Does anyone know a vet expert on Hock Spavin?

P

Pidge

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 June 2005
Messages
5,088
Visit site
Apologies again for this not being in vets.
Vet has rung back and I asked loads of questions. No to giving Pidge Adequan injections. Prognosis is guarded to good for a full return to work. Keep him on the bute for a couple of weeks until it has settled down. gradually over 3weeks increase amount of turn out. Exercise him rather than school him, starting off 30mins wef Thursday walk and trot on a surface and 30mins walk hack. ETS: no remedial shoeing required.
So cost is not a problem when it comes to my boy. Are there any vet experts on this problem that my vets could talk to? Is it cheeky of me to ask my vet to contact such an expert? I just want the best that there is for my boy.
Brought him in just and friend trotted him up, not too bad just bringing the bad leg underneath him a bit. Bless him he though I stuck his ACP in an apple and he spat the whole thing out wasn't interested in apple at all - however when I fed him the ACP as "sweeties" he took them fine and then had the apple
tongue.gif
 
Simply ask for a referel to your nearest equine hospital if your not happy with your vets advice.
 
Mike Archer at the Royal Veterinary College in Potters Bar dealt with my horses VERY unusal case of hock spavin.There are only 68 known cases the same as my mare had an he was exceptional Deals alot with the states and is very up to date with his info.!!!
 
I am happy with what the vets are doing, I just want to be sure that there is nothing else that could be done, hence wondering if there are any experts out there, like Derek Knottenbelt is with GS, Sarcoids etc?
 
OK I am going to be honest, I think you are blowing this WAY out of proportion at the moment *ducks* I can understand that you are worried, but I would follow the advice of your vet and reassess in a month. No doubt now I have said that it is going to come back and bite me on the bum, but for now STOP reading scaremongering articles on the net (DO NOT type Hock Spavin back into Google EVER!!!!!!!!), let nature take its course. There is precious little anyone can do ATM as far as I am aware whilst things are forming (happy to be proven wrong), so try and breathe and relax for now - OK!

Big hug to you xxxxxx
 
Are you sure? I just want the best for him. I'm worried sick about him if I'm honest! don't worry about people's responses to your post as I would rather people were honest that's what this forum is all about after all sharing experiences and advice. Thanks for the hugs much needed. xxx
 
The top orthopaedic surgeon in Europe is Sven Colt who is based at Willersley, Glouc (nr Badminton). He operated on friends WB hock a year ago. Horse is competing dressage and doing fun rides etc. I believe you dont need to be referred to this hospital (could be wrong though).
 
I just read your other post, sorry to hear about the spavin, but as others have said it's not the end of the world.
I think I would be looking for a referral given that you appear to have been offered minimal treatment so far
 
thanks both, will have a bit of a think about what to do next. Will see what he's like hacking Friday and take it from there. Oh and will try and relax...............
 
Chloe was diagnosed with arthritis, and bog spavin in her hock a few months ago. We gave her sometime off, and thought the worst (even blacksmith was thinking she'd have to be PTS) as she couldn't hold her leg up at all.
However she's improved after cortaflex and time off, and is now back in work. She's had a couple of months walking out and has just started working in the school again.

Personally I'm with Weezy on this one. I'd relax, take it a day at a time with him, and see how he is after a month of hacking work. I'd be reluctant to be thinking about operations and invasive work so soon into his lameness.
Hugs, I understand how worried you are xxx
 
Sue...follow me.....breathe in.......and out.....and in.....and out.

There, do you feel a bit better now?

I can't give you any expert opinions on Spavin, but I will say that you are reacting worse than me, and I'm the worlds worst panic merchant (Weezy and Tia will testify to this!)
tongue.gif


If I had to pick arthritis, I'd pick Spavin before I'd pick DJD in the fetlock or low ringbone, or even coffin joint arthritis for example.

