Arthritis in hock :(

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rforsyth1984

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Sian has been in the vets since Sunday, the nerve blocks didn't work but the x-rays showed arthritic changes in the hock, so the vet has given injections. He comes home tomorrow for a few days of box rest, then in hand walking, then he has to go back next week and the week after for more injections.

I'm rubbish at asking the vet the right questions so kind of feel like I don't really understand what's going on. I don't know if he'll be ridden again or if he'll be able to jump or what? The vet seems to be suggesting we just see how he copes. It sounds like there was a lot of joint degradation even though he was never very lame.

I'm hoping I can find out more when I go pick him up tomorrow. Just feel so deflated; this year I bought a tow car, passed my towing test, bought a new saddle when mine got stolen, and now I might not even be able to ride, never mind compete or do fun rides etc. And my poor horse, he's only 15
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Do you give him any supplements or anything? I'm just so worried, he doenst cope well with box rest, he doesnt travel well on his own so the next few weeks are going to be really stressful for him with trips to the vets and box rest etc.

Will hopefully feel better when I have more information
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He has never been really lame, the arthritis was found after a kick. At the time he was stabled with limited turnout of 2 hours a day. After diagnosis, he had steroid injections in both hocks (about 18 months ago) and I put him on grass livery so he could stay out 24/7. Unfortunately, he didn't do very well living out in winter, so I moved yards to where we are now. He is out 24/7 summer, and in winter, he can go out first thing and come in at night. He is on a glucosamine supplement, and it all seems to help. He also has arthritis in his front leg which does give him the odd off day.
 
Don't panic! I have 2 cobs who have both been diagnosed with athritis in the hock, or bone spavin, over the last few years. Neither are lame and both hunt and sj as usual, but I do give them cortaflex.
The best thing with arthritis is to keep the horse active - you need to ask your vet what level of excercise they are happy for your horse to have - mine just said carry on as normal.
Good luck!
 
I have a heavy cob who was diagnosed with arthritis of the hocks when he was 13. He is now 18 and still working very hard. We give him Bute Free and he is doing fine. It will vary horse to horse, but you could well have plenty of years riding left in him yet. try to keep him out and keep him active, otherwise he will seize up.
 
I was advised to pts 5 years ago due to arthritis in the hocks. We decided to give him some retirement turned out first and by the time winter came he had made a miraculous recovery and went on to local shows, prelim dressage and regular work. We've slowed down a little now as he's 22 but still going strong. It takes time to work out the best way of managing it for your horse but hopefully you will be able to carry on. My boy is also on cortaflex. Good luck, wish him a speedy recovery.
 
Join the club, there are many of us on here
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A couple of questions you may want to ask your vet is which of the 4 joints show changes and to what extent. Has he already had his hocks medicated with Adequan/steroids? If so, the rest of the injections can be given by yourself at home into the muscle - if this is the case then it may save you any more visits to the clinic.

Fingers and toes crossed and do let us know how you get on.
 
http://www.novickdvm.com/spavin.htm give a good idea of what bone spavin is. You might like to ask your vet if your horse is a good candidate for Tildren. My horse is having his third and hopefully final Tildren at the end of the month. Some horses can really benefit from this. The George Vet Group do an excellent fact sheet on this, just google Tildren and you will see the link.

If your horse has mild bone spavin the prognosis is usually pretty good, my horse was diagnosed last november, he has done about 7 pleasure rides and three one day events this year without problems, and numerous unaff. Novice and Elementary dressage tests, the judges like his paces and they never notice he has any gait problems (probably because he doesn't at present). The prognosis is really good. I know when my boy was diagnosed I was utterly devastated, but if I'd known then what I know now I wouldn't have shred quite so many tears. Don't worry you will go to the ball! xx
 
Home from the vets. Good news is that the vet has agreed to come out to do the remaining injections, and after seeing him bounce around their stable for 3 days, he is allowed some turnout rather than full on box rest.

The official diagnosis is Osteoarthritis of all 4 hock joints, with peri-articular osteophytes and sclerosis of the intertarsal joints.

He is having a Hyonate injections next week and the week after. If all goes well, ridden work can commence in 3/4 weeks and a final check up in 6/8 weeks. The vet said if he responds well, he should be fine with normal work, jumping etc.

So it's now a case of wait and see. I hope being turned out doesnt hinder his progress, he was supposed to be on box rest for 3 days, then walked out for 10 minutes a day for a week, increasing until he is ridden in 3/4 weeks - that sounds like they intended no turnout for at least 3/4 weeks?!
 
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