ATHRITIS IN THE COFFIN JOINT

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MICHAELA8228

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My friend's gelding has just been diagnosed as having arthritis in his off fore, and prescribed bute twice a day. She was advised not to retire him, though he is currently quite unsound, but to let him guide her regarding being ridden.

Has anyone got any advice on this problem and how to manage it? Also, any suggested supplements?
 
Is he sound on the bute or has this just started?

My horse has arthritic changes in fetlock and some in coffin joint (possibly)
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and is very lame. However on one bute a day he has been sound since May and I am able to hack him properly ie trotting on the roads, cantering on the moors etc and school to a certain extent.

The vet also told me to give him Newmarket joint supplement, which is what I am doing and I also give him sunflower oil. He is only 8, so I've got this long term and he did have about 16months off.

I think you need to take each horse individually as what works for one horse won't work for another.
 
Have you had this confirmed with x-rays? I ask because my vet diagnosed this in my horse after a thorough examination and seeing him ridden and lead in trot and with flexion tests.

He was still lame and he went to the Glasgow Vet school. He had x-rays and it turned out he had a mediolateral foot imbalance with side bone.

He has remedial farriery and he is ridden and happy and back to his normal self.

I was devastated with the initial diagnosis and believed the vet, he is very experienced and has horses himself, but the only way to be sure is an x-ray.

Many things can be treated with remedial farriery and this is worth looking into. Arthritis at the top of the coffin bone is also known as low ring bone.

The vet at the vet school recommended I feed Cortaflex as my horse also has bone spavin. Jake has Cortaflex HA as he is allergic to Alfalfa.

I hope all works out well for the horse and your friend.
 
PS I have also had very good results with stiffness in my horse with HIlton Herbs Reflex supplement. This has made a big difference to Jake's stiffness.
 
I know a pony who was diagnosed with arthritis of the coffin joint in both front feet, he was treated with IRAP and the results are amazing. He is still going strong and out competing in SJ and Eventing 3 years after the IRAP. Before he had it, he had to have 1 bute a day to be comfortable but is now not on any bute at all.

May be worth asking the vet about IRAP in this case
 
Hi my big maxi cob has been diagnoised with arthiritis in his coffin joint, he went lame, had xrays, stay in the vet hospital etc, long story but to cut it short he got IRAP treatment and egg bar shoes, newmarket joint supplement and hes sound now, back in work. I dont trot on the road tho but hes been back in proper work, cantering in woods and fields and we have even been out to a show jump comp. Hes not on bute or anything else but hes got all year turnout 24/7 and a field stable which i think really helps help.. Tell your friend not to give up.. my guy was really unsound at one point and i was totally gutted as he is my life.. Hes doing good now, hes only 8 as well.
 
hi my horse been diagnosed wth arthritis off coffin joints she 19 been on off lame for 18 months took 3 different vets to find what was wrong after having xrays nerve block steroids in her hocks she was sound for few weeks she still full life she on different supplements ie turmeric supper joints iv tried them all she has wedge in her front shoes try rise her front heels she had all different supplements now she on 2 bute day only riden when she sound she ok in walk off abit in trout its how far do you go keep buying different supplements surely they must be some thing better or give us right way to go she only 19 so full off herself and vet says keep riding her so sad to see my lovely horse go through this
 
My horse was diagnosed with moderate to severe arthritis in both fore coffin joints following xrays. I don't think its ever caused him any problems - as in humans you can have arthritis but it doesn't always follow that it causes you problems. He went lame in his near fore about eight years ago but had an active splint at the time and I think it was this and the arthritis was just co-incidental as by the time he went for xrays about six or seven days later the splint had gone down and was no longer painful. He had a steroid injection then but didn't then need one for about seven years so I am assuming it wasn't the coffin joint. The vet tended to agree with me on this and says no way can a horse who is lame with coffin joint arthritis then go sound for seven plus years on one steroid injection! Then about last September he had coffin joint xrays and a steroid injection for undiagnosed lameness after having a lameness workup and nerve blocks.

He was two tenths lame from the foot area (presumably the coffin joint) so had another steroid injection. i am assuming it eventually caught up with him!

He jumps/fun rides/dressages and does everything as before and has been on bute less liquid supplement for a few weeks now. I don't trot him on the roads (unless round a blind bend or up a steep incline but only slowly and only for a few strides). I am careful about the ground and wouldn't jump him or canter him on hard ground (our field is peat so we are quite lucky as its lovely and spongy).

I jump him at home on the rubber surface menage once a week and may put out up to six fences, either grids or course and only do it three times as I don't want to over do it.

Its just about moderation and surface that you have to be careful with. Steroid injections can take up to three weeks to work, so do keep perservering for a while longer.

good luck with your friends horse x
 
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MICHAELA8228 said:
My friend's gelding has just been diagnosed as having arthritis in his off fore, and prescribed bute twice a day. She was advised not to retire him, though he is currently quite unsound, but to let him guide her regarding being ridden.

Has anyone got any advice on this problem and how to manage it? Also, any suggested supplements?
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Is your friends horse insured?? what about considering a De Nerve?? i had this done with my jumping horse and she became sound and went back jumping maybe worth a chat to your vet about the options, good luck and wish you all the best xxx
 
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