Arthritis diagnosis week 7

[NooNoo59]

My horse was diagnosed with arthritic changes 8 odd weeks ago, off fore coffin joint also showed fractured side bone, also both hocks which although changes are not obvious he was very reactive to blocking i.e he was much improved after the hocks were blocked out. He was then injected with arthramid in both hocks and the coffin joint. He started off with long reining and hand walking now hacking at walk and walking and trotting in the school, at the beginning he felt so much more forward and off the leg but this last week he has dropped off again. My physio came last week and picked up he was still 1/10th lame on the fore and vet is coming for a review on Friday. I tried riding him on Monday but he was just so not interested and I cant ride him like that. He is only 8 and has been very well looked after this is so disheartening. Any similar stories out there?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

No advice but really sorry to hear about your horse. Hopefully the vet may have other ideas on how to help.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Has the coffin joint affected leg improved since the arthramid or do difference?
Some horses need a top up at 6-8 weeks i think if they show some improvement but not full improvement

 

[NooNoo59]

Has the coffin joint affected leg improved since the arthramid or do difference?
Some horses need a top up at 6-8 weeks i think if they show some improvement but not full improvement

Interesting didn't know thst

 

[Zoeypxo]

Interesting didn't know thst

yes but only if they show some improvement. If there is no improvement its either not the cause of lameness (ie could be soft tissue or a diff joint) or the horse could be a non responder which is rare. If the horse has improved but not fully they can top up with a 2nd injection.
Ive used it in coffin joints and have a sound and happy horse, i used one syringe but ive seen a few people use 2mls

 

[NooNoo59]

He felt better this morning so not feeling so helpless! Hopefully all will be good on Friday. It also doesnt help that the new surface been put down in the school five months ago is lumpy and causing horses to trip, 3 have gone down and riders have come off so I am also backing off slightly as dont need that happening on top of all the other worries.

 

[NooNoo59]

Vet review was good although she says he is still 1/10th lame on the off side fore and suggests an mRI which I think is a bit too soon seeing as the ground is like rock and he has had a couple of hooleys round the field. I am going to wait until the ground is softer (is ever!) and then reassess. But he seems really flat, he can be a bit stuffy in the school at times but he is just flat out hacking as well, rode this morning hacked for an hour only at walk and he was just not interested in walking out. Also he kept sort of missing a beat in front, am I being paranoid?

 

[SEL]

Vet review was good although she says he is still 1/10th lame on the off side fore and suggests an mRI which I think is a bit too soon seeing as the ground is like rock and he has had a couple of hooleys round the field. I am going to wait until the ground is softer (is ever!) and then reassess. But he seems really flat, he can be a bit stuffy in the school at times but he is just flat out hacking as well, rode this morning hacked for an hour only at walk and he was just not interested in walking out. Also he kept sort of missing a beat in front, am I being paranoid?

Fractured sidebone sadly led to retirement for one of mine. Healed in a lump that gave him a mechanical lameness but obviously that had knock on effects elsewhere. Is yours fully healed? We did have a decent period of soundness after a year or so in a field

 

[Zoeypxo]

How long ago was the Arthramid injection into the coffin joints?
Mine has had arthramid into hocks and coffin joints for mild changes and is fine even if charging around the field. The arthramid is supposed to make them be able to do normal horse things like gallop round the field with buddies without going hopping lame. Id imagine its something else making him lame? Is he insured? If so MRI could be a good idea.
Mine also has pads infront which help her on hard ground, this could be an idea for yours?

 

[Zoeypxo]

Sorry I should add mine used to come in lame after galloping around the field too, since arthramid 100% sound

 

[NooNoo59]

Fractured sidebone sadly led to retirement for one of mine. Healed in a lump that gave him a mechanical lameness but obviously that had knock on effects elsewhere. Is yours fully healed? We did have a decent period of soundness after a year or so in a field

Don't know if it's fully healed would need another xray to assess. What were the symptoms of yours?

 

[NooNoo59]

Sorry I should add mine used to come in lame after galloping around the field too, since arthramid 100% sound

We are 9 weeks in and he is not 100% just a bit off its not noticeable but its all the little things not wanting to go forward this missing a beat out hacking bit trippy at times

 

[Zoeypxo]

We are 9 weeks in and he is not 100% just a bit off its not noticeable but its all the little things not wanting to go forward this missing a beat out hacking bit trippy at times

Ah okay! How are his hoof angles on x ray ?

 

[NooNoo59]

Good vet seemed happy with them.

