LaurenBay
Well-Known Member
Those of you who follow my threads will know that I have a retired 13YO mare due to bad Hock arthritis. She lives out 24/7 and has enjoyed a year and half of retirement being treated like a queen!
For those of you who don't know, Ruby was diagnosed with hock arthritis at 11YO, her behaviour was the give away that something was wrong and was quite dangerous at times, we have tried 2 lots of steroid injections, A Tildren drip and a trip to Rossdales Newmarket for an operation to hopefully fuse the bones. Unfortunately none of the above worked and she was not happy to be ridden so was retired in May 2017.
Over the last 2 weeks she has been acting a bit erratic (spooks at everything and gallops around in loops) she also looked stiff. I tried giving her a small feed and giving her some buteless, this had no effect. Vet came on Friday who agreed Ruby was lame in walk and trot (even before the flexions which she obviously trotted up worse when flexed) myself and vet (who's opinion I really do value) had a chat about what to do going forward. Vet mentioned it could possibly be something else, but with a Horse who isn't insured and has arthritis like hers that its not worth while doing investigations, after all any injury will either require box rest (I don't have a stable but she absolutely can't be stabled as the arthritis is too bad) or field rest, and shes already out and still lame.
So we discussed the option of long term bute or steroid injections, neither will be a miracle cure but can obviously help manage the pain. I decided against the steroid injections due to the laminitis risk (I can't take her off the grass) so I am left with bute. I am giving her 2 sachets a day for a week and then 1 sachet a day for a week and then access. Obviously I don't want to keep her on 2 sachets a day for the rest of her life (bearing in mind she is only 13) and I still can't guarantee she will be pain free. I also don't think she will cope to well with the winter (vet has agreed that if bute isn't very effective, Ruby could very well struggle when its colder and damp)
The expense of a bute a day, probably is doable, but can I justify it when she is essentially a field ornament.
I hope no one thinks I am selfish, I love this Horse. Shes my first Horse and has taught me so much and been by my side through some really tough times. My head says one thing and my heart says another.
I really do not know what to do and my head is all over the place.
For those of you who don't know, Ruby was diagnosed with hock arthritis at 11YO, her behaviour was the give away that something was wrong and was quite dangerous at times, we have tried 2 lots of steroid injections, A Tildren drip and a trip to Rossdales Newmarket for an operation to hopefully fuse the bones. Unfortunately none of the above worked and she was not happy to be ridden so was retired in May 2017.
Over the last 2 weeks she has been acting a bit erratic (spooks at everything and gallops around in loops) she also looked stiff. I tried giving her a small feed and giving her some buteless, this had no effect. Vet came on Friday who agreed Ruby was lame in walk and trot (even before the flexions which she obviously trotted up worse when flexed) myself and vet (who's opinion I really do value) had a chat about what to do going forward. Vet mentioned it could possibly be something else, but with a Horse who isn't insured and has arthritis like hers that its not worth while doing investigations, after all any injury will either require box rest (I don't have a stable but she absolutely can't be stabled as the arthritis is too bad) or field rest, and shes already out and still lame.
So we discussed the option of long term bute or steroid injections, neither will be a miracle cure but can obviously help manage the pain. I decided against the steroid injections due to the laminitis risk (I can't take her off the grass) so I am left with bute. I am giving her 2 sachets a day for a week and then 1 sachet a day for a week and then access. Obviously I don't want to keep her on 2 sachets a day for the rest of her life (bearing in mind she is only 13) and I still can't guarantee she will be pain free. I also don't think she will cope to well with the winter (vet has agreed that if bute isn't very effective, Ruby could very well struggle when its colder and damp)
The expense of a bute a day, probably is doable, but can I justify it when she is essentially a field ornament.
I hope no one thinks I am selfish, I love this Horse. Shes my first Horse and has taught me so much and been by my side through some really tough times. My head says one thing and my heart says another.
I really do not know what to do and my head is all over the place.
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