unlikely to give a positive long term result above gentle hacking. But I be interested in other views.
 
Nt9 said:
They actually said they don't think arthroscopy is worth it as it is unlikely to give a positive long term result above gentle hacking. But I be interested in other views.
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Sorry, I’m generally practical rather than comforting, I know it’s gutting but ....
Have a glass of wine and think about something else.
When you have a clear head talk to the Vets again and go armed with a list of questions.

If the vets are currently saying arthroscopy not worth it then I’d imagine they are pretty confident the horse is a write off. I think you should prepare yourself for that outcome.

If the horse is insured I think I would still clean the joint up, Medicate as required and plan for the horse to be a hack - either with you or someone else.

Otherwise it sounds like field ornament or PTS depending on your views and circumstances.
 
Thanks again, even though I'm gutted, he was so lame when we first went to the vets I thought it was big injury anyway and it might be a one way trip so I am pretty prepared for pts. I think the vet are saying write off for eventing as I was clear that was what he was intended for and harsh as it seems I don't need another broken one as I don't have my own facilities. Will have a think over the weekend and speak to insurance and vets on Monday.

Interesting about the sudden onset lameness being more common that I thought too.

View or thoughts still very welcome though.
 
Gutted for you. Do you know reason? Is it mechanical or trauma? Have they suggested injections?

If mechanical then have they said it's conformational or balance issue? He's 4, still growing, and you could in theory, take the shoes off and give him a year off with help of an equine podiatrist maybe, can make a huge difference. That's if you have the time and facilities. I haven't had good experience of "remedial farriery" I'm afraid in arthritis cases long term. Others may have. Reassess in a year. If he were mine, I'd have to give him that chance and if time and nature have not healed I would have to do the right thing.

Otherwise, your options are limited.
 
It is possible for horses with floating chips to go three legs lame from nowhere and snap out of it just as quickly, when the chip moves somewhere out of the way. I have had one suspected of it in the past. She was rested for almost a year for an unrelated tendon strain and at the end of that time she was not lame with the bone chip again. It was assumed that the chip had been reabsorbed, which can also happen.

I'm not sure what I would do in the case of your horse, but I would certainly want to question the referral vet very closely as to why the prognosis is so poor for an eventing career. I might also press for an MRI if that would provide any more conclusive evidence and the horse is insured for it.
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I hope that helps.
 
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ycbm said:
It is possible for horses with floating chips to go three legs lame from nowhere and snap out of it just as quickly, when the chip moves somewhere pout of the way. I have had one suspected of it in the past. She was rested for almost a year for an unrelated tendon strain and at the end of that time she was not lame with the bone chip again. It was assumed that the chip had been reabsorbed, which can also happen.

I'm not sure what I would do in the case of your horse, but I would certainly want to question the referral vet very closely as to why the prognosis is so poor for an eventing career. I might also press for an MRI is that would provide any more conclusive evidence and the horse is insured for it.
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I hope that helps.
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I also agree with the bone chip theory my friends pony had a very minor kick but was crippled lame so after no improvement he was X rayed and he had a floating bone chip, he had it removed and made a full recovery.

I was also told my horse at 5 had arthritis in his elbow joint he had it medicated at the time and I still have him his 13 now never had any further issues with it.
 
Third (fourth?) the bone chip theory. My mare went lame overnight when her chip shifted (I had known she had some in the joint for a year beforehand). She underwent an arthroscopy (front fetlock) and is better but still lame (though still in recovery - surgery was in August). I suspect the chip did a good bit of damage, so we'll see if she'll be rideable again or just a pet :( Best of luck with yours.
 
Many thanks for all your thoughts and stories it really helps, to answer a couple of questions we think it is from trauma, he conformation is pretty good, we were heading for 4 year old classes until he got badly kicked in the field (front leg). He is and has been for a year barefoot behind, is now barefoot in front as his hind feet are so good and no good reason to keep shoeing.
 
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