 

[Tracking_up]

Slightly similar. Steroid and Hyralunic Acid into coffin joint and hocks after xrays show some changes =week 1. At least 6/10th lame at 5 weeks in near fore. Athramid used but still lame 3 weeks after that (ie 8 weeks in total). So both front feet were MRI'd, and chronic (but 95% healed) DDFT injury diagnosed, but healed with lesions the collateral navicular ligament.... horse aged then 16 now 17. Still in good arena work/careful hacking if ground is hard, with a danilon every other day, and shod with pads in front.

 

[NooNoo59]

I am going to call the vets today and get a 2nd opinion. My gut is telling me he's not right his attitude to work is off even just hacking although he doesn't look lame. He felt so much better initially but its dropped off again. The reason I bought young was to try and avoid all of this. Feeling frustrated and worn down by it all.

 

[LEC]

I am going to call the vets today and get a 2nd opinion. My gut is telling me he's not right his attitude to work is off even just hacking although he doesn't look lame. He felt so much better initially but its dropped off again. The reason I bought young was to try and avoid all of this. Feeling frustrated and worn down by it all.

You are actually better to buy older to avoid it. Anything over 9 which is still sound and been in regular work is much more likely to stay sound. Optimum age for lameness is 7-9 years old. Usually as they start doing proper work or cumulative from issues developed at 5/6 years old.

Swedish warmbloods have done a lot of research into it. Usually its bones/joints that are leading issue.

 

[Zoeypxo]

You are actually better to buy older to avoid it. Anything over 9 which is still sound and been in regular work is much more likely to stay sound. Optimum age for lameness is 7-9 years old. Usually as they start doing proper work or cumulative from issues developed at 5/6 years old.

Swedish warmbloods have done a lot of research into it. Usually its bones/joints that are leading issue.

interesting as my warmbloods hock issues started around 8 years old.
Friend with kwpn starting to have neck issues age 7

 

[NooNoo59]

Interesting! Getting a 2nd opinion this week. Bloody horses he is probably the last one I shall have so need to last a few more years. There are quite a few on our yard who aren't sound but they still go forward. He is just really stuffy we hacked out yesterday with a 23byear old who isn't a 100 percent but is managed carefully and he couldn't keep up with him. I want him to enjoy his work but if he can't manage a walk hack???

 

[SEL]

Don't know if it's fully healed would need another xray to assess. What were the symptoms of yours?

Sorry missed this. Just grumpy really and short striding even in walk. Vet said 'he doesn't look that bad' then we x-rayed.

He'd had a riggy gelding accidentally turned out with him and got chased. I think that caused the fracture and ultimately his early retirement

Sorry you're having all these issues. I have a field full of NQR horses so I know how frustrating it is - but follow your gut

 

[NooNoo59]

So 2nd vet this morning. Defo not right. Lameness source is the near side hock, the X-rays that have been done show very little change so being scanned on Monday. Any ideas anyone?

 

[NooNoo59]

So first vet only did 2 xrays of hock not 4 so 2 more done today arthritic changes to the weight bearing joint so injected with steroids. 2 weeks off the trot up. I think that the hock will be fine but I think the off side fore will then show as lame again. If this happens its an mri. I am worried about my pony I think he might be broken. I am not sure I can go thru this again.

 

[NooNoo59]

Steroids after arthramid anyone have any experience? My thoughts are if the arthramid didn't work the steroids aren't going to?

 

[Zoeypxo]

Did the steroid not work at all or just for a short period of time?
Steroid worked for 4 weeks in my mares coffin joint, arthramid has lasted 3 months so far and still completely sound

 

[Tiddlypom]

Has the steroid been put in the same part of the hock joint as the arthramid?

 

[NooNoo59]

Has the steroid been put in the same part of the hock joint as the arthramid?

I don't know will check with vets tomorrow. It makes sense they target different parts of the joint vut but not been highlighted to me

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Mine was diagnosed with hock arthritis at a similar age as yours and he is now 13. Only osphos worked for him along with very careful management and a strict exercise routine. He also has pads in his front hooves. His weight is kept low, he is never lunged, jumped or goes over trotting poles. He is hacked in walk and schooled around 3 times a week (flatwork or loose schooling). He does a nice prelim dressage test, is fab at Trec and loves his hacks. Symptoms were him being trippy, short & rather uneven in his stride, as well as grumpy.

 

[NooNoo59]

sounds familiar! He had arthramid about 10 weeks ago but hock still not right so now injected with steroid. Same symptoms as yours. Assessment in 2 weeks.