Arthritis or something else?

[Pink_Pampas]

Hi. About 6 months ago my 26 year old TBxArab went lame for a couple of weeks. A few weeks before he began doing the odd buck on the lunge in canter – something he has never ever done before. I was loose schooling him and he went round some poles and lifted his back right leg up to miss them. He then carried on in canter but on the other 3 legs whilst holding this leg up and was obviously uncomfortable. Later on in the evening I went back to check him and the front of his hock had heat in it. He became sound in trot a couple of weeks later but ever since, when I see him cantering in the field he is reluctant to use the leg. When I pick his back feet out he cannot hold up his back legs for very long and puts his leg down. Also, about 4 months ago I noticed that he was struggling to get back up after rolling in the field. It was takings him a few goes to get up. He is sound in trot, tracks up, its just holding the leg up and in canter and getting up after rolling that it is obvious. I wasn’t sure if he has developed arthritis in the hock or if something else is causing it – back etc. When he initially went lame it was sudden which is making me wonder if it is something else being the cause. When the vet came out about 3 months ago to do his teeth and jabs she said it was probably arthritis, she seems reluctant to investigate old horses. Wondered if anyone had any ideas on whether it is arthritis or something else?

 

[Diggerdog]

If you really want to know, you need to get a vet out to investigate further, either the original vet, or another. They will investigate the problem, if you are paying them to do it. Any diagnosis that you get here is going to be pure speculation.

I couldn't have left my horse in this situation for so long, struggling to get up and unable to canter comfortably. Why have you decided to ask the question now?

 

[Pink_Pampas]

I haven't left my horse in this situation, the vet has seen him twice since he originally went lame and diagnosed arthritis in his hock and I have put him on Cortaflex HA/cod liver oil etc. I only noticed he was taking a few attempts to get up about 3 months ago and again spoke to the vet who wanted him on Bute. I am asking now because I am wondering if there is something else going on and if anyone else recognises the symptoms - isn't that part of these forums? And yes I have a different vet coming out to investigate further because I dont like seeing him uncomfortable.

 

[Diggerdog]

Glad to hear that you've had this checked out professionally, didn't read that in your original post.

Hope that the different vet has something helpful to add.

 

[cellie]

My horse is going through the hock fusion process he had surgery in jan because he is only 7.He has always bucked and I thought it was just his way or because he was young .I had everything checked originally but now I have realised that it was a reaction to the pain in his hock before it was diagnosed properly.He didnt hold his leg up but he went very lame.
I would keep him on pain relief so he can use the joint but ask your vet to do a flexation test first.If he is positive to the test then you can be reasonably sure that the hock is causing some of the discomfort.As he is a good age his comfort is more important than anything and he will need good turnout to keep the joint moving a joint supplement like you are using and regular pain relief.They might offer you joint injection.Hope you get to the bottom of problem

 

[Pink_Pampas]

Yes i'm reluctant to keep him on bute and have started devils claw, but ultimately he has to be comfortable so im just trying to find a balance now with pain relief/supplements and with the cortaflex HA. It more than likely it is arthritis given his age, but I think I just want a second opinion to make sure im not missing anything else underlying. It is sad watching them age but it is unfortunately inevitable. Diggerdog - its sometimes hard to put across everything you have done to investigate and he is my number one priority, I was asking for advice because I want the best for him and to make sure he lives out his years in the most comfortable way possible, but I can understand how it may have come across!

 

[hellybelly6]

I am not a vet, but I would suspect hock arthritis. My horse had similar symptoms, but I could not put my finger on exactly what was up. X-rays soon did.

If I were you, its been going on for a long time and I would try and get an x-ray. Age should not make any difference to veterinary treatment.

My horse is 15 and has been diagnosed with several arthritic conditions of his feet and is managed with Danilon and Synequin. I was upset by the news, but at least the Danilon has started to work now.

Good luck