advise please - horse with djd (coffin joints)

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dane07

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Hello,

My horse was diagnosed with djd in his coffin joints about 18months ago. He's had all his treatment and its taken until now to find the right combination of feed & supplements to keep him comfortable.

Ive noticed over the last week or so that he's alot more "level" when trotting out but still not 100% sound (but not lame enough for vets to worry at the moment).

Has anyone found that doing light work has helped keeping there horse sound who has this problem? when i say "light" work i just mean long reigning etc just at walk.

People keep telling me light exercise is the best thing for arthritis?. He does seem worse when he 1st comes out of the stable after being in over night (they are out for summer now but he comes in every other day to keep weight of him!)

any advice / past experience would be greatfully appreciated x

thanks
 
My mare has been diagnosed with very minor changes to her coffin joints, she had hyanate and steroid injections into the joint about 2 months ago, she's still not 100% only very minor lameness, but have the vet coming back out tomorrow to see her, she's said I can have an MRI to confirm it, but she thinks that there's some damage to the ligaments surrounding the joint, so it looks likely that she'll be on pen rest for 2 to 3 months now. She doesn't want her on stable rest as she wants her able to walk around, but confined so that she can't do anymore.
 
My gelding was found to have arthritic changes to a coffin joint about 3 years ago. He had a steroid injection and improved but wasn't 100% initially. I rode him in light work on Danillon when and if he needed it. After a few months he didn't need the Danillon at all. I don't do very much with him - mainly walk, trot hacks few times a week and a little schooling/lunging once a week and he's stayed sound since (touch wood). On vet's advice, I give him Newmarket joint supplement.

He could probably manage more work (although he also has sesamoiditis so have to consider that too!), but I've kind of decided to try keeping him sound for longer, rather than pushing things & risk him being retired altogether, if that makes sense!

He did seem to need some time initially so it was a case of taking each day as it came - doing what he could manage or giving him a few days off if he felt a bit footy. The vet gave me the option to either turn him away for a year (which she didn't really think would make much difference) or just work him lightly. I took it very gently and gauged how he responded and it did seem to pay off for us. Best of luck with your mare.
 
My boy had collateral ligament damage to both coffin joints, he had 9 months box rest, shock wave therapy and IRAP, due to the fact that it was ligament damage he was not to be moved at all for the first 3 months, then I was allowed to inhand graze for 10 mins a day and after 6 months I started the inhand walking 5 mins per day then increasing it by another 5 mins every 2 weeks until we were doing 25 mins. He was then allowed out into a pen but as it was winter he mashed it up and started slipping so I increased the area.

I then started riding him for 15 mins in the school as I didn't think it was a good idea to take a young horse after 9 months box rest onto a road with cars! We just walked and avoided circles! The only reason the exercise stopped was because he was diagnosed with OCD in his stifles and operated on.

I found he was much better when being worked/turned out and the vets were amazed how well he healed but I think that was due to the strict box rest at the start.

On another note, he needed a further 4 months box rest for the OCD operation, within 4 weeks he was out in the field and within 6 weeks he was out with my other hooning around. Now when the vet came to see him straight from his stable she seemed to think he was not much better and very dissapointed, she came a week later and saw him come in from the field and she was amazed it was the same horse - sound! I didn't tell her of his galloping and leaping over the thistles lol!

I think walking in hand should be good for your horse but just double check with your vet in case there is a reason that they want restricted movement. Also I use cosequin on my lad, expensive but amazing x
 
My boy was diagnosed with mild arthritis in both coffin joints last summer. I have had him on Suppleaze Gold since then and have worked his as normal. We ride about 4/5 times a week, mainly walking and some trotting also schooling once a week. I put him on Sportsmax which did have amazing results. It's this new natural bute alternative. No side effects that you get from bute and also repairs the joints having Omega 3 and 6 in. He was I admit like a different horse on this. The cost is a little prohibitive though. You feed two sachets a day and it works out in the region of £15.75 a week:rolleyes: He is now back on the Suppleaze Gold which is great but not as good as the Sportmax. The website is hackup.co.uk if you want to have a look. Hope this helps
 
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