Adequan, injections...

[Spartu]

My OTTB was diagnosed with DJD in his hocks after getting lame on the right hind, nothing horrible yet, but it is there. And he has a back pain in loin area and over his croup. And you can hear his hocks clicking. He started to refuse commands, go backwards, rear and buck, and it is not common for him. He was in training for dressage and accepted collection and everything greatly, but as the back pain got bigger and bigger, he got more reluctant to move and work. I also noticed he has one sore vertebrae, you can push all the others - no reaction, push that one - and he will lower his back. Vet will come tomorrow to inject ligaments in his back and croup, and possibly inject the spine area. Any experiences with one sore vertebrae? He can arch his back. For arthritis - he will get a loading dose of Adequan once a year and he is on daily Cortaflex HA which appears to be helping him so far. I don't want to go with joint injections yet, and my vet also agrees on that. Please tell me your experiences about back injections, Adequan for hocks and back, anything. I'm really scared now. And about one sore vertebrae, any ideas? Thanks a lot!

 

[TheBigPony]

Sorry I don't have experience of Adequan but my horses hocks clicked she had been on cortaflex and at one point I tried superflex but she still clicked. I then put her on cosequin and the clicking stopped within a month. Cosequin isn't the cheapest so tried riaflex as some people say it is the same as cosequin but within days her hocks were clicking again - put her back on cosequin and the clicking stopped.

My horse gets very sore in the back when her hocks hurt so your sore vertebrae may be linked to that. Could be that he is holding himself in such away that is putting pressure on that vertebrae.

 

[Izzwizz]

Soreness in the back can be easily linked to soreness in the hocks, its like us, pain in the hip and you walk differently. Think the term is referred pain. Has a Physio looked at your horse's back? My Physio has been excellent in dealing with my mare's kissing spines. Without her guidance I wouldnt be as knowledgeable about whats going on with her.

My other mare had a course of Adequan injections and I do think it helped her. She's 18 and is now on the joint supplement called Synequin. She was stumbling downhill out hacking, Vet diagnosed stiffness in her stifle so the joint supplement was started and I have to say shes never felt better. Its not cheap but once your past the loading dose I think its value for money. Keep your horse warm at night, stable chaps etc and not with heavy rugs. Layering with such as the Rambo rug liners is effective.

 

[Lucky Lady]

Adequan I know is very expensive as my racehorse was on this. Its good but couldn't afford to stay on this for long, then went on to Nutrawound and then on maintenance. Hes now retired from racing and still sound!

 

[Spartu]

@TheBigPony I've also heard good stories about Cosequin, but I don't think I will be able to afford it along with the Adequan, as Adequan will be around 400 hundred, and plus he needs back done, so I will need a few hundred for bills. I'll try Adequan along with a daily supplement, currently it will be Cortaflex HA or Lubric 8. If that fails, well Cosequin will be my next try. But I hope this is going to work out. I don't want to inject joint directly, vet said to start with a less invasive things first. And I also think his back are sore due to his hocks. Love to hear positive stories like you just told me.

@Izwizz Nope, back still wasn't checked. Vet should check his back around Monday, to decide which part needs to be injected along with croup injections. I can't wait to start him on Adequan, and my horse is happy when going downhill, sometimes slows down but easy to make him go, doesn't seem to stumble or something and there are some pretty big hills out there. He's very happy on the trail, but it could be adrenaline, I don't know. He is the worst when worked in an arena, and happy on the track and trails, very forward going. I also used to suspect stifle, but I don't know. Now he is not lame, but when he gets from trot to walk, he takes weird short steps with that leg sometimes, so I don't know what to think. And seems like he is trotting with that leg turned to the inside, so weird. o.o Not sure if I can explain. Glad your girl is fine.

@Lucky Lady I know it is expensive, but I planned to do loading dose once a year and daily oral supplement. That would be around $60 a month and $400 per year, and it is okay, if it will work out. :/ And never saw Nutrawound around here, good to hear it helps your boy.

