Arthritis (DJD) in hind fetlocks

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thumbelina

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Hi

My horse has been diagnosed with arthritis in his hind fetlocks - slightly lame, effusion (swelling) around fetlocks and confirmed on xrays. He had steroid injections 2 weeks ago, is turned out in the day, in at night and I am allowed to ride him for 10-15 min a day in walk.

He had very tight hamstrings - rock hard - and rested his fetlocks all the time prior to the steroids. His hamstrings feel normal now and he is putting weight on his hinds with no resting any more so fingers crossed it's improving.

I am wondering what experiences others of you have had with this. My boy is a 17.2 Dutch WB and is 8. What treatment have you tried, what has been successful and is it manageable so that you can do dressage/hacking?

Incidentally my horse was also found to have arthritis in his neck and arthritic changes to his navicular bones.

Any advice and stories much appreciated. Thank you!
 
thumbelina said:
Hi

My horse has been diagnosed with arthritis in his hind fetlocks


I am wondering what experiences others of you have had with this. My boy is a 17.2 Dutch WB and is 8. What treatment have you tried, what has been successful and is it manageable so that you can do dressage/hacking?

Incidentally my horse was also found to have arthritis in his neck and arthritic changes to his navicular bones.

Any advice and stories much appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...



If I were you I'd be considering fusion his hocks with ethanol.

Its a relatively cheap option (around £300 for both hocks) and the horse is first xrayed and then contrast dye is injected into the hock space. If the dye goes forwards or down the horse is an ideal candidate for the ethanol. Then the ethanol is injected and the procedure takes seconds to do.

The horse is box rested for a day then turn out as normal can be resumed. I think it took a month to get back into full work with my horse and the horse went on to jump 1.05m and do unafff. elem level dressage comps as before. Its really effective and recent xrays some 18 months later have shown good fusion has taken place in the hock joint.

The injection doesn't hurt the horse and it kills the nerves in the hock so the horse can't feel pain. Eventually the arthritis will take over the lower hock joints causing fusion which stabilises the joint.

It seems to be a win win. I wish I'd had it from the word go for Bailey, instead of messing around with joint injections and Tildren.

Here are a couple of links about it.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forum.../t-590602.html
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forum...Ethanol-Fusion

Here is the procedure in more depth http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...1.00512.x/full

And an article on H&H online http://www.horseandrideruk.com/article.php?id=2414

What I really think is your immediate concern is the way your horse has been overcompensating due to his hocks, which has shown with his tight hamstrings and his neck arthritis both of which my horse has had in one way or another. A physio will be able to address these issues with you and provide you with a plan for a return to work. Sometimes physio entails you carrying out various exercises - for example my horse has stretches that I need to do everytime I ride to flex his neck. Some horses will need TENS and others might benefit from therabands or magnotherapy.

Get in touch with a physio, explain your horses condition and that you are considering physio and see what they say. I can recommend a very good physio in the Midlands area if you are within her operational radius.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
applecart14 said:
If I were you I'd be considering fusion his hocks with ethanol.

Its a relatively cheap option (around £300 for both hocks) and the horse is first xrayed and then contrast dye is injected into the hock space. If the dye goes forwards or down the horse is an ideal candidate for the ethanol. Then the ethanol is injected and the procedure takes seconds to do.

The horse is box rested for a day then turn out as normal can be resumed. I think it took a month to get back into full work with my horse and the horse went on to jump 1.05m and do unafff. elem level dressage comps as before. Its really effective and recent xrays some 18 months later have shown good fusion has taken place in the hock joint.

The injection doesn't hurt the horse and it kills the nerves in the hock so the horse can't feel pain. Eventually the arthritis will take over the lower hock joints causing fusion which stabilises the joint.

It seems to be a win win. I wish I'd had it from the word go for Bailey, instead of messing around with joint injections and Tildren.

Here are a couple of links about it.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forum.../t-590602.html
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forum...Ethanol-Fusion

Here is the procedure in more depth http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...1.00512.x/full

And an article on H&H online http://www.horseandrideruk.com/article.php?id=2414

What I really think is your immediate concern is the way your horse has been overcompensating due to his hocks, which has shown with his tight hamstrings and his neck arthritis both of which my horse has had in one way or another. A physio will be able to address these issues with you and provide you with a plan for a return to work. Sometimes physio entails you carrying out various exercises - for example my horse has stretches that I need to do everytime I ride to flex his neck. Some horses will need TENS and others might benefit from therabands or magnotherapy.

