_jetset_
Well-Known Member
I don't know much about these so was wondering whether someone could enlighten me a little bit...
Bone spavins
- Thread starter _jetset_
- Start date
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Buy this months HORSE magazine.
There's an excellent case study about a horse being diagnosed with spavins and what the vet is doing/has done to make that horse sound again.
Very interesting reading!
I always though Navicular and spavins were a 'death sentence' as far as riding your horse again goes, but apparently not.
There's an excellent case study about a horse being diagnosed with spavins and what the vet is doing/has done to make that horse sound again.
Very interesting reading!
I always though Navicular and spavins were a 'death sentence' as far as riding your horse again goes, but apparently not.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Me too... I'll go and see whether anyone around here has one (I might actually already have a copy as get it delivered sporadically for some reason... is it the November issue?)
cyearsley
Well-Known Member
Basically it is arthritic/bony changes, my last horse was diagnosed with bone spavin on one of his hocks. Following Xrays and if I remember correctly, nerve blocking, he had the joint medicated and I maintained him for the next 12 months on Cortaflex and Cortavet (when doing something more strenuous). We were able to carry on doing RC stuff and I was just about to get the hock remedicated and also have the other one done when I unfortunately lost him to a fatal puncture wound. I think that following the original diagnosis of bone spavin I prob had another couple of years doing our normal work (bit of everything) before he retired to a life of a happy hacker but fate took the decsion out of my hands. There is so much they can do for this condition, think there is a drug called Tildren (can't remember if its that but think so) which they suggested we could try if medicating the joint wasn't succesfful. Hope this helps.
PS just saw post below re Tildren (!) take a look at that one too as that may help you.
PS just saw post below re Tildren (!) take a look at that one too as that may help you.
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
I was reading your earlier post about having a lameness work-up done on Grace. I'd flex her myself and if that produces any lameness, then think about seeing a vet.
Spavins produce a typical reduction in performance that is usually most noticeable on the flat and gradual in onset. Warming up takes longer and whilst there is much activity in the joint, pain is felt and lameness might be massive or just slight.
It is by no means a death sentence and my horse is fine now. He was terribly lame in June and has since done several hard sessions out with hounds. He had his hocks injected with HA two years ago and that made a huge, albeit temporary improvement.
Please don't panic, it's probably something and nothing. It's always worse at night, too.
Spavins produce a typical reduction in performance that is usually most noticeable on the flat and gradual in onset. Warming up takes longer and whilst there is much activity in the joint, pain is felt and lameness might be massive or just slight.
It is by no means a death sentence and my horse is fine now. He was terribly lame in June and has since done several hard sessions out with hounds. He had his hocks injected with HA two years ago and that made a huge, albeit temporary improvement.
Please don't panic, it's probably something and nothing. It's always worse at night, too.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Thanks, but the question was not for me but for someone I know...
I realised I didn't know anything about what they were, what caused them or any treatment so thought I would ask
I realised I didn't know anything about what they were, what caused them or any treatment so thought I would ask
Pidge
Well-Known Member
Pidge has got one on his off hind, diagnosed in May this year. He had jabs in his hock and on newmarket supplement. Was on one bute a day for a couple of months whilst it settled and touch wood he is fine now. Have to be careful what ground is like, and avoid hard ground but other than that have had a full return to work
If you want any more info please let me know?
Flicker
Well-Known Member
The other route the vets go (and my vet went this route with the mare) is to let the spavin 'fuse'. This basically means allowing the arthritis to progress to its natural conclusion, where bone replaces the joint cartiledge that is worn away. Flicks was on bute for a few months to help her with the process but now is off it completely and competing in fun dressage and showing classes and nobody has ever commented on her action, other than to say she has 'lovely paces'. I'm hoping to start jumping her once the vet gives the ok (of course it is more strain on the joint so he wants to be completely sure she is sound behind). It will only be small jumps, but still something else to keep her from getting bored. She can hack for miles too.
One of the other older girls on our yard has got bone spavin too, which has been allowed to fuse. She is 20 and although she has some stiffness in the morning, is pretty much sound.
I hope your friend's outcome is as positive as mine has been.
