Arthritis treatments after steroids have failed

[Jazy]

My pony has hock arthritis, he was diagnosed & treated with steroids in 2022 but has had colic surgery since then and has lost lots of muscle which I think has exaggerated the arthritis. He was injected again with steroids in September 2024 but these do not seem to have helped as much compared to last time & now is having back issues which the physio thinks is being caused by the hocks. For a bit of context, he goes beautifully in the school & hacking once he has warmed up but needs at least 10-20 min warm up & if made to trot/canter too soon is very reluctant and pins his ears at me, he is worse on the right rein which has always been his worst hock (exaggerated on the lunge). I'm going to have the vet out again soon but I'm not sure what the next steps will be for him, we had talked about a possible bute trial as management. I'm not sure about this as i don't want him to be dependent on it and I'm also worried about the risk if this masking any underlying conditions. As well as that if he's being managed with bute will be able to do any jumping? I've also been looking up arthramid injections, are these effective?

 

[SEL]

Arthramid is great and would be my preference over steroids. Loads of posts if you do a search.

 

[lme]

Another vote for Arthrimid - it’s worked very well on mine

 

[Zoeypxo]

It would help to know his age, if he is still young you dont really want to start bute yet.
Arthramid is pretty successful providing it is still the hocks aggravating him, and not something new.

 

[Fieldlife]

Does arthramid work after steroids no longer work? I thought not.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Does arthramid work after steroids no longer work? I thought not.

It can do yes if the lameness still blocks to the joint

 

[SEL]

Does arthramid work after steroids no longer work? I thought not.

Did for mine. We tried steroids in hocks but didn't really help. In hindsight I wish I'd gone for arthramid earlier.

 

[Jazy]

It would help to know his age, if he is still young you dont really want to start bute yet.
Arthramid is pretty successful providing it is still the hocks aggravating him, and not something new.

He’s 18, but I’d still rather put off giving him Bute

 

[Zoeypxo]

He’s 18, but I’d still rather put off giving him Bute

Definitely worth trying Arthramid, it works differently to steroid and does take 6 weeks to start working, and is more expensive. I get 2 years out of it each time for hocks.

 

[Smogul]

He’s 18, but I’d still rather put off giving him Bute

Why? He deserves to be comfortable. Any arthritic human would tell you this.

 

[Jazy]

Why? He deserves to be comfortable. Any arthritic human would tell you this.

I’m worried about him having to slow down, become dependent, or having it potentially mask other issues. I’m not opposed to it but I’d rather try other options first

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Mine cant have steriods because he is cushings so had arthrimed in his stifle and has come back into work sound

 

[Cobwithattitudebackagain]

Cartrophen every two months works well for my horse, with arthritis in various joints.

 

[TheMule]

I’m worried about him having to slow down, become dependent, or having it potentially mask other issues. I’m not opposed to it but I’d rather try other options first

Horses don’t become dependent on bute. If he has to slow down it’s because of pain. Bute is a very effective anti-inflammatory which acts as a painkiller. It could mask other issues, but the risk if pretty small and the potential gain for your horse's comfort far outweighs that.

 

[Jazy]

Horses don’t become dependent on bute. If he has to slow down it’s because of pain. Bute is a very effective anti-inflammatory which acts as a painkiller. It could mask other issues, but the risk if pretty small and the potential gain for your horse's comfort far outweighs that.

Thanks for your input, I’ve spoken to the vet and we’re going ahead with x-rays. The vet agrees that Bute is not the right path currently, but might be something we’ll do in a few years.