I do agree with Weezy that you are over reacting to some degree. However, on the other hand, I'm a bit shocked that your vet's approach is of the "suck it and see" variety. I'd be expecting your vet to go down the Adequan or Synequin routes at the very least, especially seeing as you're prepared to pay for the treatment. Of course, Patches and Pidge's condition may not even involve the same bones which could account for the difference in treatment. Do you have copies of your x-rays?

Yes, it's not the best news on the planet, In an ideal world Pidge would be perfect. You need to remember and rationalise that no horse in work escapes wear and tear on their joints and the prognosis is good for him returning to full work. Vet's never promise you a 100% return to work, they can't, for fear of litigation if your horse doesn't return to soundness. I genuinely do not believe that Pidge will be written off, work wise, from this at this time or at any time in the near future. It's not like he's been lame on and off for years with it.

It's interesting that you think he's stepping under more with it. Patches didn't track up, I would expect him to not track up on the Spavin affected hock. She didn't like walking downhill (classic spavin symptom) and dragged her hind toes (more classic spavin signs).

I know it's hard for you to believe people right now. I accept that Pidge plays a very significant role in your life since the untimely death of Dave, but please, try not to over react and worry. It will ruin the time that you do spend with him. Try so hard to enjoy him Sue.
 
thanks Clare have calmed down a lot from today, also came on today so that probably didn't help either
blush.gif
sis is now peeing me off by telling me I need to lose weight to help Pidge (no idea what I weigh but I'm inbetween a 14-16 clothes size) and won't stop ringing me despite me telling her I don't want to talk about it
mad.gif

I think you've met your match in being a panic merchant
tongue.gif

Didn't get copies of the x rays and to be honest they wouldn't make any sense to me anyway.
Its weird to explain his action but its like he's bringing his hindleg underneath him but sideways not forwards? Like really bad brushing but just with the one leg.
Thanks for being rational with me
grin.gif
 
You know, his action sounds more and more like Patches! She swings her leg to the outside, almost like dishing with a hind leg. Vet said that was more to do with the slight stringhalt action she has. Hasn't changed since having her hocks treated. She does flex the joint more though.

I know it's not good news to hear there is something wrong, but it really isn't the end of the world. You will have some good years with Pidge to come.

As for weight, I've no idea what you weigh, but it'll be small fry compared to his weight and he carries himself around all day!
 
just take a few steps back and calm down! one of mine was diagnosed with spavin a couple of months ago, she had problems with the canter transition on the right rein, and was slightly short on her right hind on the lunge, and what was most worrying was the sudden onset of stringhalt type symptoms, she had steroid injections into her hock joints, and a course of adequan, which she has just finished, she had to have 2 weeks off then back into full work, she is only uncomfortable now if she has to canter on a deep surface, such as the school in all this dry weather - it's hard for me to walk on let alone for her to canter in! - spavin doesn't automatically mean the end of the world, unless you are high level dressage or 3 day eventing then most horses carry on as normal once the initial problem is settled, it's the settling (fusing of the joints) that takes the time, i know someone who's horse is now 100% sound after 18 months on/off lame due to spavins, he's doing what he did before. with my horse i keep tight canter circle to a minimum - although she did bog off with me today - and do what she feels comfy doing, TBH i think you would be highly surprised by the amount of horses who have spavin that are out doing normal activities, so try not to worry too much
smile.gif
 
still can't understand why vets won't give him Adequan as lots of people said their horses had it? do I ask again or just leave it?
glad to hear your horse is back to near normal, our outdoor school is nice at the moment cause of the rain but before that was vile! Just need to take a bit more care of him then as to what surface I ride on. thanks xx
 
I think he doesnt want to give adequan as he just wants the bones to fuse so rather then giving a tempory fix (as the effects of HA and steriods wear off as the do not cure the problem or fuse the bones). I hope you're feeling a little more positive today.
 
Ah I see, thanks for that. Yes am feeling much more positive today, thanks again for all the advice. xxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top