noblesteed
Well-Known Member
Hi all, looking for advice on my oldie and whether or not to have his arthritic hocks injected this year or just manage on herbal pain relief.
My connie x andalusian is 18 this year. He's had hock arthritis/spavin for 3 years which is managed annually by steroid injections. 2 years ago had an injury to a hind leg which was operated on and resulted in removal of annular ligament in one fetlock. He's come back from it fine and been in normal work for a year now. I am suspicious it was partly due to a change in his hind leg action after his steroid injections.
He was always a good doer but over past 2 years has been dropping weight, I assume due to age and now he has to be fed to keep it on. That's not a problem. He's a happy hack ridden 2-3 times a week, walk, trot, canter, popping the odd ditch or log. He got lami last summer - he's had it a few times in the past too - due to ridiculous grass growth, he wasn;t fat but his sensitive system like most iberians meant he came down with it quickly and was poorly for 6 weeks. It's always in his back feet we think due to steroid injections being in hind legs.
So his annual steroid injections are now due and I am terrified if I get them done it will start off the chain of laminitis just in time for spring. He always has 2 weeks box rest and lami diet after injections but I am trying to weigh up whether or not it is fair to put him through it again. His hocks are stiff but they are not terrible and I find he does OK on devil's claw and regular riding.
But if I leave the injections and he suddenly does need them I will be stuck as the grass will have grown through and lami will be a huge risk.
Any thoughts?
My connie x andalusian is 18 this year. He's had hock arthritis/spavin for 3 years which is managed annually by steroid injections. 2 years ago had an injury to a hind leg which was operated on and resulted in removal of annular ligament in one fetlock. He's come back from it fine and been in normal work for a year now. I am suspicious it was partly due to a change in his hind leg action after his steroid injections.
He was always a good doer but over past 2 years has been dropping weight, I assume due to age and now he has to be fed to keep it on. That's not a problem. He's a happy hack ridden 2-3 times a week, walk, trot, canter, popping the odd ditch or log. He got lami last summer - he's had it a few times in the past too - due to ridiculous grass growth, he wasn;t fat but his sensitive system like most iberians meant he came down with it quickly and was poorly for 6 weeks. It's always in his back feet we think due to steroid injections being in hind legs.
So his annual steroid injections are now due and I am terrified if I get them done it will start off the chain of laminitis just in time for spring. He always has 2 weeks box rest and lami diet after injections but I am trying to weigh up whether or not it is fair to put him through it again. His hocks are stiff but they are not terrible and I find he does OK on devil's claw and regular riding.
But if I leave the injections and he suddenly does need them I will be stuck as the grass will have grown through and lami will be a huge risk.
Any thoughts?