Coffin Joints and Cartrophen

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Dressagediva86

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I'll try to keep this brief but my internet research isn't giving me the answers I need.
Basically I have a 10 year old warmblood. Last year he went slightly lame and we couldn't work out why. Bute and box rest came sound but once off bute was 1/10th lame.
Went to vets for lameness investigation and came back with inflammation of coffin Joints and beginning of bony changes.
Was given Thildren and a course of cartrophen injections.
After a careful rehab he's now in full work and better than ever. We've been competing and I'm so pleased with him, however the last few days I've been niggling about his feet. He's sound and moving forward but there is something I cant put my finger on. I do treat him like he's made of glass and the minute anything isn't right I worry it's his feet again.
When he had the treatment the vet said to keep an eye on him and call them out when I thought his injections were no longer working. However they expected them to last a year. It's been about 9 months.
I'm am going to get the vet out to take a look but the one thing I'm most concerned about I can't get any real answers for. I know every horse is different but basically how many times can you realistically do these injections before they stop working?
He's still a fairly young horse and I would like to have a good few more years with him.
We don't jump, we don't really go out pounding the ground and we don't do anything to put too much stress on his feet.
What else can I do to keep him comfortable as long as possible?
I love this horse and he owes me nothing so I will do anything to keep him sound and happy
 
I treat my dressage horse with 6 monthly courses of IM pentosan (generic form of cartrophen). To be honest I'd be inclined to do that for any performance horse. Similar cost to daily decent oral joint supp and arguably more likely to be effective support
 
If mine and it was a possibility I would be taking his shoes off. My chap had a coffin joint DJD diagnosis but injecting did not bring long term sustainable results. Without shoes I think it has meant he has developed his own shock absorbers and he has been sound the last 4 years and back in full work. Do some reading and see what you think :).
 
Thanks. How long have you been doing this for? I'm worried about longevity as the vet couldn't really tell me how long this would work for so trying to collate some data myself
 
You would need to get the feeding perfect and the conditioning program right and be sure he has no metabolic issues like EMS, EPSM or Cushings. Take a look at. Rockleyfarm.blogspot.com for inspiration. Plenty of support available on here and other forums if you decide to go for it. Personally, I'd have those shoes off this afternoon :)
 
Agree with YBCM, but would add that you need the support of someone who knows what it takes to go through transition with a horse exhibiting these type of feet. It can be done, but needs careful management.
 
Hi. I had remedial shoeing and cartrophen injections for counter rotation in hind pedal bones. Although I think they band aided over my horse's issues and made her more comfortable initially - once back into hard schooling/ exercise I was back to square one. Lame behind- bute- vets bills.

After £2600 and 2 years of remedials I had had enough. I was sick of the worry and stress and decided that I didn't want to ride my horse when she wasn't feeling 100%- I wanted to ride her firing on all cylinders!!!! So what was a few months off - if I could get her healthy comfortable and happy?

I had researched barefoot for quite a few months and made sure I fully understood why I was doing it and put a plan in place to remove the shoes. This meant changing the diet well in advance and getting prepared with some kind of boot or padding to protect sore feet.

I enlisted help from a very good trimmer who has been a god send. We are about 7 weeks in and still in the walking in hand phase. Now up to an hour- (I'm getting fit too- my bum is shrinking- another bonus!!)

I do not know yet if this will be my miracle cure but what I do know is that my horses feet are looking sooooo much better and it is astounding how quickly her feet have repaired.. And how even to my novice eye I can see the positive changes going on in her feet. The first few weeks were scary and difficult as at times I questioned my sanity as my horse looked really sad and sore. But I have seen it with my own eyes - a massive improvement!!

And hey -ho you know what if it doesn't work at least you have tried and you can always go back to shoes (but i bet you don't)!!

Good luck whatever you decide- hope it all works out for you xx
 
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