Bone Spavin - treatment of

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Baked Bean

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My pony has just been diagnosed with Bone Spavin. I would be grateful to know what treatments others have used for this and what success has been achieved. I was intending to use my pony to hunt and event but doubt whether that will now be viable.
 
It depends in which joints the bone spavin is in. If the BS in the lower hock joints, the prognosis is better.

The options are steroid injections, IRAP therapy and surgery to encourage bone fusion.

My horse underwent steroid injections and gentle regular exercises and after 2 years, his joints in the lower hock had fused. He is pain free, but stiff.

Once the bones have fused, the pain goes.

I am not too sure what IRAP therapy is, but I think the idea is to keep the joints mobile rather than to fuse.

BS does not mean the end of your horse's working life, most horses have them. My horse developed them when he was 10.
 
Ruben has just had steroid injections in both hocks, so I'm keeping fingers crossed. The X-rays showed a lot of fusion between the lower 2 bones in his hocks. I'm told that if the fusion completes he will be sound. Symptoms were only lack of impulsion and loss of rhythm in walk. He was only lame after the bute trial stopped. I hate to think how long I must have been riding him while he had pain and discomfort.
I have heard of lots of horses that hunt after bone spavin. So best of luck with your pony.
 
do a quick search on here for bone spavin and you'll find lots of posts re them as lots on here have them
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it's not the end of the world
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http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...rue#Post4824916
 
following on from what Jacqueline 72 was saying my reply was on that link. My horse had intra articular injections into his lower hock bones, a course of adequan, box rest and tildren. He has his third tildren due later this month.
 
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My pony has just been diagnosed with Bone Spavin. I would be grateful to know what treatments others have used for this and what success has been achieved. I was intending to use my pony to hunt and event but doubt whether that will now be viable.

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My horse has just started hunted. She does farm rides, dressage, jumping...a bit of everything.

She was diagnosed in 2007 with Bone Spavin. I'd say she's in more work, not less, than she was at the point of diagnosis.

Chin up. It really isn't the end of the world.
 
Bone Spavin can heal up, with a slight loss of flextion ability in the hock, most noticeable at trot - which is when the hocks really need to flex. Lots of long straight lines, hacks, don't ask him to school on circles. Remove grains and sugars, if there are arthritic issues then they can aggravate them. Consider feeding linseed meal as a straight(100gr a day at least) - that worked better than any expensive vet supplement and costs peanuts. Get the shoes off - you'll do him a favour by a) removing concussion and b) letting him grow his hoof where he wants it to be.

This approach works - been there twice.

Injections can give temp relief, but may need to be redone at least anually.
 
Mine has spavins in both hocks. Treated with cortisone injections in both and 2, so far, 2 courses of Adequan, since diagnosis in June this year. Now sound as a pound. Just qualified for Trailblazers Prelim 2nd round, retraining with a classical dressage instructor to get him more athletic and using himself properly, did our first ever clear round (at a whole 2ft6!!) 2 weeks ago. Have also been cubbing 2 or 3 times this season so far, planning to get out again next week hopefully and looking at a 6 day ticket for main season.

Talk to your vet, only your vet can advise you. Mine said there's no reason why mine can't hunt, just take it steady, no big jumping days, and if he's stiff then listen to him.

Hope you get yours sorted
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