Arthritis

[251libby]

My pony was diagnosed with probable arthritis 4 weeks ago after going to the vets for xrays. Since then she's had Hyonate injection, Cartophen injections every week and has been on the supliment Cosequin.
The vet came out today for yet another injection and to see her being lunged to see if there was any improvement.

Well the good news is that she is sound and the bad news is that that means it's more than likely it is arthritis

I dont really know what to think tbh, I'm on an excercise program that the vet has given me and he's going to see her again in 4 weeks.

So I have a million questions but just really want to know your experiences of arthritis........
thanks in advance......I know I've got to take each day as it comes but find myself thinking about retirement

 

[lirago]

my mare was diagnosed over a year ago now and I thought that was it she would never by right again and she would be retired a 6 any way in the past year she has only had one lameness bout and when we finally got to the bottom of it, it was an absess with the right management she has been sound and competed all summer to novice dressage level. After posting on here a year ago feeling really low I had loads of lovely post back from people that made me see that arthrits wasnt necessary the end of the world x

 

[kezimac]

long post sorry..... heres my experience.......i bought my horse in nov 2006, after not riding for 15 yrs, she had 5 stage vetting, we did fun rides and lots of hacking but always had an odd snatching action with hind legs, when vet came to do jabs in summer 2007 he wasnt sure about her hocks - she wasnt lame just he had a good eye and was convinced something wasnt quite right. She had xrays and her left hock was more progressed than right.. I was devastated. I just cried. Vet said not to think about retirement and to bute her and to carry on riding as the work would help to fuse the joints, So off i went walking every day with horse buted up (she actually had a splint on fore leg at same time but he said dont worry hocks more important) she was on bute for 3 weeks. We then were able to do trotting and after about 3 months start on circles and lunging. Well the first winter i bought some magnetic boots. kept her weight off her to help joints and she was put on joint supplement - I also tried homeopathic remedies (rhus tox, ruta grav) she has also had comfrey. Well May 2008 we did our first ever dressage test (neither of us had ever done it before) and we havent looked back - she takes more warming up to loosen her up - she has a shelter in field now (lives out 24/7 to help keep her moving) she has bioflow boots on hinds during day and fronts at night - also has magnetic rug on under turnout at night. joint supplements, dried nettles and i massage her hamstrings and gluteals (as she doesnt take as much weight as should onto hocks her 'bum' muscles are overdeveloped and get tight) - this summer once again we had a trip to vets as she 0.5/10th lame - she had xrays and has navicular and arthritis in coffin joint on off fore - more crying from me!!! - she has remedial shoeing and navilox and 'touch wood' is now sound and competing again (only prelim i must add) but i love her to bits - i cant afford two horses and cant ever sell her (not that anyone would want her with her legs!!) - my vet says she is an orthopedic nightmare !!! she has a fantastic temperment just needs a leg transplant ...... well done for reading so far, this is just to say no matter what happens keep on going arthritis really isnt the end of the world - and anyone with navicular that also isnt the end of the world - it just takes alot of managing.
Dont think about retirement just yet - do your horse the justice of sticking with them - am sure will work out

good vibes your way.

 

[Puppy]

I am maybe not the person to talk to about this, as my 8 year old, horse of a lifetime, is currently being written off due to arthritis....

However, it sounds like your vet is being quite positive

So chin up!

I know lots of people on here have had successful treatment which has meant their horses have happily continued with their working life

Which joints are affected? How old is she? I would think the fact it wasn't immediately apparent from the X-rays is a positive thing, in that the arthritic changes aren't too awful right now (which my horse's are

)

 

[popsicle]

My 15 yr old 17.0h ID / TB x is stiff in all her joints, but a couple of months ago was about 6/10 lame on her knee in trot, but sound in walk. (Vet thought arthritis too). She has had a course of Adequan injections (7) and rested for 6 weeks. I'm just bringing her back into work now. She is definately less stiff all round and fingers crossed seems sound on her knee.

Still early days though. Good luck with your pony.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

My mare has a bit of arthritis, bone spavin. She is on top spec veteran which has the full 10:10 supplement in it. We hack most days and she is fine. I think she secret is to keep them mobile and exercised.

