Arthritic competition horses

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mitchellk

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I have an 8 year old who has had OCD in his hock as a youngster and is now showing some symptoms in his near fore fetlock joint (not confirmed) and I am considering having all 4 legs x-rayed. Both front legs are slightly puffy but the near fore is a bit warmer and the vet has had a look and seen him trot up on hard/soft and he is sound. I am stepping his work load this month and will then get flexion tests etc to see if there is any difference. At the moment he is 100% sound and taking the work on with gusto, I am just trying to help any other future problems.

He is being fed Newmarket joint supplement and I pop on magnetic boots at night, he gets about 6 hours turnout a day. Worked everyday hacked, cantering 1-2 times a week, occasionally hunting and jumps once a week too.

What would you do and how would you manage him?
 
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I have an 8 year old who has had OCD in his hock as a youngster and is now showing some symptoms in his near fore fetlock joint (not confirmed) and I am considering having all 4 legs x-rayed. Both front legs are slightly puffy but the near fore is a bit warmer and the vet has had a look and seen him trot up on hard/soft and he is sound. I am stepping his work load this month and will then get flexion tests etc to see if there is any difference. At the moment he is 100% sound and taking the work on with gusto, I am just trying to help any other future problems.

He is being fed Newmarket joint supplement and I pop on magnetic boots at night, he gets about 6 hours turnout a day. Worked everyday hacked, cantering 1-2 times a week, occasionally hunting and jumps once a week too.

What would you do and how would you manage him?

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Id keep going how you are - have regular updates with the vet (xrays) so they can see any slight changes !!
 
Keep the vet involved, it may be a good idea at some point to have hyluronic acid-based injections. I can't remember the exact details but my best horse's front fetlocks went a bit funny at 7 and we had him injected and they never bothered him again.
 
my 7 yr old was diagnosed with bone spavin (we were doing BSJA and BE). he had surgical arthrodesis and is now out and about again competing and loving it. we've been out drag hunting, fox-hunting, ODEs, HT, SJ (1m) and prelim dressage. I'm hoping to do some BE with him this season. He is on linseed but nothing else as the joints have fused.

I'd get a full work up done so you know what you are dealing with and then, with vet advise/support, continue as you are. Make sure you have a good vet that you trust.
 
Thanks- I will keep going as I am and see what happens. I was given this horse knowing that he may have issues down the line so I am not suprised, he is just showing a bit too much potential to not give it a go!
 
My horse was diagnosed with OCD in his off fore when he was five. He is on cortaflex and once when it flared up badly he had a series off hyluronic acid-based injections. He is now 18 and has evented for 10 seasons without any real proplems with it.
 
That is really great to know- the hock that had medication has never caused any problems so heres hoping, we should be eventing by the end of the year!
 
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