Advice/Prognosis

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POMPOMS89

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12 December 2014
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Im just looking for some advice really. Its been a nightmare 9 months. My horse went lame it was easy to see where. Vet was called got the usual bute/antibiotics. No improvement. 6 vet recalls later horse is getting worse in the meantime we have had exercise prescription physio and no real solid diagnosis with the shoulder being implicated at one point. Decided on a second opinion a day, some nerve blocks and xrays/ultrasound later I have the diagnosis of osteoarthropathy/oosteoarthritis from the xrays looks like a grinding joint, damaged bone top and bottom of joint and down the pastern and a nice big spike on the third phalanx. Not only that he has associated ligament damage. Horse has had steroid into the joint two rounds of shock wave therapy. He's three weeks post swt Friday and im due a check up. Vet initially was optimistic before treatment. After last swt I was told if he was any better in 3 weeks he could start in hand walking etc. Hes still head bobbing at trot slow in walk and does not want to go forward in hand. I wouldn't call him paddock sound. I was told once he comes in work its ride him til he goes lame then manage with injection every 3-6 months. I don't think hes going to be recovered enough to start In hand. Hes a young horse and ive read this kind of thing is degenerative. Any advice welcome from similar experience. I can't help thinking he's not happy and its breaking my heart to see him like that. I want to do the best thing but I don't know how to approach the vet for honesty. I feel like its worse than they are letting on. I have the xray pics im happy to pm. Sorry its so long I just feel In limbo.
 
I think you need to have an honest and frank discussion with your vet. In my experience vets will be happy to continue treatment unless the owner draws a line in the sand. I think you need to discuss with them where you are at now and realistically what the options are and what the long term prognosis is including whether/not it may be an end of the line decision. Based on this information you can make the appropriate decisions for your horse.
 
Thank you HipoH you are right. Im scared im in the wrong when I feel like I can see my horse suffering. Just need to suck it up and get the information
 
The treatments they've given to date are unfortunately not a guarantee of soundness - they are simply "options to try".

I had some rough x-rays and we tried acids and steroids... first lot didn't work, second lot gave me one solitary sound ride then she went lame again. I called it quits and had her PTS. I could've kept trying injections but it really didn't look good and my vet didn't seem surprised by my call.
 
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