 

[stencilface]

Mine was on adequan for tendonitis, on a course of seven injections, one every four days. The tendonitis is fixed (I hope, due to pregnancy etc I haven't ridden in four months!) so I think it helped, only experience I have sorry! I had to do the injections and it wasnt too traumatic for him!

 

[Spartu]

Mine was on adequan for tendonitis, on a course of seven injections, one every four days. The tendonitis is fixed (I hope, due to pregnancy etc I haven't ridden in four months!) so I think it helped, only experience I have sorry! I had to do the injections and it wasnt too traumatic for him!

Yeah, I plan to give the 7 shots just like you did. I'm glad that it worked out for you and hope it will do the same for me. Thank you for informing me about your experience.

 

[lizbet]

Adequan cosequin brilliant .started adequan worked got xrays to prove it.used it for all round joint relief injected in bum.As and when vet said for arthritus
Kept at bay and showed improvements .Horse very old .Managed to keep in full competion. Brill

 

[Goldenstar]

Has the vet discussed Tildren with you OP ?
The back issues are likely to be secondary to the hock issues .
I think you need to reconcile yourself with all such treatments you are only buying time.

 

[lizbet]

Tildren was mentioned to me by my vet he said it was good .But he advised me against it
due to the risk of colic.There is a forum on here discussing tildren and its side effects.
My friends fell had no luck.Hyonate is excellent to give intravinously say once a year my vet
is also a orthopedic surgeon.He recomemded hyonate adequan cosequin.
Tildren good but side effects.Ask your vet about hyonate.We all get arthritus
at some point in life there is nothing wrong with a bit of help along the way is there

 

[lizbet]

Hyonate info is also available on horse and hound forums via internet.It has good reviews . Tildren not so much.I found it excellent .One twice a year to vien in neck.Probley better than adequan to be honest but ask your vet as to what is being treated.

 

[Goldenstar]

Tildren is a serious drug and when you think of what it does it's hardly surprising it has some side effects .
The horses need to go into the vets for a few hours to be monitored after its been given .
I have seen the excessive drinking which is also a known side effect but it did not last long .
I had great results with it with one horse with another not so good .
It's just another option that Op can consider.

 

[lizbet]

Exactly

 

[chestnut cob]

Goldenstar is right - these treatments only buy time, make the horse more comfortable for a bit longer. None of them can cure anything.

I've used Adequan in the past and do think it's good stuff, always gave my arthritic horse a boost. He had Tildren twice. First time there was a huge difference v quickly and he felt amazing. For about 7 weeks. After that he was OK, not as good as to begin with but not as bad as he had been. By 3.5 months, I felt the effects had completely worn off. Vet gave him a second treatment but I didn't feel or see any effect at all. Horse didn't need to go to the vets to have it done, vet came out and gave it to him as a drip. I arranged it so the vet had other horses to see to on the yard on the same day, so he wasn't just hanging around staring at my horse for ages.

Horse also had Hyonate injections every now and then. Vet tended to just give him a jab whenever he was out for something else. In terms of supplements, I really rate JointFX. It's expensive but my horse was definitely better on it. If ever I ran out, he'd get stiff quickly.

 

[silvershadow81]

Ive had a big (18hh) Shire x TB who at 6 had ringbone and sidebone. He was given one course of Adequan, expensive and does relive pain, but this will not last much more than six months before another course will be required.

 

[Goldenstar]

It's really sad and difficult in these situations making difficult choices and ethical and financial judgements about keeping an old friend going , I don't envy any one in this situation each horse is different .
I wish you luck making the choices OP.

 

[chestnut cob]

It's really sad and difficult in these situations making difficult choices and ethical and financial judgements about keeping an old friend going , I don't envy any one in this situation each horse is different .

