exracer superstar
Well-Known Member
Soo we went to the vets today after my horse injuring herself with a puncture wound last week. JUst went for a follow up appointment did NOT expect to come out with a more injured horse than went in 
Didn't see the vet who was dealing with us last week we saw another vet who is the lameness expert for the practice her is fantastic at his job i have had previous dealings with him for another horse. He wanted to see her trotted up as she had been slightly lame on the hind last week for obvious reasons but he wanted to check she was on the mend.
The assistant trotted her up and immediatly i knew there was something wrong just int he vets whole manor. He asked the assistant to trot away again which she did, he then prodded and poked around the wound and off she went again. Then after a few small circles on each rein he flexioned a front que panic .. i asked is she lame up front (didnt look it at all to me) he said i dont really know what im thinking yet im just trying a few things any way both fronts had no reaction to flexions
. he then flexioned the injured hind to which i could see she was now clearly lame for at least 7 strides before returning to 'normal' he flexioned opposit hind which came 'normal' within about 4 strides. he went on to explain she has 'low level' lameness in both hinds which he would not expect many to pick up on as its fairly equal and extremly low even he wasnt certain until he flexed her. We went on to have xrays which showed more change in the left hock than the right but only the beginnings thank the lord. He also explained she has muscle wastage slightly more to the left than the right.
Pieces slowly started fitting together her bum isnt nice and round regardless of her having a good topline and solid front end .. now i know its not conformational its muscle wastage. Her left rein is also her 'worse' rein when schooling (when i say worse its not horrific just takes more work) clearly now because her left hind is sore, i have always been able to get flying change from left to right rein but never right rein to left rein its all clear now my poor girl has been in pain.
never felt like such a cruel mother although the vet reassured me it really is only the beginnings of arthritis and most owners dont realise expecially when in both hind legs until there horse is crippled with it.
I just cant believe i hadnt noticed it i lunge her and take her allover competing aswell as my instructor riding her and no one has noticed i have never felt her off behind but possibly because she is even in the lameness behind. and it worries me that if this injury hadnt of happened i would of carried on regardless
Anyway once her wound is totally scabbed over in a week or two she is going back for cortisone injections into the joints on both hinds and he is also writing a report to the insurance to try and get me a supplement called 'equitop myoplast' to try and build her back up.
In the meantime shes to be walked in hand for 20 mins x2 daily to keep the joint moving. Has anyone got any good tips for a newbie to arthritis eg: oils or supplements exercises, management etc and any experience of the cortisone injections how long they last and how effective they are.
Much appreciated and thanks for letting me ramble
Didn't see the vet who was dealing with us last week we saw another vet who is the lameness expert for the practice her is fantastic at his job i have had previous dealings with him for another horse. He wanted to see her trotted up as she had been slightly lame on the hind last week for obvious reasons but he wanted to check she was on the mend.
The assistant trotted her up and immediatly i knew there was something wrong just int he vets whole manor. He asked the assistant to trot away again which she did, he then prodded and poked around the wound and off she went again. Then after a few small circles on each rein he flexioned a front que panic .. i asked is she lame up front (didnt look it at all to me) he said i dont really know what im thinking yet im just trying a few things any way both fronts had no reaction to flexions
Pieces slowly started fitting together her bum isnt nice and round regardless of her having a good topline and solid front end .. now i know its not conformational its muscle wastage. Her left rein is also her 'worse' rein when schooling (when i say worse its not horrific just takes more work) clearly now because her left hind is sore, i have always been able to get flying change from left to right rein but never right rein to left rein its all clear now my poor girl has been in pain.
I just cant believe i hadnt noticed it i lunge her and take her allover competing aswell as my instructor riding her and no one has noticed i have never felt her off behind but possibly because she is even in the lameness behind. and it worries me that if this injury hadnt of happened i would of carried on regardless
Anyway once her wound is totally scabbed over in a week or two she is going back for cortisone injections into the joints on both hinds and he is also writing a report to the insurance to try and get me a supplement called 'equitop myoplast' to try and build her back up.
In the meantime shes to be walked in hand for 20 mins x2 daily to keep the joint moving. Has anyone got any good tips for a newbie to arthritis eg: oils or supplements exercises, management etc and any experience of the cortisone injections how long they last and how effective they are.
Much appreciated and thanks for letting me ramble