Get in touch with a physio, explain your horses condition and that you are considering physio and see what they say. I can recommend a very good physio in the Midlands area if you are within her operational radius.
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The arthritis is in his fetlocks!
 
my boy has severe arthritis of his hind fetlock and stifle, sadly he was diagnosed too late in the day for injections. at the time i was told to retire or put to sleep, i decided to give him a chance and see how he went retired. i retired him 3 years ago on daily bute, sadly he had a reaction to this but now takes metacam, but not daily as he has improved so much so this year he is lightly hacking. he has 6 monthly physio treatments to relieve the tight hamstrings and i find the massage makes a huge improvement in his walk and movement. these can be sooner if i feel he needs the treatment sooner, i did however purchase a massager and give him massage (shown by physio) if i feel he needs a light top up. i also have him on synequin daily. i also found changing froma herd type turn out to indivual (he's in a paddock with my other horse) helped significantly as he wasnt having to keep up with the herd or getting bullied and chased about. My vet and physio are really pleased with his progressed and i burst into tears the first time i took him hacking this year.. i just never thought it would ever be possible to ride him again!! if you wish to pm me feel free to do so :)
 
My 17.3hh hano had arthritis in front fetlock, tried cortisone and aha. She came sound and I rode for 30 mins and had my old horse back, light and responsive. However it was a one-off and she never came sound again despite a repeat course. Had her pts just aged 12. Vet said only other option was stem-cell which wasnt a viable financial option. Have since spoken to a vet who specialises in stem-cell work (in dogs) and she reckons it's not guaranteed anyway. :(
 
Thank you for your replies.

Went back to vets yesterday and he is looking sound behind! He doesn't rest his fetlocks so much any more and his hamstrings are nice and normal now.

He had steroids into his neck yesterday.

He is on synequin, soon to be on micronised linseed and boswellia serrata. Back on track rug and magnetic boots.

We are taking hind shoes off to be barefoot behind and altering foot balance to be shorter in the toe.

I have walked him on the road and in the school a few times and he has been much more enthusiastic rather than lazy like before and just more lively in his general disposition.

Fingers crossed! Good luck with yours. All the things I'm doing are because I have read around a lot and asked many questions and am now picking the things that I think would be most suitable for him.
 
I had steroid/hyaluronic acid injections into the hind fetlocks of my elderly mare. Worked like a dream. The horse I thought I had lost to age returned. However, shortly after that the arthritis in her front fetlocks became evident :blue:.

The steroids worked for about six months which I was told was about average.
 
My girl was diagnosed at 10 with two fetlocks affected, we had steroid injections which worked on the front but not the hind and then tried an imported anabolic steroid which again sadly did not work. Her front fetlock has settled but she will never be truly sound on her hind which is fine, she also has an effusion that will never go as the skin is out of shape now but we manage it with bute, turmeric, magnets, a copper pastern band, turn out and exercise that she copes with. She is now happy with hacking including some canter although the trot can be a bit wonky and we school in walk for something different but never in small circles.
After all this though she is happy and cavorts around like the rest of them and genuinely still loves going out and when this changes and she is no longer enjoying it I know i will have to re think.
 
thumbelina said:
Hi

My horse has been diagnosed with arthritis in his hind fetlocks - slightly lame, effusion (swelling) around fetlocks and confirmed on xrays. He had steroid injections 2 weeks ago, is turned out in the day, in at night and I am allowed to ride him for 10-15 min a day in walk.

He had very tight hamstrings - rock hard - and rested his fetlocks all the time prior to the steroids. His hamstrings feel normal now and he is putting weight on his hinds with no resting any more so fingers crossed it's improving.

I am wondering what experiences others of you have had with this. My boy is a 17.2 Dutch WB and is 8. What treatment have you tried, what has been successful and is it manageable so that you can do dressage/hacking?

Incidentally my horse was also found to have arthritis in his neck and arthritic changes to his navicular bones.

Any advice and stories much appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...


Have you tried putting Aloe Vera Gel in his drinking water? I've heard of various cases in which it has eased the symptoms of arthritis and the science behind it seems sound. There are some testimonials here: http://www.purelynature.co.uk/animals/animal-testimonials and some companies offer a 60 day money back guarantee so you can see if it makes a difference without wasting your money.
 
Punkrocktopus said:
Have you tried putting Aloe Vera Gel in his drinking water? I've heard of various cases in which it has eased the symptoms of arthritis and the science behind it seems sound. There are some testimonials here: http://www.purelynature.co.uk/animals/animal-testimonials and some companies offer a 60 day money back guarantee so you can see if it makes a difference without wasting your money.
Click to expand...

Could you point me towards the science stuff please?
 
Auslander said:
Could you point me towards the science stuff please?
Click to expand...

