bone spavin_ what would you do?

The joint is unlikely to fuse with no exercise and even then there's no guarantee. There is also no guarantee this will definitely bring her sound. To be honest I think you need to be discussing alternative treatment options with your vet if the current one isn't working. You may strike it lucky, you may not but given that she's fieldsound on the danilon at least you can keep her fairly comfortable whilst you try.

My old lad that I lost coming up to a year ago now was diagnosed with spavins age 12. He had all sorts tried before we ended up reverting back to bute. This kept him sound enough to be in work for several years but over time one of his legs got a lot worse. At this point we tried steroids, which had an effect for about a month but he started going downhill again. The conclusion we came to was that there was still the possibility of the joint fusing but it was anyone's guess as to if / when this might happen. In the meantime we couldn't even get him field sound no matter what we did so I ended up having to let him go as it wasn't fair on him.

Fingers crossed you can get a better outcome but if not there is no shame in PTS for a chronically lame horse that is suffering and may never come completely right.
 
My boy has had bone spavin for 12 years (he's now 20 and still in work). You really need to keep your horse mobile and excercised to encourage the fusion. Walking on hard ground such as roads is good for this. If your having is all hilly, could you not lead round the field/yard for 10mins to start building up? Also maybe up the bute as you will need to work through this phase. With regards hills try and always go up and down them at an angle for example take a diagonal line or zig-zag if tracks are wide enough. I would speak to vets about getting shoes back on (I'm no expert) but my horse initially was bad for twisting so lateral extensions really helped and supported him better. My boy doesn't show lameness now but if his spavin does flare up(once every 5years if I'm unlucky) it shows in his back so it may be beneficial to make sure he isn't compensating in the way he moves. A good Physio will be able to advise/offer some good massage techniques if this is the case your vet should be able to refer you to someone. I'm sorry to say but to get your horse back hacking you need to put in the work and commit to getting him through this which can be successful in most cases. If you just leave in a field or stable you will exacerbate the problem.

So you need to find a way to exercise him.

Good luck xx
 
thankyou for your advice boulty, i'm so glad i posted this as i didn't know and my vet didn't tell me that exercise was essential for the fusion- just that i should keep her mobile. for the last 6 months i have done very little with her as at first sign of lameness i rest her again thinking i was preventing the fusion by overdoing it. I will be ringing vet first thing to discuss the injections and trying the options available instead of playing the waiting game and being dissapointed. i am sorry you lost your boy.
 
again, i am glad i am finding out that i have to work through the lameness- i am not lacking the commitment to find the time but have been more ignorant of the way to deal with bone spavin. a couple of posts have mentioned the effect on the back so my next post on this forum will be for reccomendations for good physios in the co.durham/newcastle area. thanku for taking time to read and reply to my post- i am finding the condition less straight forward than i thought it would be with no straightforward strategy.
 
My horse (uninsured) was diagnosed with suspected spavin after I got the vet to look at her twisting a hind leg. We have bute to use (I give her one the night before if I'm going to ride her), she is off atm because I have no facilities and the riding from here is not too good, been very boggy which she hates. I give her micronised linseed, she is out 24/7 but brought in for about 5 hours in the evening to dry her feet etc. Currently using Supplease 4:10:10 and was using turmeric/boswellia before the Supplease. I long reined her yesterday as a prelude to riding as now the days are a bit lighter in the afternoons I need to extablish a bit of fitness before I ride her. Long-reining is better than lungeing as circles can stress the joints. Last summer we were managing to walk for about 2 hours on hacks. I think it's doable, you just need to adapt for your situation, however, as you are insured it might be worth having an x-ray - that is one thing which I regret not doing as now I can't compare to see if there have been any changes. Good luck!
 
Ah glad I found this thread! I had posted about spavin in the vet and hoof care section. Vet just diagnosed horse last week after farrier and I noticed excessive wear on one shoe. My horse isn't desperately lame so the vet has told me to keep hacking out, keep him turned out as much as possible but no schooling, lunging etc. They want him in for x rays asap and we go from there. He is insured so I am going to go as far as I can with treatment. As he is mainly a happy hack these days I am more concerned about keeping him comfortable though like you OP we have hills everywhere round here!
 
We have a 25 year old pony here who was retired pretty lame with spavin about 5 years ago. I've been watching him recently in the field and the old beggar looks sound. Might have to get him in and take him for a ride to check ;)
 
I have a spavined horse, he's sound and happy now but he was very sore at one time. No injections, no special shoes.

You will get a good result with a natural approach. Injections give a short term result, they carry a certain amount of risk and they are not a long term solution.

Shoes off, let the hooves develop the shape they need to develop - don't impose a shape on them and let them grow the way the horse wants - so for example you may see some deviating on thee lateral edges. Shoes off reduces concussion too.

Long hacks and NO schooling. Play in the school, but no tight circles or repetitive corners. Long walking hacks on a variety of surfaces are best.

Forget the expensive supplements, they do more for the vet's wallet than your horse. A good mineral supplement such as Forage Plus Winter Balancer and add Linseed meal to his feed (two mugs)

A horse with spavins needs time. About 6 months to a year.
 
hi again, missed a few of the last replies as have made the tough decision to put her to sleep on thurs coming. Vet came out last week and said she would never b rideable, the injection wore off after 2 and half weeks and she is also on daily danylon. i can not ride her at all and have just been walking in hand with her for last 6 months, she has no shoes on now but she is struggling with her walks too. If i could keep her as retired i eould but she is such a good doer that she is huge as unable to exercise and will have to b muzzled spring through autumn and have limited hay in winter which i feel gives her very little quality of life. I am devastated as she is such a lovely mare, safe as houses and good manners but at her age of probably around 20 it does not make sense to keep her_ her passport age is 15 but my vet disputes it . That is a whole other story that i think i was somewhat duped when i took her on!! thankyou all of you for your great advice though it has been invaluabble
 
Sorry to hear this, you have done the right thing taking everything into account. Some horses just don't suit retirement for lots of reasons and if she wouldn't have the quality of life you'd want for her then you have definitely made the best decision. 20yrs is good going. Big hugs xx
 
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