Arthritic changes in hock: your positive stories, please.

[Cinnamontoast]

So the x rays are 'clearly showing arthritic changes' with obvious shadows indicating extra bone growth. The last thing I wanted to hear. I don't ride much, but the plan was to get out and about and improve both our fitness.

The vet is coming to do a series of injections (Adequan?) from next week. I've started glucosamine and will have apple cider vinegar from tomorrow. What else can I pop in his feed? (Handful of unmollassed sugar beet as he will refuse supplements unless heavily disguised)

Have you got positive stories of arthritic hocks? I'm worrying that he'll get worse and never be ridden again

 

[BlackRider]

As long as you are careful you should be fine (unless badminton was your aim )

Gentle exercise, and plenty of turnout usually help arthritis.

 

[ladyt25]

Well, many years ago (15-20 years?) my pony (i think he was 13 or 14 at the time) was diagnosed with spavin in one hind and basically the treatment back then was to give them bute and continue working them! That's what I did but then the bute began to affect his liver so we stopped giving him it and, to be honest he was not much different without. He was still jumping and being hacked out regularly but he would be abit stiff to start with.

he went very crippled at one point a week or so after a nasty fall we had xc (in the water). I thought that was it but we got a physio out, she treated him twice over a 2 week period and he was better than he'd been for years!

He sadly died aged 19 due to blowing a tendon at a team chase and he never coped with the box rest. Had this not happened I am pretty sure he'd have continued hacking and competing as before.

If it happened now I would make sure I got them treated by a physio at least every 6 mths as you find the compensate and, certainly if only one leg affected like with mine) they develop a twisting type action which can then cause stiffness in their backs. I couldn't believe the change in mine after his physio, it was remarkable. I think the main issues are whilst the bones are fusing. Once fused yes you're left witj some stiffness but not pain and most horses can continue as normal - ok we did restrict mine to a certain height jump wise that we felt was reasonable (a mutual decision between him and me! ha ha) but other than that nothing changed.