It is difficult. I certainly think that once the horse reaches this stage, its workload has to be reduced, or find a different job for it. I know in my horse's case, I stopped jumping him and TBH he hated flat schooling anyway so avoided that unless he was in a particularly jovial mood. We just hacked and hunted, and he couldn't have been happier despite his problems. In fact, the last season I did with him before he retired, I don't think I've ever known him to be so happy and well. Yes he was stiff after a day out but he loved every minute. However, he certainly wasn't up to a lot of competing and jumping. He did the odd fence when hunting, popped the occasional log on a fun ride, and did a few DR tests with my sharer, but nothing more. You have to listen to what the horse tells you. IMHO as long as the horse is happy, you're OK

 

[lizbet]

My OTTB was diagnosed with DJD in his hocks after getting lame on the right hind, nothing horrible yet, but it is there. And he has a back pain in loin area and over his croup. And you can hear his hocks clicking. He started to refuse commands, go backwards, rear and buck, and it is not common for him. He was in training for dressage and accepted collection and everything greatly, but as the back pain got bigger and bigger, he got more reluctant to move and work. I also noticed he has one sore vertebrae, you can push all the others - no reaction, push that one - and he will lower his back. Vet will come tomorrow to inject ligaments in his back and croup, and possibly inject the spine area. Any experiences with one sore vertebrae? He can arch his back. For arthritis - he will get a loading dose of Adequan once a year and he is on daily Cortaflex HA which appears to be helping him so far. I don't want to go with joint injections yet, and my vet also agrees on that. Please tell me your experiences about back injections, Adequan for hocks and back, anything. I'm really scared now. And about one sore vertebrae, any ideas? Thanks a lot!

How have you gone on with your horse.

 

[Spartu]

How have you gone on with your horse.

Ugh, not good at all. Vet was out again, to check for his back pain and said he has problems with supraspinous ligament, or something like that and he is going to have his back done after New Year and stuff. And he said pain the croup area is not from a back problem, but a problem somewhere in the leg. He said, because horse is a TB, he is built a bit taller in his croup than front end, and that is why he is more prone to back problems with that ligament along the back. He said back ligament injections will last 6 months minimum. And about his right hind lameness, I don't know what to think. He does have an old splint fracture there, and a callus formed, and starting bone spavin, but I still think it is his stifle. I really don't know. He is currently only lightly worked, so no lameness present. And he gets daily Lubric 8, given orally. He will start his Adequan Loading dose on 6th January. I also noticed one thing. When turned in tight circle, left leg goes under him normally, but right hind, it goes under him as well, but I see he is struggling, making noises, and sutff. And rushes when turning in hand. If you understand. But his left leg has shorter arch than right. So it is weird. And he has no trouble picking up the left lead, which would suggest right hock/stifle. I really don't know, but this mysterious thing has been going on for 9 months. Thanks for caring. x

 

[lizbet]

Sorry things are not going your way.Forgive me but i think you need to get a clear diganois. Make sure you understand what exactly is wrong.
It appears to me you need your vet to explain again what is wrong and were.Good luck and keep us informed x

 

[Spartu]

Sorry things are not going your way.Forgive me but i think you need to get a clear diganois. Make sure you understand what exactly is wrong.
It appears to me you need your vet to explain again what is wrong and were.Good luck and keep us informed x

Okay, here's an update. Vet was out yesterday, to have his back done. He was done under local anesthetics, and he did lumbar part of his back, from his withers and a loin area. He said he has a good sacroiliac part, and no need to inject it, and when it hurts, pain comes from somewhere else. I also showed him a video of him trotting under saddle, but freely, and he said he sees a shorter stride on the right hind. Then the shocking thing - he saw the hock x-rays and said he doesn't have a problem there, but below the hock - his cannon bone. He showed me a serious cannon bone fracture, lots of black things on the x-ray and said he was shocked and that a horse with this kind of x-ray and injury, would have a much serious lameness present, even not being able to get out of the stable. He said his movement and his x-rays do not match. Now we are sure that there is lameness, but he said forget about x-rays and everything, and ride him like you normally would. So next time he gets lame, we will start making a diagnosis. Now I don't know what to do or think. I'm having mental breakdowns in last few days. I know he is not right, but I don't know why. I just know it is a right hind. He has a will to go, but I see he is uncomfortable. I just see it. And this is killing me. Leg appears like it has a lower arch, like he brings left leg forward more. But professional rider doesn't feel it under saddle and it is only visible to an experienced, well-trained eye. It is going to be one year soon, since he is out of dressage and I'm slowly losing hope and will. His lameness doesn't improve with rest. No matter how long. Nor with easy work outs. I just want this to end. Now that a vet is confused about him, what am I supposed to do?? Sit and cry? Yeah I guess, I'm used to it. Thanks a lot for following our story. <3 <3 I'll keep you updated, he should be started on Adequan these days. xxx

