Anyone experienced juvenile hock arthritis?

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Ali27

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I’m absolutely devastated! My poor girl who has turned 5 and was lightly backed last year as a 4 year old has just been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis in both hocks! She also has ulcers! I bought her as a 2 year old to try and ensure that I ended up with a horse that would last me for years and years! She has only been doing light hacking and a tiny bit of arena work. I’ve only had one canter on her and that was out hacking!
She is ID with 1/8 Welsh.
She’s been medicated with steroids and Tilden.
Please has anyone got any experiences that they could share? Thanks in advance😊
 
Mine. Arthramid wasn't around at the time but that would be my first call now and then a huge amount of work on posture. She had PSSM as well which didn't help but with what I know now I think I would have thrown in- hand work and v good quality physio at her early.
 
Thanks so much for your reply! I luckily have a great physio who is being very supportive so will get her out monthly!
I will ask vet about Arthramid! She is going back down next month to be recscoped and hocks will be reassessed then.
I just hacked her in walk for 20 minutes and she felt so much better! Really forward and chose to take the lead rather than tuck behind my friend’s horse.
Inhand work is a good idea so will start that and also some work on posture! I’ve asked my physio for some exercises!
 
Mine is a few years older but she has changes in her hocks. She was very low mileage so not over worked.

She wasn’t a candidate for arthrimid unfortunately as there wasn’t enough room left in the joint.

Ive been given the all clear to get back on after steroids but I’m a little worried to since I know the changes are there. She doesn’t handle pain very well though so hopefully she would let me know.
 
My section C had bone spavin as a young pony. I first spotted he wasn't quite level behind at about 2. My vet said very few people would have noticed at that stage and to keep an eye on it. He started being stiff after going for a ride and then stopping to talk to someone. Would move off lame and work sound. Then at about 5 he went very lame on it. Was diagnosed with spavin and given a year off. This was back in the 70's so none of the treatments we have now. Still not right after a year so told to put him back into work for a month. He came sound and x-rays showed his hock had fused. Put down at 23 with gut problems, nevr lame again.
 
Yes - the clyde cross in my profile picture. Diagnosed at 4, like Errin he would move off lame and then work sound until he suddenly went very lame on it. He had no response to steroids and not a candidate for arthramid so went down the surgical fusion route. He had surgery in the June and rehab was going very well with positive prognosis from the vets until he was sadly let down massively by the yard owner where he was liveried which ultimately resulted in him having ligament damage. As a result rehab had to stop and vets advised to turn away for a year with a wait-and-see approach. Despite not being able to rehab properly at all he ended up sound enough to potter round the lanes and was field sound with some bute support when it was especially cold but never came back into full work, partially because he had a job as a nanny for a field of youngsters. He was put down as an 8 year old after re-damaging his ligament and not wanting to risk the rehab for the ligament causing problems with the arthritis.

Before the ligament issues the vets believed he was on track to be completely sound and back to full work.
 
Use the search function for juvenile arthritis. At the moment it's not much help as the dates are non existent but there's a bit on the forum about it including my friends horse.
 
Ulcers are probably secondary to her hock pain, but your vet can probably advise. It would make sense as ulcers are often a response to pain somewhere else x
 
Yes - treated and managed successfully with Arthramid and a short trim cycle to keep foot balance on point.
 
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