Decision surgery for hock fusion(bone spavin)

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cellie

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I have just returned from the vets and he has suggested surgery for hock fusion.I know a lot of you have experience of bone spavins without surgery but wondered if anyone else had gone down the surgery route and if so how their horse dealt with it.The vet recommends this because he is a young horse only 6 .He will be on box rest for one month then restricted turnout for a month then all going well back to a fitness regime month walking etc.Its a quicker fix with a good prognosis just not what I expected.I have looked into fusion but thought it was going to be the long term with excercise and injections.This sounds a bit more dramatic but should have a quicker recovery period.Ill obviously take my vets advice but it would be good to hear if anyone else had experience with the surgery.
 
Well not exactly the same but..
my now 11 year old mare had arthritus in 1 of the unused joints in her hocks last year. To make it go away, the vets wanted to fuse it together as it had hardly any movement in it. I agreed, and 2 weeks later she went hopping lame.

It turned out she had reacted badly to the treatment, and her hock had collapsed. After a good 6 months box rest and another 4 months field rest I was able to start riding her again, and now she's back in full work. She's slightly unlevel behind but not in any pain anymore - however at the time they were uncertain of whether she would survive or what would happen.

Obviously this was for something completely different, and what happened to Willow was VERY VERY rare, but though you might like to know.

Good luck xxx
 
I don't know much about it but have heard a few stories- general consensus seems to me that the whole thing is a very bad idea and complete waste of time and the horses ended up worse? Do not quote me on this though, this is only what Ive heard on the grapevine.
 
Hi.

I must say, I disagree with 2008. My pony Alice was 6 when she was also diagnosed with bone spavin in both back legs. She had various injections which really didn't help....so....after deliberation and talks with the surgeon at Liphook, I decided to do the bilateral hock arthrodesis.

She was on box rest for 6 weeks over the summer which was horrible, and the walked in hand, and then turned out for 4 months over the winter (bit backwards). So....February 2007 she came back into work. Got on the first time....sound as a fiddle.....and has been ever since. She is now back to FULL potential...jumping 4ft ish (not regularly...) .

The prognosis is about 75% successful, less for both legs, but really, in the long term, the injections will cost more. Once the lower hock joint has fused, that is it. The problem is gone. Although obviously there is now some restriction in the movement, I have found that the pony's back legs move better than they ever have done before.

If you want any more information, message me....I have bought various articles, and can also go through in more detail.

Really, at that age, if you think they are worth it, have tried the injections and they are insured, unless you want to retire or just happy hack, do it.

Second opinion is a good idea. Depends if they have taken xrays tho - if they have, any vet can tell bog spavin.
 
Similar story to Alapacia01! My daughter's then 6year old 15.3hh IDxTB went lame shortly after we bought him (he'd been hunted in Ireland as a three year old). He was diagnosed with a bone spavin in his near hind hock and although we went down the road of various injections, he remained lame. Rossdales in Exning, Newmarket, recommended arthrodisis and he had surgery just over three years ago. He had a month's box rest with about ten minutes walking in hand twice a day, then resticted turnout, but he wouldn't stay in his electric fenced pen and the vet who treated him at Rossdales took the decision to just turn him out as normal with his friends as this would be less stressful for him than seeing his pals and charging around his pen trying to escape! I can't remember how long we rested him for in total. My local vet told me, after about six months (at a guess!) to stick him on bute and ride him. We gradually reduced the bute over the following months and I'd say within a year from surgery, he was completely sound. He's currently on loan to a good friend (my daughter has outgrown him but we wouldn't part with him!) and she adores him! He's a super little horse, and has the most comfortable, easy jump imaginable!

I'm really glad we agreed to Piper having surgery - I don't know what would have happened to him if we hadn't gone ahead with it.
 
Hello again
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well you already know from my previous responses about Pidge's hock spavin. but to summarise diagnosed 8.5.07. injections, bute, and NJS, and month of walk and trot, then month of walk trot and canter and then jumping beginning of August. All in all only took just over 3 months for Pidge to be diagnosed 100% sound
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In fact pre treatment no lateral work however much I tried, after well he's fab
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Just my opinion of course but could you not try the injections and then work him and see how he goes before resorting to an operation?
 
Yes, we tried injections and I would say that they are the first step, as they would be definitely have been nicer than the surgery. If you had not had those, speak to the vet..if he says nothing...depending on where you are, ring Liphook in Hampshire and ask for a second opinion, they have one of the best orthapedic sections in the world

The pony was never on bute...never seemed in pain. All she had was sedalin once in a while...(she could see galloping horses).
 
Thanks everyone I have had second opinion from my regular vet and the specialist.The injections are a possibility but they think he is too far gone to be any real help ,the surgery looks the better option for recovery.It was also mentioned that the injections might wear off after anything from 2 months to a year then we would not have cover for surgery.This vet has already done surgery on a horse the same age and he is confident that this is the right route.Im speaking to the insurance company at the moment so will keep you updated.
 
His operation is booked for wednesday ,we have had the all clear from insurance company.Just sleepless nights now hoping that we have made the right decision.Thanks for all the advice .If you have anymore info I would be gratefull.
 
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