 

[Lucky Lady]

Oh Sparta really feel for you and can fully understand your feelings! I have a suggestion and want to recommend a guy that not only sorted my horses injury, where vets failed but also myself and my injury was 3.5 years ago and no one found the problem, but this guy took one session!!!! PM me if you would like his details.

 

[lizbet]

Okay, here's an update. Vet was out yesterday, to have his back done. He was done under local anesthetics, and he did lumbar part of his back, from his withers and a loin area. He said he has a good sacroiliac part, and no need to inject it, and when it hurts, pain comes from somewhere else. I also showed him a video of him trotting under saddle, but freely, and he said he sees a shorter stride on the right hind. Then the shocking thing - he saw the hock x-rays and said he doesn't have a problem there, but below the hock - his cannon bone. He showed me a serious cannon bone fracture, lots of black things on the x-ray and said he was shocked and that a horse with this kind of x-ray and injury, would have a much serious lameness present, even not being able to get out of the stable. He said his movement and his x-rays do not match. Now we are sure that there is lameness, but he said forget about x-rays and everything, and ride him like you normally would. So next time he gets lame, we will start making a diagnosis. Now I don't know what to do or think. I'm having mental breakdowns in last few days. I know he is not right, but I don't know why. I just know it is a right hind. He has a will to go, but I see he is uncomfortable. I just see it. And this is killing me. Leg appears like it has a lower arch, like he brings left leg forward more. But professional rider doesn't feel it under saddle and it is only visible to an experienced, well-trained eye. It is going to be one year soon, since he is out of dressage and I'm slowly losing hope and will. His lameness doesn't improve with rest. No matter how long. Nor with easy work outs. I just want this to end. Now that a vet is confused about him, what am I supposed to do?? Sit and cry? Yeah I guess, I'm used to it. Thanks a lot for following our story. <3 <3 I'll keep you updated, he should be started on Adequan these days. xxx

I am not a vet but my guess is back problems are probley coming from lamess.The fracture seems to be the most important thing.I think it is probley needing more than adequan at this stage.supraspinatus can cause lameness and short stride but usually in forelimb.If the xray is as bad as vet says no wounder he is uncomfortable.So no need for you to be confused as to why he is lame at times short strided etc.The thing is what is he going to do about the fracture.There are other diagonistic tests he can do on that leg.If your vet is confused which he should not be as what to do he could refer you to a equine hospital.
Does this fracture need to be cleaned flushed excess bone removed.Will work put an extra strain on it and crack or break it all togeather. Now your vet is a trained proffesional so lets try niw to be more positive he has xrayed it and said what he is doing next,when you have worked him.I have seen horses with old fractures in various places and they have been ok.So try not to worry and wait it out.Maybe you wont be able to do what you used to with this horse how would you feel about that ,if you can get him comfortable and do less .How much money are you prepared to spend. I dont know what you are expecting from this.Try to go with the flow for now it is early days.My vet has extra qualifications in orthopedics if you want him.If you want a chat pm me.People on hear including me will speak to you or come over.personally if were me i would be wanting more.A final diagnois and some answers good luck x

 

[Spartu]

