Diagnosing arthritis

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LCH611

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I would really like some advice as to how easy it is to diagnose arthritis in the front knees of a middle-aged pony. What sort of diagnostic tests would be carried out, what would the knees look like? The pony has some (very minor) muscular atrophy across the shoulders and tricep, and was evidently quite resistant to having the foreleg on that side yanked about. He also doesn't seem to passively lock the knee especially well. He seems marginally more lame behind than in front.

How quickly can arthritis develop? Said pony had a five stage vetting 11 months ago with a very experienced equine vet & he made absolutely no mention of overly rounded knee joints. The pony sailed through the flexion tests at that point.

In the event that it is arthritis, what sort of useful future is the pony likely to have? He is a jolly, cheeky but safe child's pony with a nice little jump and is easy to keep in so far as he doesn't need to wear shoes, doesn't get sweet itch or laminitis.

Thanks
 
It will depend on your vet, he may want to go through nerve blocks,trot ups or work on a circle, flexions etc then x-rays or if the area is more obvious go straight to x-ray, the problem with the short and cheaper route is that something may be missed.

As the pony is middle aged, I assume late teens early twenties, the arthritic changes will be progressive, the pony may have been fine 11 months ago if vetted but gradual progression has now become a clear unsoundness and making him uncomfortable.
It sounds from your post as if you have had a physio or similar to look at him and that they have had concerns about underlying reasons for the muscular issues, if so they have done the right thing be referring you to your vet for further tests, they cannot treat a lame pony or diagnose a medical problem but through experience will have an educated guess.

A pony that is happy to work, even if that is restricted by arthritis, should still be useful, with some medication and sensible management ought to be able to go on for some time.
 
Thanks for replying BP, in fact the pony has not been seen by a physio or similar. He was out on a loan with a view to buy and was supposed to be paid for now. He has been a really good boy all summer, but loaner said that she has never been entirely happy that he was sound.......... I therefore asked her to get a vet out, but not very much seems to have been done in the way of diagnostic testing. She has said that she that she doesn't think the knee is very stable, he is uncomfortable when the leg is held up and pulled around and is 1/10th lame behind in a straight line when he is first worked. She thinks that the knees "look arthritic" because they are quite rounded. No flexion tests have been done. She advised the loaner not to buy as she thinks the pony will soon not be able to straighten (or was it bend?) his knees. That does sound to me as though it is quite a large leap from being marginally lame, when ridden, on a circle.......

For various reasons (that I completely sympathise with) having a pony with arthritis is a complete no-no for the loaner, but I am keen to understand if arthritis can be diagnosed in this way, or whether it could be a number of other things.
 
A physio may have done more than the vet:confused: I would think that flexions should have been done, a 2 stage vetting type of examination, it is why if ever I let a pony go on a trial it is always after being vetted, you have no idea what has been done with him in the time they have him on trial.

I would say the vet has made an educated guess but it would not be a real diagnosis, any more than if it failed a vetting for the same reason. It almost sounds as if they were looking to get out of the purchase having had the use of him over the summer, if he was not quite right he should have been looked at before now, not waited until the money is due.

I would get him home ASAP, give him a few days off then get your own vet out to have a look, he may just need a break, some physio on the muscles and a bit of tlc. Being slightly lame behind is nothing to do with his knees, he may be getting arthritic as he ages but I would not be writing off a good childs pony yet.
 
Hi

My horse has recently been diagnosised with arthritis in her knee. For the last year she had been on-off lame, particularly on a circle. Then more recently she has became consistently lame. However she was only ever lame in front, not behind.

Looking back she could be a bit 'funny' about having that leg held up for the farrier/ picking feet out. So some of the symptons with your pony could point to arthritis - but you really need a vet to examine him - the earlier the diagnosis the better the chances of them staying in work.

My vet carried out a lameness exam, flexion tests, nerve blocks and x-rays.

Good luck
 
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