Arthritic horse

[shelagh]

My lovely Ned hasn't been going forward for a couple of months and the vet has just diagnosed arthritis ( he's 18) and prescribed bute .... she says I can then use him as normal ...hacking mostly ....But I feel a little anxious about this what experiences do any of you have ?
Shelagh Derbyshire

 

[Llwyncwn]

Our old boy Harry was on one bute a day for the last three years before he died last year, but he was 41 !

How advanced is the arthritis, as a rescue I have has been diagnosed with navicular and low ring bone and the vet has said that he can be ridden 'at his own pace' - give him a bute the night before if it is needed. Perhap this is something you could think about instead of having to retire him completely.

 

[LauraBR]

I have had an arthritic horse and yes, it is important to keep them moving. If hacking is what you do then perfect- just what he needs I expect.

You could also consider magnetic boots (jury is out but Bioflow boots made a visible difference to my boy) and various supplements out there to help. (I used Cortaflex and Zerobute by Feedbark)

 

[johnsongreyhorse]

My old horse has been on one bute a day for the past 3 years two a day when it is cold and he is stiffer, he was first diagnosed with arthritis about 8 years ago and was quite lame on and off as it was forming, now he just gets stiffer over night when in his stable during winter, he is out as much as possible. I didn't stop riding him til about 2.5 years ago, although he still takes my kids for a walk every now and then and really enjoys that. I initially put him on soluble superflex which did help for the first few years, but now it's only the bute that helps. (He is now 28)
Keep your horse in work (you'll know how much suits him) for as long as possible, hope that helps.

 

[wizzi901]

cider vinegar and the bute wont harm him, it will add to his quality of life. Far too many people worry about liver damage, at his age its kinder to give bute if he is having pain.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Bute given for a long time will eventually do damage but in your circumstances i agree its the best thing to do. I have known a few horses who's quality of life has been increased for many years on bute and when the bute eventually started to cause damage it was the time of life for the horse to go to rainbow bridge anyway. Had they not of had the bute they wouldnt have lasted those last few years of a happy life. exercise is one of the best cures for stiffness and you will know yourself the correct pace for your horse.

 

[apn8keh]

Just a query, but what happens to an arthritic horse when they have had it for many years & they get to the end of the diseases progression. Do they just gradually stiffen up over a long period or can they suddenly find it impossible to get up from rolling or unable to walk?

I have another post & I know people are suggesting laminitis, but my boy was diagnosed with arthritic changes in his hock at 4 years old & severe inflammation of both hind fetlocks caused by excessive lunging (he was being backed by a "professional" & they thought it would wear him out to stop him bucking). He had the hyaluronic acid injections in hocks/fetlocks and was retired to grass. Has never been stabled as vet said it was important he stay mobile & he drops like a ton so you just couldn't make a deep enough bed. He has never needed bute, charges around the field like a lunatic for the last 8 years until a few days ago & now virtually cannot stand up even on the strongest painkillers available.

I'd just be interested in other peoples experiences of caring for an arthritic right to the bitter end.

Sorry for hijacking your post, but you've maybe got this to come somewhere down the line.

 

[MagicMelon]

One of mine has athritis in her hind legs. My vet gives me a few bute sachets which she says I can give her occassionally on her "bad days" (like on very cold, wet days she may be stiffer etc.). However I havent needed to use any bute so far, I put her straight onto NAF Superflex instead. She bolted with me the other day when I took her for a walk in hand! Works wonders.

 

[shelagh]

WeLL I guess my boy compares to a Lusitano! Thanks for your reply - I was so surprised to have him suddenly go so slow as he'd always been so active. He isn't lame yet just very ploddy and reluctant to walk very fast...I feel so sorry for him.
Shelagh

 

[shelagh]

Thanks for the reply the vet didn't say ....but I got the impression that it wasn't too advanced ...didn't think to ask I was so surprised it had come on suddenly with no prior symptoms .... I will have to try and find out more about it. Anyone know if you can claim off your insurance for this ?
shelagh

 

[Chex]

He sounds like how Chex was - not lame but reluctant to walk after standing still and just a bit "not right". He is now on a Danilon every other day and is much happer (he's about 25). He's ridden most days and is just coming back into work after a 6 month break. I'm hoping to get him off the Danilon over the summer, and I still plan on doing jumping, long rides, gallops etc. His came on quite quick too, he'd only been mildly stiff in previous years.

 

[shelagh]

Hi will look into Danilon ...I'd love to have him back as he was as he really was a fun ride ..he loved going out.
Is that your cat in the picture ...we have a foreign oriental tabby
shelagh

 

[Stinkbomb]

re your question on whether you can claim off your insurance for this condition am almost sure you cant

You say your pony is 18 so would he not be on a veteran plan??? What i mean is my old pony Simon (RIP) went onto a veteran plan once he reached 17 ( think its standard for all insurance companies) which meant a difference when it came to vets fees. They would only insure him for accidental injuries only. This meant anything that wasnt caused by means of an accident i.e cuts he wasnt insured for.

 

[seabiscuit]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a query, but what happens to an arthritic horse when they have had it for many years & they get to the end of the diseases progression. Do they just gradually stiffen up over a long period or can they suddenly find it impossible to get up from rolling or unable to walk?

