Anything else we can do?

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welshied

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Horse has become very lame with his arthritis vet told us to turn him out but all he was did was lie down so we brought him in he has had a danilon twice a day for the last 2 days and tonight he is really sweating up obviously in pain so rang the vet up and he said nothing else he can do really and to see what hes like in the next couple of days (trouble was it wasn't the equine specialist) horse seems ok in himself but can't bear any weight on his leg.
Do you think the advice given is correct or should i try a different vet? thanks
 
Sorry to hear about your horse, I'd expect pain relief to be provided to make the horse comfortable, he possibly needs something stronger or a higher dosage of danilon.

To be honest though if he's in that much pain then I'd be seriously considering putting him through the winter. :(

Eta, for a non weight bearing lameness I'd expect the vet to attend, it could be something unrelated to the arthritis such as a strain/sprain or fracture.
 
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I lost a horse in exactly the same way this time last year. Sometimes I think you need to listen to the horse. You could pump medication into it but to be honest if theres another cold winter like last year I know what the kindest option would be.

I know it's an tough call to make but you really have to think of the horse at the end of the day.
 
We pts my daughters mare a month ago due to the same thing, she was on 3 bute a day and still slightly lame it wasn't fair to put her through another winter, she was 18 vet could do no more for her.
I am sure you will do what you can for her, your vet should make her comfortable though. X
 
Winter is setting in and his arthritis will only get worse.

Although a hard thing to do I would euthanise him rather than come to do him one day and find him down and unable to get up, having tried to do so for goodness knows how long.
 
It may not help, but we had good results from magnet boots, lame mare trotted in the first evening she had them on, fastest she had moved for quite a while. She appeared to know they helped and held the appropriate foot out to have them put on. They were not cheap, but have lasted a long time and been used on a fair few since.
 
YorksG said:
It may not help, but we had good results from magnet boots, lame mare trotted in the first evening she had them on, fastest she had moved for quite a while. She appeared to know they helped and held the appropriate foot out to have them put on. They were not cheap, but have lasted a long time and been used on a fair few since.
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I've had a friend who has had a good result from these too. However only you can decide if your horse has had enough. You know them better than anyone, follow your heart and do what you feel is right. Don't let anyone else sway you.
 
touchstone said:
Sorry to hear about your horse, I'd expect pain relief to be provided to make the horse comfortable, he possibly needs something stronger or a higher dosage of danilon.

To be honest though if he's in that much pain then I'd be seriously considering putting him through the winter. :(

Eta, for a non weight bearing lameness I'd expect the vet to attend, it could be something unrelated to the arthritis such as a strain/sprain or fracture.
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I would also get the possibility of an abscess discounted.

If it really is his arthritus and he's non-weight bearing on the leg without improvement from painkillers, then I'd PTS.

I'm so sorry for you, it's an awful situation to be in. :(
 
at 15 he is relatively young! . have x rays said he has arthritis? bony growths? spurs? it could well be an abcess. 2 danilon a day should make most things comfortable. i would call your vet and ask for a visit,. or a referral. has your vet done the x rays, ultra sounds, mri? wishing ou the best.
 
Thanks for all your replies
He was diagnosed with arthritis when he was 9 after having all x-rays taken been back out to him and he seems a little bit more comfortable, i was wondering whether it could possibly be an abscess will see how he is tomorrow and go from there!
 
You need a vet to come out to check for abcess. My mare hobbled in on 3 legs and collapsed in the stable. I was convinced she had broken her stifle or something major had happened and it turned out to be a coronary band abcess. Danilon and bute did not touch the pain, and for 3 days she was a sweaty mess, dosed up to the max, although this made little difference, whilst we poulticed her whole hoof. I really thought I should call it a day as I had never seen a horse in so much pain, but on the 4th day, it burst and hers and my relief were instant. I so nearly had her PTS as I really believed it to be something awful. She was also retired but lived happily for another 6 years. X-rays have also saved the day on another horse I was advised to have PTS with an apparent degenerative disease. A 2nd opinion from another vet, same practice, showed that to be a treatable infection. I would contact another practice and ask them to come out for a second opinion. You will then have peace of mind. Thoughts are with you. Horrible dilemma.
 
I was told my cob had most likely developed hock arthritis about a month ago after going from doing sponsored ride on the sunday to going lame on the tuesday and going downhill reasonably quick. His first trot up the vet couldn't see any lameness until flexion test and he was put onto bute which didn't make the slightest difference (plus he's a master bute detector and turns his nose up at it!) His leg within a month has gone from a few clicks in the 10 mins of warm up to now clicking continuously and crunching loudly. Vet assessed him again last Thurs and diagnosed bone spavins and is now 4/10ths lame and twisting his body and pelvis to stay off the leg in trot and now looking slightly lame in walk. I'm not willing to put him through steroid injections and I don't believe horses should live off painkillers just to keep them going. I may be facing the difficult decision of letting him go with dignity rather than putting him through pain in the winter and then getting to spring where his severe allergies kick in. I have bought him some bioflow boots to see if these help him at all, but only you now when your pony is struggling. I can see my boy really isn't comfortable and want to do the best thing for him. People may argue I'm giving up on him, but I will know when he hasn't got the energy for it anymore.
 
Sweating due to pain requires an urgent vet visit forpain relief. if there is only arthritis as a cause then he needs pts.
 
Sweating suggests serious pain and if he's been fine albeit needing medication, its unlikely that the pain has become so increased overnight.

You need the vet out, in fact I am rather shocked the vet hasn't suggested coming out if you told them your horse was sweating up in pain.

Think of severe toothache, that's the level of pain required to make a horse sweat up hence its seen in colic, they are incredibly tough when it comes to pain.
 
I agree with other posters. Unlikely to be his arthritis to have caused such a sudden change and that amount of pain. Abcess call the farrier to check that out not vet. But your vet should have come out at your call as your horse is at risk of colic with that amount of pain. Sounds like an injury although that could have now made arthritis worse in longterm.
However if no other issue is found and arthritis has caused this i would be pts before winter sets in as its not actually that cold yet. I put my old boy down a month ago to prevent him suffering from his joints after last years bad winter.
I hope its not that but you may have to be very brave. Get your vet out tho for strong pain relief and get hooves checked for any signs of abscess. Good luck x
 
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