 

[251libby]

lirago - so nice to hear a positive story, when it's first diagnosed all you can think of is bad

Kezimac -

I was thinking about moving to a yard with 24 hour turnout as they have to be in at night at current yard, do you think that will make any difference? She has COPD so it will benefit that too.

Puppy - sorry to hear about your young horse

the only joint that is affected atm is the joint between fetlock and hoof (sorry I can never remember the name when I need to!) in the left hind I have seen all the other xrays and the joints are totally clear...if thats the right phase to use (?)
She's only 13, I had so much planned for her and now I'm having to rethink the jumping.

Popsicle - good luck bringing your pony back into work, I had my first sit on in 4 weeks today, was really nice.

chestnutty mare - thanks, I really want to move to 24 hour turnout so that she can be as mobile as she pleases

 

[kezimac]

mine is now 13 and was 11 when diagnosed - my vet said i could return to everything i did before just dont jump every weekend - we only ever popped a jump on fun rides anyway - and now with navicular dont jump at all - but am sure if your vet says ok you should be able to do some.
I think it definately helps to live out 24/7 - if mine has to stay in (had 4 days box rest with puffy leg few months back) she was stiff as a board in morning. Much more healthier out can move around - helps keep weight off - less stress on joint - and should help COPD - def a good move.
Is it coffin joint ??? the joint between pastern and pedal bone?

 

[Dubsie]

Interested to hear about the rhus tox & ruta grav - my ancient rescue dog has quite severe arthritis on front nearside and if he jumps onto this leg as the leading paw it can collapse (silly boy jumped from the wagon as we were haymaking in the summer and totally chinned himself), but with these suppliments he's near normal otherwise, but if I forget them he definitely looks arthritic when we go for a walk.

 

[malibu211211]

So sorry to hear your horse has arthritis.
Here's my experience, bit of a sad one but I don't regret a minate of it

I had a Irish TB on loan who had arthritis in his coffin joint. He was intermittently lame, had his feet sorted by a remedial farrier and soon realised hard ground had a big part to play in his lameness. Followed vets advice and did whatever I could to keep him sound. Many bouts of box rest, weaned him off of bute and started fittening again whilst on Buteless and Newmarket Joint Supplement.
Fell in love with him and bought him

Had one fabulous summer where we managed to have regular lessons even got him jumping then he went lame so vet suggested injection into the joint. Lots of box rest and slowly began to build him up but realised he could no longer do what I was wanting him to so looked into buying a more capable horse and semi retiring him.
His behaviour became unpredictable and on a sedate hack one morning he bucked and bucked until I hit the deck. One broken collar bone later I decided I could no longer take the risk and retired him at 13 years old. It was the worse decision I ever made

He retired in December 07, in April 08 he was diagnosed with arthritic changes in his spine and possibly his hocks too

On 29/04/08 he was PTS
Even though I only had 3 years with him he taught me so much and I do not regret buying him. The one thing I would say is to keep an arthritic horse as active as possible, I wish I did

Please don't get all disheartened by this as he was just one horse out of so many with arthritis that go on to lead active and competitive lives

 

[251libby]

Kezimac - thank you and yes it is in the coffin joint, she loves jumping so it will be a shame to give it up but I guess she will tell me when that time comes, I won't be doing any till the vet comes and re-asseses her in 4 weeks time anyway.

The stropster - sorry to hear about your horse - when told I thought it was the end as I didn't know much about it as I've never had any dealings with it other than a horse at my yard being diagnosed and being pts only months later

but I am begining to realise it's very different from what I first thought

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse is 16 and was diagnosed with arthritis when he was 10. Arthritis in horses is not as bad as it was 10 years ago. It depends on what joints are involved, but generally speaking the condition is manageagle.

Regular gentle exercise is very important. Allow extra time to warm up and cool down and do not go faster than walk on hard ground. I also immediately stopped jumping my horse.

My horse has magnotherapy boots and is on cortaflex ha (recommended by the vet school), cider apple vinegar and Alpha bute (Boswellia) from global herbs.

There are not many horses over the age of 9 without some kind of joint degeneration.

I hope you find a management programme which works for you and your horse and you continue to have many happy years together.

It feels like your world has fallen apart, I know, but it is manageable and not as bad as it first seems.