Bone spavin and bone chip

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Spartu

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My 8 year old OTTB was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his right hock and a bone chip. He came out of races sound and was sound until now. I have him for almost two years, but I never trained him hard. 5 months ago, my new trainer started doing dressage with him. He was sound and then after 3 days of being really collected and working off his hinds, he turned up lame. We rested him and he was sound, and after 2-3 days got lame again and so on. We quit his training and did x-rays. Vet said he has osteoarthritis/bone spavin in his hock and bone chip. Like a part of bone broke and is now floating around his hock and possibly destroying the cartilage. So his bone chip probably caused bone spavin. He recommended surgery and said he will come back 100% sound and it is a routine now. But I would like to hear your experiences/advice about this. He is talented for dressage and jumping, has amazing movement and is really smart and good for everyone horse. We plan to jump him up to 50cm, so only small cross rails, nothing higher. And jump rarely. And to do medium dressage level. We never planned on serious jumping, even before knowing this. What do you think, is he going to be able to do medium dressage level after surgery? Please tell me anything, it means so much to me now, during this. :( It would be a shame for him not to compete with all his movement and looks. I will get x-rays pictures today, so if anyone wants to look at them, I'd like to hear a 2nd opinion. Thanks a lot for anything, any help. :(
 
The chip has to come out because he will constantly irritate the joint.

The spavin, well there is no final rule. there is to types, one is degenerating and the other one is the oposite.

I have a mare, she is 6 and she has some spavin. Last year at this time I did an x ray and I did decide to let her off for the time she needs.

Now there is a fusion in the joint and she is not really handycapped. Well the movement is not what it was but she is able to deal with it. And it looks like that she is free of pain.

She will need a bit more attention then others, also because the way she is moving she gets a bit stiff from using one leg more than the other.

So she has to do some gymnastics, and she will see the physio more regular.

And she is jumping on her own just for fun.
 
My pony had that surgery on a very old bone chip in her fetlock at 20. She is doing great - schooling, hacking and sponsored rides. Look in my album and all her pics are since her op. (can't post them I'm on my phone). She also has spavins. I manage her with careful exercise, massage, turnout and a joint supplement. She is 23 now and thrives on work.
 
My boy has just been diagnosed with a bone chip in his hock joint (no arthritis though) so he's going to have the chip removed to prevent it causing arthritis later. My vet says he'll be 100% afterwards and that the op is very common and straightforward.
 
Thank you everyone for your opinions. I created a new thread, cause I'm looking for someone to look at his x-rays as two vets are telling different stories. :)
 
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