I have another post & I know people are suggesting laminitis, but my boy was diagnosed with arthritic changes in his hock at 4 years old & severe inflammation of both hind fetlocks caused by excessive lunging (he was being backed by a "professional" & they thought it would wear him out to stop him bucking). He had the hyaluronic acid injections in hocks/fetlocks and was retired to grass. Has never been stabled as vet said it was important he stay mobile & he drops like a ton so you just couldn't make a deep enough bed. He has never needed bute, charges around the field like a lunatic for the last 8 years until a few days ago & now virtually cannot stand up even on the strongest painkillers available.

I'd just be interested in other peoples experiences of caring for an arthritic right to the bitter end.

Sorry for hijacking your post, but you've maybe got this to come somewhere down the line.

[/ QUOTE ]

When you say arthritic changes in the hock do you mean Bone Spavin??

 

[apn8keh]

Yeah I suppose it is bone spavin. He had little hooks of bone growing out the front of his hock. Had the adequan and hyaluronic acid. He was always a monkey to ride (bucked) and as he broke down whilst being backed I was never really in control (he was 16.3 with no idea about aids & I was about 8 stone). After it happened I probably only rode him 15 times over the next 6 years, just little 30 minute walks round the village & he seemed fine with that. There is no way he would have stood up to coming back into full work & he wouldn't have lasted half as long if he'd been stabled.

 

[Andy66]

The best thing you can do for an arthritic horse is put him on a good joint supplement. This does not always relieve all of the pain so many people feed a sachet of Bute or a bute substitute. Feeding bute long term can cause problems so you are probably better off using a good bute substitiute.

There is a product on the market that combines both. Its called Premier Flex and it is a very high spec joint supplement with a good level of Devils Claw added.

You can find it at www.equineanswers.co.uk

 

[shelagh]

Hi thanks ...how quickly does bute work ? I started on friday with 2 sachets he had 2 yesterday and 1 so far today - but this morning when I rode he seemed worse ( he was ridden yesterday by a friend)

 

[shelagh]

Thanks will certainly consider alternatives.

 

[suestowford]

[ QUOTE ]

I'd just be interested in other peoples experiences of caring for an arthritic right to the bitter end.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have experienced this myself and can tell you what it was like for me, but every case will have differences so you may not get the same as I did.

Mine came to me aged about 20, already a bit stiff with arthritis but still mobile. I hacked him out, we didn't do anything too strenuous, just normal riding really. He had gentle ridden exercise up until he was 25! After about three years with me he started to play up with the farrier, the vet said it was his arthritis which made it hard for him to pick up his back feet for long periods. She prescribed bute, but he refused to eat it. I tried many different supplements etc. until I found one that he was happy to eat. This was a herbal mix, which took a while to have any effect but did help to keep him Bute free for another three years.

Arthritis being a progressive disease, it is never going to go away, and I kind of expected what happened next. One morning he was unable to put his off-hind to the ground. This marked the beginning of a rough three months. He did have good periods during this time, but also several crises, some brought on by the fact that he simply wasn't moving around as much (circulation problems etc.). He had several falls in his field & shelter. Eventually I had him pts: on his last day he seemed unable to feel where his legs were, and this frightened him. I think the arthritis in his neck had changed the neck bones to such an extent that they were putting pressure on his spinal cord, similar to paralysis. He was on Bute at the end (I had to syringe it in) which did help.

From a personal point of view I found it very hard to watch him deteriorate. I was very fond of that horse, he was a proper character and he is still much missed at home.

 

[AmyMay]

My lovely boy Freddy came to be to be looked after in the winter of 05. He had chronic arthritis which was managed with Danillon rather than Bute as it is kinder on their system. He also had other problems which compounded everything else.

I had him put down after 9 months - but it was due to the combination of problems rather than just the one thing.

If your horse is happy with life on a satchet or two of bute a day - brilliant. There are some good suppliments that can also help.

If he's not happy on that amount of bute, time to say goodbye.

 

[Theresa_F]

Cairo very suddenly went lame with arthritic changes to the pedal bone and coffin joint - low ringbone, very common in the heavies. He was on 4 bute a day and stumbling lame even in walk.

I put magentic straps on his fetlocks which he has worn ever since - they do something for him to reduce his pain.

He also has corta-flx and the other major improvement for him was when I started feeding instant linseed last October - he is now schooling again and my instructor commented how well he moves for a large old horse. He is also really forward going since being on it and stopped paddling with his hind legs in canter.

He has been off bute since having the straps. I do take great care on hard uneven ground, but on good soft ground he is happy to have a good canter and indeed oftens flies off up his favorite hill as fast as he can go if I let him.

With my TB who was still going strong at 29, she had a bute every other day from the age of 25, and if hunting, 1 the night before and 1 when she got back to keep her comfortable.

Plenty of exercise, keep them warm and try to avoid standing in for long periods. On days we don't have turnout, mine are in the school for 1 hour in the morning and then exercised and another hour or so in the evening. My youngster ensures that Cairo doesn't stand still for long when out

 

[shelagh]

Thank you for the advice ..it really is useful to read other people's experiences. I'm going to try some Equiflex and have his legs x-rayed so that I have a better picture.... so far all I know is he has it in his front legs. It felt like the end...so anything that gives hope is great.
shelagh