Coffin joint Arthritis and fetlock arthritis

Update on Katie

So the shoes have been off nearly 8 weeks and she has had a trim from the farrier, in this time she is now out of a night can be out during the day too but will only be out in nice weather otherwise she runs around, I spoke to my farrier after he trimmed her and he asked if I was still riding, I am not riding she is lame and now trips downhill and uphill.... he has suggested graduated heart bar shoes and has said then at least I have tried everything... He kept his horse going for years and it had navicular and the steroid injections worked up until recently so I think he is trying to get more money and will it work enough to ride or am I putting a band aid on and delaying them inevitable....
Any advise welcome as I don't know what to do for the best.....
 
MissyG said:
now trips downhill and uphill
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Do you mean in the field, or have you tried riding her? Heart bar shoes are completely the opposite approach to going barefoot, they don't allow hoof function to improve and really ARE a sticking plaster.

If she's NOT tripping in the field, is she field comfortable/sound? Either way I would consider getting help from someone who won't see the next option as sticking heart bars on and can help you with the quality of her movement, diet, the barefoot rehab type approach before saying it's not worked. I would probably just put riding out of my mind until I knew I had good hoof function and comfort.
 
SBLOOM she trips going to and from the field and in the field, she is not field sound either, and no I have not tried riding her as in my opinion if she is not sound then I cant ride her, she is a very forward and excitable mare and she would defiantly throw shapes and be an idiot (if I tried) when I got her in the other day (NEW HORSE IN NEXT DOOR FIELD ) so she had to show off and piaffe and passage up the track then we got near the stable and she was hobbling because she had exerted herself.
 
MissyG said:
SBLOOM she trips going to and from the field and in the field, she is not field sound either, and no I have not tried riding her as in my opinion if she is not sound then I cant ride her, she is a very forward and excitable mare and she would defiantly throw shapes and be an idiot (if I tried) when I got her in the other day (NEW HORSE IN NEXT DOOR FIELD ) so she had to show off and piaffe and passage up the track then we got near the stable and she was hobbling because she had exerted herself.
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Sorry if you have already answered this but is she on antibiotics inflammatories
 
MissyG said:
SBLOOM she trips going to and from the field and in the field, she is not field sound either, and no I have not tried riding her as in my opinion if she is not sound then I cant ride her, she is a very forward and excitable mare and she would defiantly throw shapes and be an idiot (if I tried) when I got her in the other day (NEW HORSE IN NEXT DOOR FIELD ) so she had to show off and piaffe and passage up the track then we got near the stable and she was hobbling because she had exerted herself.
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Hmm this sounds more soft tissue like.
You said she responded to fetlock injection briefly, have you either ultrasounded the tendons or mri’d the fetlock?
 
MissyG said:
yes she is on danilon twice a day
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I am very sorry to say this but it sounds as if you have reached the dreaded pivotal moment in every horse owners life when a decision in respect of euthanasia will have to be made.

If she is not field sound on 2 danillon a day there doesn't seem to be a solution to the situation that I can see. 2 danillon for what i am guessing is a small horse is quite a lot. It's ok if a horse responds well but it doesn't sound like this is the case with your mare.

I'm all for 'saving' a horse that can be retired field sound with modifications to its lifestyle like shoeing/physio/and anti inflammatories or taking out of a bad situation (as in my horses case with unsuccessful time at retirement) but if this cannot be achieved with any amount of success then it really is the end of the road...

I'm sorry that is just my opinion. I understand what you are going through having the same situation with my previous horse who was a big fellow at 17.1hh and 700kg and when he didn't respond to two bute a day he was pts. I owed him that much.

Here if you need me x
 
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MissyG said:
yes she is on danilon twice a day
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I recently put down one of mine because she was still not right on 2 danilon a day. She had also started to act a bit neurological behind and wasn't a happy horse at all. It isn't an easy decision but if not comfortable on that level of medication then you either try something else or pts unfortunately.
 
Peglo said:
Would a course of cartrophen injections be more affordable?

Mine showed a massive improvement on them for her hocks.
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Cartrophen definitely keeps our horse sound. He has double dose, being about 750k, and has it every 6-8 weeks. Also has padding and heart bar shoes in front. Lucky to have wonderful farrier working with vet and us.
 
spike123 said:
I recently put down one of mine because she was still not right on 2 danilon a day. She had also started to act a bit neurological behind and wasn't a happy horse at all. It isn't an easy decision but if not comfortable on that level of medication then you either try something else or pts unfortunately.
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Thanks for this and in my heart I know this will be the outcome and it is when it will have to be done, however when seems to be coming to fast but I will always do what is best for her just like my other horses before her x
 
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