arthritis In hocks...what do you manage to do with your horses?

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MJ_1993

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My horse has just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hocks, haven't had loads of chats with the vet yet but just wondered what people with this experience have had... what do you still do with your horses?

He had steroids and went from 4/10 lame to 1/10 lame in 1 month and he's just having cartrophen atm.. he's only 10 so a bit of a shock.


Any experiences good or bad please

*Also in vet
 
MJ_1993 said:
My horse has just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hocks, haven't had loads of chats with the vet yet but just wondered what people with this experience have had... what do you still do with your horses?

He had steroids and went from 4/10 lame to 1/10 lame in 1 month and he's just having cartrophen atm.. he's only 10 so a bit of a shock.


Any experiences good or bad please

*Also in vet
Click to expand...

My mare diagnosed as a 7 yr old.1/10th lame. Now 12, and up to Intermediate level eventing. Steroid injections didn't work, so I just manage her carefully. Turned out al the time, hardly ever work her on a surface, and only jump at competitions, and the odd practice lesson. According to her xrays, she shouldn't be doing any of this, but she is going better than ever. Regularly gets 68% dressage as well. I give her turmeric or boswellia purely as maintenance.
 
cundlegreen said:
My mare diagnosed as a 7 yr old.1/10th lame. Now 12, and up to Intermediate level eventing. Steroid injections didn't work, so I just manage her carefully. Turned out al the time, hardly ever work her on a surface, and only jump at competitions, and the odd practice lesson. According to her xrays, she shouldn't be doing any of this, but she is going better than ever. Regularly gets 68% dressage as well. I give her turmeric or boswellia purely as maintenance.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, Fab news about your mare!
What is boswellia? how do you buy it/ what does it do? Thankyou!! x
 
Mines 12. Had steroids injections but they wore off after 4 months. Turmeric and Synequin didn’t help so he’s now on one bute a day and much happier. I don’t ride him anymore though so couldn’t say if it would be the same story..
 
Mines 26! We did try to retire him last year but it didn't suit so we brought him back into work using bute. But when he picked up another sharer (He is - or was - a PC Competition pony) we opted for steriod injections. He is looking happier and fitter than he has for the last year. Enjoying work and enjoying life.
 
Probably not overly relevant as my mare is 25. Vet advised not to bother with injections at her age and just use bute as and when needed.

We still hack out and despite my best efforts to persuade her to be sensible she is still towing me around the countryside and attempting to canter up the road. (rolls eyes) :)

I also use boswellia which despite my scepticism has worked wonders.
 
Steroid injections didn't seem to help my lad either, he's 10. We carefully manage, he has regular physio, tumeric in his feed, Equine Answers Premier Flex HA supplement in feed - absolutely awesome stuff!! As much turn out as possible, has fleece hock boots to keep them warm when stabled at night in the winter.

We are regularly competing in showing, dressage (haven't scored under 70% yet!) occasional jumping - I just don't push him we don't jump huge :-) He is a very happy boy my physio even said that if she didn't know he had arthritis she would never know from seeing him trot up, people are shocked when I tell them.

It is daunting at first and of course all horses are different but with careful management you can both still enjoy riding life x
 
My mare was diagnosed at age 11. We tried the steroid injections first of all, this had little effect. We then tried the steroid injections again but along side a Tildren drip (this is administered over an hour or so) unfortunately this also had no effect. We then took her to Rossdales in Newmarket and she had ethanal injections, this worked the best as it kills the nerve endings. I had about 7 months with her before she went lame again. I got her xrayed again and her left hock had deteriorated again, neither hock had fused. She was not happy being ridden anymore so I decided to retire her. She is mostly doing well but does have the odd bute in the winter.

Do your research and discuss all options with your vet, there are so many treatments available currently, so just know what you are getting into and spending your money on.
 
We have one who was diagnosed at 9 (last year). He Had two lots of Osphos and has had 1 lot of steroid injections - having more next week so 1 year after last lot. He has as much turnout as possible, kept in work, fed a good joint supplement and boswellia. Magnetic boots on in winter. He shows in hunter classes(was at RIHS last week!) and hunts all season. We try not to do too much schooling or jumping . He is better with work.
 
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