Arthritic Changes in Feet

N

NWalker

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 January 2010
Messages
132
Visit site
As my horse was very slightly lame but with no heat or swelling. Gave him six weeks off. He had improved but still very slightly lame so had his front feet x-rayed. The x-rays showed that he had very minor arthritic changes in his feet. Vet thinks with corrective shoeing should come completely sound. As he is only seven just wondered if anybody had any experience of this and what supplements you might use. Thank you!
 
Ask your vet to email the x-rays to your farrier so that he knows what he's working with.

Bute (Danillon) will be your friend.
 
The vet has had a long chat with my farrier (who is briliant) so happy that he will be shoed accordingly. She also said not to put him on bute as it wasn't necessary. Have started walking him and will progress trotting once he has built up to an hour of walk. Seems sound at walk. Just worried that he is very young to have arthritic changes and will it progress quickly. I suppose I will just have to wait and see.
 
NWalker said:
The vet has had a long chat with my farrier (who is briliant) so happy that he will be shoed accordingly. She also said not to put him on bute as it wasn't necessary. Have started walking him and will progress trotting once he has built up to an hour of walk. Seems sound at walk. Just worried that he is very young to have arthritic changes and will it progress quickly. I suppose I will just have to wait and see.
Click to expand...

Great that your vet and farrier are working together - it would still be useful for the farrier to see the x-rays though. And of course, if he doesn't need any bute at the moment, then that's great. There will be times that he will though.

He is young to have coffin joint disease - my own horse was diagnosed a year after I bought him at aged 9, so I feel every sympathy for you.

If you are going through insurance, speak to your vet about prescribing Synaquin or Cosequin, both of which your insurance company should pay for. Both are suppliments which may help support the condition.
 
I'm sorry to hear about your horse. At the moment the changes are so minor that my vet feels no real need for concern, but what worries me is that he has it and will it stay the same or will it get worse. Unfortunately, once you go down the road of x-rays all sorts of things pop-up that you don't want to know! Just of out of interest how lame was your horse when you decided to have him x-rayed.
 
My horse had had a few episodes of 'insifnicant' lameness - then one day went chronically lame. The vet came up that day with portable x-ray equipment and took pictures of both front feet - which showed changes to the coffin joint, indicating disease. The x-rays were emailed to my farrier that night, who came and shod the horse with bar shoes the very next morning.

It may or may not get worse, only your vet can advise you of that.

What prognosis did she give you?
 
She said it was difficult to say. At the moment the changes are very minor which may or may not get worse. I suppose I am just wondering what I can or can't do with him. He really is a happy hacker with just a bit of prelim dressage. I had hoped as both we both get better might progress a bit further with the dressage. I don't jump so that wouldn't be a problem and would never sell him whatever happens. I would hate to think that I was riding him if he was in pain but he has never been chronically lame just throwing in the odd lame stride. What restrictions do you have with your horse? Not sure how long ago he was diagnosed but has it got worse. Is he sound now with the bar shoes on? What prognosis has your vet given you for your horse. Thanks very much for your help!
 
NWalker said:
She said it was difficult to say. At the moment the changes are very minor which may or may not get worse. I suppose I am just wondering what I can or can't do with him. He really is a happy hacker with just a bit of prelim dressage. I had hoped as both we both get better might progress a bit further with the dressage. I don't jump so that wouldn't be a problem and would never sell him whatever happens. I would hate to think that I was riding him if he was in pain but he has never been chronically lame just throwing in the odd lame stride. What restrictions do you have with your horse? Not sure how long ago he was diagnosed but has it got worse. Is he sound now with the bar shoes on? What prognosis has your vet given you for your horse. Thanks very much for your help!
Click to expand...

Has your horse been nerve blocked to make sure that the pain is coming from the foot ? There can be x-ray changes but it doesn't always mean that there is pain related to those changes. Without using nerve blocks and joint blocks it is impossible to say that the feet are the problem .
 
sizz said:
Has your horse been nerve blocked to make sure that the pain is coming from the foot ? There can be x-ray changes but it doesn't always mean that there is pain related to those changes. Without using nerve blocks and joint blocks it is impossible to say that the feet are the problem .
Click to expand...


He wasn't lame enough to nerve block. After 8 weeks off he is now sound in walk. Bringing him back into work slowly. If he goes lame again then we will never block him. At the moment the prognosis is that the arthritic changes made him slightly lame. With corrective shoeing over the next couple of months he hopefully should stay sound in full work.
 
My horse was recently diagnosed with arthritic changes to his coffin joint.

He came in severly lame from the field which improved with box rest. Every time he came sound he would suddenly go lame again after a week or so of turn out/walking in hand. He had X rays which showed up the arthritic changes. The vet wanted to inject his joint and strongly hinted he would not come sound without joint injections. Which I was not sure about committing to.

Anway a couple weeks later I decided to go ahead with the treatment. The vet came out and he was sound. He wanted me to bring him back into work untill he went lame just so he could do a very specific nerve block into the coffin joint to make certain this was the cause. I brought him back into work but slower than the vet suggested (he had been off for months by this point) My horse never went lame again. (well so far... touch wood)

The vet now says it is unlikely that it was the arthritic changes causing the lameness and likely to have been some sort of soft tissue injury.

We have started jumping again this week and are working at about novice level dressage cantering on hacks etc.


Basicly I think it is quite easy for the vets to diagnose this because it does show up in the X-ray where as soft tissue injuries do not. The vet also said it was mild. My horse is 17 I expect him to have at least SOME arthritis somewhere.

I wouldn't work him untill he is 100% sound and then take it really slowly. Think of it as an early warning. Pop him on a joint supplement and be extra careful of the ground and surface you work on. You could also try remedial shoeing. There is no reason you cant go further with the dressage I am aiming to go up to elementry this year. Also be open to the idea it may not be the arthritis causing the lameness. Nerve blocks may help if he goes lame enough to do them.

Good luck and good vibes x
 
Last edited:
I took it a day at a time with my horse - when he told me he was uncomfortable he was given Danillon and rested.

Unfortunately for us the disease progressed quite quickly and I had him put down in October. However he did have one or two other problems which compounded the problem. So please don't be distressed at what I've put.

Horses with coffin joint disease can have a good outcome, can be medicated directly in to the joint, and with careful management can lead long and useful lives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top