One of the other older girls on our yard has got bone spavin too, which has been allowed to fuse. She is 20 and although she has some stiffness in the morning, is pretty much sound.
I hope your friend's outcome is as positive as mine has been.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Ok, so is it actually bone that grows?
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
No, the lump feels like bone, but it's actually a fibrous tissue. Mine has an horrendous enlargement
at the site. Also, it depends which of the hock joints are involved. If it's the one directly above the cannon, it's a non-articulating joint and as long as it fuses, the pain will go. and horse will go sound.
Veterinary articles say hardly any ever fuse naturally
whereas my farrier says he's never known one not to!
Veterinary articles say hardly any ever fuse naturally
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
All the veterinary articles on the internet that I have tried to access won't let me
Are they always in the hock?
Are they always in the hock?
keeperscottage
Well-Known Member
I posted on a similar topic a few days ago. Three years ago this month, our then 6 year old IDxTB gelding, Piper, failed to respond to traditional spavin treatments (ie, working whilst on bute in the hope that the bones would fuse) and he therefore went to Rossdales in Exning, Cambs, for surgical fusion......one month of box rest plus about 9 months turned away, he became 100% sound and (touch wood) has remained so ever since!
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that... I wish the search engine would come back as I could then have looked at past posts where I am sure there was lots of info about them
Ok, another question: when you say the spavin fuses, do you mean it fuses to the joint, or the joint fuses together?
Ok, another question: when you say the spavin fuses, do you mean it fuses to the joint, or the joint fuses together?
keeperscottage
Well-Known Member
From what I understand, the hock joint consists of many small bones and this is where the arthritic condition which we know as a spavin occurs. During surgery, holes are drilled into these small holes and it is the healing process (ie, the laying down of new bone) which causes the bones to fuse together. As they fuse, there is no longer any movement (and therefore no pain, which is caused by the roughened joint surfaces rubbing against one another). I know this is a simplified description of what happens and no doubt someone with far greater knowledge will elaborate!
It has worked for Piper when other methods didn't.
It has worked for Piper when other methods didn't.
aran
Well-Known Member
Bone spavin is osteoarthritis of the hock - most commonly the distal and tarsometatarsal joints - which are low motion joints (ie: don't move a lot).
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the articular cartilage is eroded (many reasons and causes). The cartilage is fundimental to joint function. As the cartilage is destroyed the underlying bone has to distribute the load - the bone has nerve endings and this causes pain (and lameness). The joint tries to compensate for the pain and instability by growing bony spurs on the sides - however this further limits movement and alters the horses gait.
You cannot cure osteoarthritis - once the cartilage is damaged you cannot repair it - however you can slow the progression sometimes (IRAP, HA, Glu, CS etc). Steriod injections can help some horses too. However, the only way to solve spavin is to fully destroy the joint - by this you need to fuse the joint - arthrodesis. This can happen naturally - the cartilage is destroyed and bony bridges form between the two bone ends; or by surgery - they drill tracts across the joint surface stimulating bone development again creating bony bridges; or by chemicals - injections of chemicals which destroy the joint. Once the joint has fused there is no longer any movement so no pain. However the horse will usually have an slightly altered gait as they are missing one/two joints in the hock.
Hope this helps
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the articular cartilage is eroded (many reasons and causes). The cartilage is fundimental to joint function. As the cartilage is destroyed the underlying bone has to distribute the load - the bone has nerve endings and this causes pain (and lameness). The joint tries to compensate for the pain and instability by growing bony spurs on the sides - however this further limits movement and alters the horses gait.
You cannot cure osteoarthritis - once the cartilage is damaged you cannot repair it - however you can slow the progression sometimes (IRAP, HA, Glu, CS etc). Steriod injections can help some horses too. However, the only way to solve spavin is to fully destroy the joint - by this you need to fuse the joint - arthrodesis. This can happen naturally - the cartilage is destroyed and bony bridges form between the two bone ends; or by surgery - they drill tracts across the joint surface stimulating bone development again creating bony bridges; or by chemicals - injections of chemicals which destroy the joint. Once the joint has fused there is no longer any movement so no pain. However the horse will usually have an slightly altered gait as they are missing one/two joints in the hock.
Hope this helps