Yeah, I get it all, but the main problem is that he is not lame like really short strided. It is so hard to explain, like even the vet is not sure that he is actually lame. It is not real lameness. And if vet says to forget about x-rays and ride him, then he himself is not also sure, and then it is not that serious. Plus, this horse was jumped, did almost a full gallop on the track many times, and worked off his hinds for months and kept going, not lame. So it is very confusing. I'm spending as much as it needs to be spent. He is on box rest today too, like vet said, then lunged to see any differences after having his back done. And thank you for all your help. <3 But this is like a mysterious problem that many many people and vets couldn't figure out. Because he is not lame, but not 100% right. He can extended the trot like any normal horse, even bigger, like he is a trotter. Many confusion here. But yeah, I'll wait to see Adequan's results. Could be many things. And about back pain, he is built a bit shorter in his withers, so I have a hard time finding a saddle that fits. All saddles have a see-saw motion, like they fall forward and when riding, every move they hit him where the saddle ends. I wanted to buy a pad that is bigger in the withers, like riser pads. But cannot find it, only pads higher in the back area. Any ideas where I can buy one? Thanks for everything, I'll keep you informed. <3

 

[lizbet]

Thanks for keeping us informed the pads should be available from all good tack shops.Try asking a good saddle fitter were you can get one from or good physio.The leg and back cant be to bad if vet saying ride and not lame then only short.Hope all goes well for you.He has a good mum.hope you get to the bottom of this soon.wishing you well x

 

[lizbet]

How you doin ? Thinking you will let us know when you have some news. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and your lovely horse.

 

[Spartu]

How you doin ? Thinking you will let us know when you have some news. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and your lovely horse.

Hey, sorry for been away for a while, but life has been busy. Back here now. He's doing great so far, but ridden on the track, kinda back in training as a racehorse. No back pain, no lameness. And he does have some serious working time. I also lunge him with side reins every week, so he won't forget dressage. p I also rode him, only did walk and trot, getting him on the bit and asking to lift his back and use hind legs. He's great so far. But as he is getting back in shape, he started to show his stallion behaviour again. Like doing full rears and stuff. Good thing he is ridden by a proffesional who can handle him and has enough experience working with a stallion. He never jumped on a mare, no idea why is he so crazy about other horses. :/ Anyway, when he gets back in the arena, my trainer will ride him, because he needs to stay quiet around other horses, what seems impossible right now. Sometimes he is okay to walk next to a mare, but sometimes goes crazy. Anyway, if he doesn't get well through his training, he will have his balls down, and go on with competing, or I'll try my best and if all fails, I'll permanently retire him and keep him for breeding. Hard choices... But I have great people around, so I hope it will work out.
He still didn't get Adequan. Any ideas where I can find it in America and why does it require to withdraw it? Any vet recommendations or something? Cause I'm from Europe. Thanks for caring. <3

 

[lizbet]

Simon constable vets practice good vet he has extra qualifcations in joints and has created his own supplements they can advise and supply.Also on line horse medical supplies compare prices hope this is what you wanted.Pressume vet is ok with the work now.I am so pleased to hear your good news.Randy boy with the ladies . I hope it all works out for you both.Some pics would be lovely.Wishing you all the best thanks for letting us know.Wrote this 3 times and tried to post it and it wont go so if so hope this one works . X

 

[Spartu]

Simon constable vets practice good vet he has extra qualifcations in joints and has created his own supplements they can advise and supply.Also on line horse medical supplies compare prices hope this is what you wanted.Pressume vet is ok with the work now.I am so pleased to hear your good news.Randy boy with the ladies . I hope it all works out for you both.Some pics would be lovely.Wishing you all the best thanks for letting us know.Wrote this 3 times and tried to post it and it wont go so if so hope this one works . X

Thank you for all the information. We found Adequan, but need prescription, now doing that part. I actually cannot believe how good he is going right now, that people even think he can race again! Of course, altough he is forward going and works amazingly on the track, and pulls like crazy, no races for him. He had enough. I only work him there, because it is good for his shape and straight lines are good for hocks. I will post more pictures later, I mostly have videos, but here is one. It is one of the first times he was tried under saddle, dressage and stuff. I think he even did shoulder in in trot that day. Picture is posted with a rider's permission.
Not the best one, but yeah. Something at least. <3 Will keep you informed. <3 https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd....720/1512712_10201974552219461_868449445_n.jpg

 

[lizbet]

So glad all coming togeather.He is lovely such a nice face kind is that why your doing all you can for him.What a lovely colour and shinny coat.Arrr enjoy.x