Arthitus- medicating the joint hasn't worked :(

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MissHocusPocus

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Hi all,

My mare was slightly lame so went in for lameness tests about a month ago, turns out she has slight arthiritus In her fetlock joint, so they medicated the joint and all seemed ok for first two/ three weeks, however I rode her yesterday and she is now back lame again with puffy fetlock :(

When I rode her it didn't just feel like it was her front leg it felt like she wasn't using her back legs at all, she looks very stiff on back legs but when they x-rayed her hocks all was fine.

At a loss on what to do? I guess the only other option is bute to keep it at bay but that's just stopping the pain not stopping the problem.. Does anyone have any similar experiances? What work can your horse do now?

Thanks
 
Not sure I'm much help but can offer mutual sympathy, our lovely jumping pony had a terrible fall at Easter, was never lame but very backy, we eventually nerve blocked and found her lame to a knee, x-ray showed chip and rapid onset arthriticky changes. Bless her, she never showed any lameness but was referring her discomfort up to her back. We medicated joint and rested, went to put saddle on her yesterday and her back is very touchy again, she's never been lame in the field but we didn't ride her and are waiting to get the physio out again. She's 18 and is probably now retired.
 
Have you got the horse on a top quality joint supplement? May be worth speaking to your vet to see if they suggest a supplement? I have used magnetic boots on horses with boney changes in the past. Also another thing that is worth looking into is feeding Rosehips, supposed to be a bit of a miracle cure for arthritis........

Good luck!
 
Its rotten luck. you dont say what they medicated the joint with.
I had a good result with one horse from Tildren however I do have friends who thought it made no difference at all.
other things to try
Magnetic stable boots helped a friends horse a lot.
Equissage hand unit using the little boot thing
Copper bracelets used to be popular
Devils claw other herbal type things joint supplements etc etc
I know when it's their hocks they are better living out so that might help. I hope you can find a way to manage it I know lots of people who do but I have never had much luck with it.
 
Things that have worked for me:
- Tildren
- Adequan injections
- corrective shoeing
- keep them moving ie t/o as much as possible and yard walk twice a day as well as riding and groundwork when they have to be in
- joint supplements - stronger ones than cortaflex either pure glucosamine or something like synequin or riaflex. Speak to your vet for her recommendations.
- physio - often arthritic horses have pain in their lumber spine from compensating. Apparently lateral work like travers and renvers as well as massage and stretches can help. I got mine a massage machine from Equilibrium for less than £200.
- magnetic boots
- stable chaps to keep their legs warm in winter and turnout chaps for the field
- apparently tumeric is good but I haven't got round to getting any yet. I have to check the dosage. I will also be trying rosehips having just read about it on this thread..
- stable mats (I have EVA mats) are nice and soft and mean they are never stood on concrete especially when they are at the front of their box.
- a danilon a day, or two if necessary
 
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