Just did a quick google search, I'd suggest digging deeper yourself but here are a couple showing the anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe which is widely documented if you search further. The basis of treating arthritis with aloe vera is for its anti-inflammatory effects allowing a reduction or even sometimes an elimination in the use of NSAIDs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8169808

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14987320

http://ispub.com/IJMB/9/2/6161
 
Punkrocktopus said:
Just did a quick google search, I'd suggest digging deeper yourself but here are a couple showing the anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe which is widely documented if you search further. The basis of treating arthritis with aloe vera is for its anti-inflammatory effects allowing a reduction or even sometimes an elimination in the use of NSAIDs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8169808

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14987320

http://ispub.com/IJMB/9/2/6161
Click to expand...

i'm aware of these publications (it's my job btw) - just haven't seen anything that convinces me yet, and feel that there's far too much anecdotal/biased literature out there. It concerns me greatly that there are people out here who will push turmeric/aloe vera/chocolate milkshake as the cure for all ills, when there is little to no proper clinical evidence to back up the claims.
 
Auslander said:
i'm aware of these publications (it's my job btw) - just haven't seen anything that convinces me yet, and feel that there's far too much anecdotal/biased literature out there. It concerns me greatly that there are people out here who will push turmeric/aloe vera/chocolate milkshake as the cure for all ills, when there is little to no proper clinical evidence to back up the claims.
Click to expand...

I merely suggested trying something which has helped other people. Of course there's a lack of clinical data, the drug companies are the ones who fund research and they stand nothing to gain from research into Aloe Vera if it's going to lead to a reduction in the use of their products.
 
Punkrocktopus said:
I merely suggested trying something which has helped other people. Of course there's a lack of clinical data, the drug companies are the ones who fund research and they stand nothing to gain from research into Aloe Vera if it's going to lead to a reduction in the use of their products.
Click to expand...

Not trying to start a fight! I'm just unconvinced at this point in time, and uncomfortable with the way too many horsey people are jumping on various bandwagons, and choosing to use their selected wonder - product rather than seeking veterinary attention.
 
I was looking into the different quantities and types of ingredients in various popular joint supplements the other day. Very interesting. They pretty much all contain the same amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin. Then the differences begin... Some have msm, vit c, oil, boswellia, devils claw.

Myself and someone else have found Premierflex Plus most effective. I see why now! It's the only one with everything above in it (except boswellia). Am trying nutraquin+ next...
 
The trouble with the "chocolate milkshake" approach is that I just cannot fathom how it might regenerate bone which has already been ground away and lost. :(
 
Bone and cartilage are living tissues, as in they are constantly regenerating and remodelling. It's how fractures repair and heal too. Inflammation in the joint causes swelling, destruction of the surfaces of the joint (cartilage +/- bone) and pain. Anything that reduces these will help to alleviate the discomfort and disease process. Which is why pain relief (whether bute or 'natural remedies'), anti inflammatories and the building blocks (glucosamine, chondroitin, msm) for regeneration of cartilage and bone can be very beneficial.
 
OP- Hi, My horse is arthritic also. He's a 16.2 ID x so similar but smaller!
Ive been through all the cortisone injections and they worked for a time but no longer so anything for his joints.
I have found Boswellia to be very helpful more recently though- along with gentle regular exercise. Even somedays if he looks slightly unlevel in front a quiet walk helps keep his hocks loose and just keeps him active.
Don't despair though some days he still enjoys a good blast across a field and it obviously makes him happy and feel good so i let him! (think big labrador puppy bounding!)
Where are you getting your Boswellia from? I like Rahiiq.com. Its smellier but seems fairly palatable, my horse is a very fussy eater! but its also cheaper and the company are quick and efficient. Ive tried pricier ones and noticed no difference in soundness.

On a different note, I was interested in the Ethanol injections! Are they not suitable for fetlocks then? I was going to ask my vet about them.
 
On the plus side another thing is that in my job on a racing yard we see loads of horses who need backs and necks medicated and these area's in my experience seem to respond better and for longer than fetlocks, hocks and knee's
 
Thank you for your encouragement! Boswellia is in Nutraquin+ which is a joint supplement that only vets can supply. I tried Naturebute liquid on my last horse but it smelt awful and he didn't like it, even with sugarbeet and fast fibre! I think Premierflex plus is really good too. It has msm and devils claw in. He was definitely seeming more comfortable in his fetlocks on it. He's just started linseed as omega oils in it are meant to help. He's walking actively and seems to be improving since his neck was injected a week ago. I don't know anything about ethanol injections though...

How lame actually is your horse poiuqtrewk?
 
thumbelina said:
Bone and cartilage are living tissues, as in they are constantly regenerating and remodelling. It's how fractures repair and heal too. Inflammation in the joint causes swelling, destruction of the surfaces of the joint (cartilage +/- bone) and pain. Anything that reduces these will help to alleviate the discomfort and disease process. Which is why pain relief (whether bute or 'natural remedies'), anti inflammatories and the building blocks (glucosamine, chondroitin, msm) for regeneration of cartilage and bone can be very beneficial.
Click to expand...

Cartilage and bone that has been lost through arthritic changes will not be regenerated though. All you can hope for is to slow down the inevitable progression of the condition. If it were possible to repair arthritic joints, there would be far fewer lame horse around
 
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