Coffin joint DJD and Hock Spavins

[catherine22]

My horse has both Coffin joint DJD and Hock Spavins, both bilaterally. Joints have been injected, hocks more recently and altho he isn't as lame as he has been and can be, he still doesn't look quite right sometimes. He is 11 and seems to spend more time out of work than in work. He has just been on a bute trial which didn't make much difference imo.

Vet wants him in work as he goes lame straight away with even a couple of days off (hocks) and he is much nicer to be around when he's in work, turns horrible when he's off work. He is on a joint supplement (Equistro Flexadin UCII) and lives out 24/7. Vet is back out again next week

Is there anything else I can do with him/ for him, already looking at barefoot options, but just wondered if anyone else had/s a horse with the same problems and how they are?

 

[Sophstar]

My cob has arthritis in his hind legs, with hock spavins suspected to be the main issue. He had the vet last week and the was told the most important thing was 'to keep him moving.' Even if I don't get time to ride him he gets walked around the yard a couple of times just to loosen him up. He had his hindshoes taken off immediately and I noticed a big difference in his comfort, as he now walks differently to compensate for stiffness. Like yours, he is out 24/7 but now wears turnout magnetic bands that stay on permenantly and is fed linseed meal and he just gets given longer to warm up.

He is currently only being worked in walk but from being lame start of November to now he has come sound and is a lot happier. He will remain in walk work till the vet checks him again in 2 weeks to see if he can start small bursts of trot. He is certainly able to trot and canter full speed across the field when the herd has a hooly round

 

[jackessex]

hi my boy is 9 and got diagnosed with djd in both front feet and spavins in both back hocks,i took him barefoot last aprill and he has improved a lot since then,i try and keep him out as much as possible,and mostly you wouldnt know there was anything wrong with him now,although if he has to be stabled he comes out a bit stiff in the morn.

 

[mytwofriends]

My old man has the lot. He was injected in his hocks and coffin joints, then he had Tildren about 18 months ago, which all seemed to work for a short time. He then came up quite lame again, and I decided to retire him and whipped his shoes off. What a difference it made. His feet have grown to a very unorthodox shape, but apart from not liking stoney or uneven ground much (so I avoid it), he's so much better for it. He's ridden about once a week, turned out every day and is on no medication.

He's a happy bunny.