At my wits end.. no idea what to do next!(Broken Pony)

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HayleyUK

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Following on from http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=363836

We're still no further on... :(

We had the 2nd injection of catrophen friday before last, and did her flu/tet at the same time. I mentioned pony seemed worse/stiffer/lamer than previously before treatment so we decided to trot her up and shes definately 1/10th lame on her left hind when trotted up in a straight line. Previously, the lameness didnt show except on a circle.

Vet reccomended that we leave it a few days to see if the lameness was consistant and then reassess when she came to to the next injection of cartrophen as it sometimes took 3 or so injections before it 'worked'.

Sunday PM D came in with a reaction to her flu/tet injection... so called the vet who said bute her tonight and I'll see her 1st thing. Vet came out & said it was more than likely an inflamatory reaction & bute should sort it. Cue 5 days of bute.

Vet was due to come down Thursday to give her the catrophen, She called me on the way to say she was running late and see how she was. I said to be honest, worse.. I'd say she was 100% 1 maybe 2 tenths lame when trotted up and had been all week. Vet agreed that it was a concern considering that she'd een having bute as well & we'd seen no improvement. She reccomended ceasing treatment, letting the drugs exit the system with the view of nerve blocking her hock this week coming.

I'm beining to feel that we're grasping at straws as the lameness is so slight (1/10ths now we've worsened) & wondering if the changes are just wear and tear in a 17YO and that the problem is in fact something else.
She's just not responding to bute/cartrophen and the only thing that seems to ease the situation is work.. but she doesnt come 100% sound when worked she's still short/lame on a circle.
Vet is bringing a 2nd vet on Thursday PM to see where we go next.. do we block?refer?something else? so I'm hoping we'll get some answers then!

I just feel so useless/frustrated by the fact I've got an obviously uncomfortable pony, and can't 'help' her because we don't know whats wrong!
Anyone any advice/suggestions?

Sorry its so long! :(
 
I'm sorry, I can see why you're so frustrated. Did the vet xray the whole lower leg? As you did find something on the hock xrays, that would seem the most likely explanantion. I'm assuming your vet xrayed both hocks (as this is fairly standard practice) and there were no changes in the other hock? I also suggest a good joint supplement if she isn't already on one. The Stride one is especially good and not as expensive as some. Keeping fingers crossed that po starts doing better soon x
 
I did get almost to the end of a longish post when I lost the darn thing. So I'll keep it short this time lol. Magnet boots and acupuncture have proved very successful for us (2 separate horses). If you want any more details please pm me.
 
I have a similar situation with a 19yr old pony so I know how you feel.

I had x rays done and ultrasound and injections but I have had to accept that the pony is never going to be 100% sound again. Although the arthritic changes on the x ray were only slight, in some that can still mean lameness as different ponies have different pain thresholds etc.

It seems a terrible shame if pony is only 17, and it is worth trying some of the other treatments, but I decided to call it a day after spending £300 with no improvement, and the pony is now retired and on half a bute twice a day to keep him happy.
 
sorry just to say if you give your horse bute it stops the cartophen working properly mine had to stop all bute before she could have cartophen injections and it worked after 4 lots but only short term.
 
Thanks for the info about bute/cartrophen... I didnt realise that!

Both hocks were xrayd, and there were minimal changes in the right, but more significant changes in the left. We're talking very very early indicators of arthritic type conditions, absolutely nothing horrific!

The whole thing is really slight, in all honesty, it presented itsself as a shortness behind only I could really see.

She's on NAF SuperFlex, which shes always been on and Vet is happy with the ingredients etc.
I did wonder about a magnetic rug/boots... but have held off till I've got an actual diagnosis... as of yet, I've only got.. "potentally..." "possible..." and "could be"... which is frustrating!

Thanks for the replys :)
 
I didn't go the cartrophen route with my horse after a friend's horse had a very bad reaction to it :confused: and I was worried about him doing the same.

Bentley came in from the field lame last year and we had months of similar intermittent-but-always-underlying lameness (went from really subtle to standing on 3 legs??) :(

A nerve block confirmed it was in his foot but, being uninsured I couldn't fund an MRI to find out more and xrays didn't show anything at all.

He had steroid injections to his foot, to no avail, and we tried box rest,wedge heels and Lord knows what else over the next few months :eek: :o

Finally, still not 100% sound after weeks and weeks of box rest, the vet recommended a supplement they were trialling called Cosequin and said to turn him away- at least it would give the poor boy a few months of sun on his back if he ended up being PTS :o :(

Well this was last summer and, having decided he could have the whole winter off, I brought my *touches wood* SOUND horse back into work 2mths ago :D :D :D :D :D :D

Anyway, I'm sorry to have rambled on! My point is that these weird lameness issues are not uncommon and if your current supplement isn't helping try something else!! :D :D :D
 
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