Has anyones horse had Cartrophen injections?

0ldmare

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Sorry I know this should probably be in vets but...

As per the title really, my 18 year old mare has been diagnosed with ringbone and the vet wants to try her on a course of cartrophen injections (1 per week for 4 weeks and then every 6 months after that). The insurance company has agreed to pay, but I would be interested to hear if it helped your horse please?
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My horse is on cartrophen at the moment he will have his last one next week.

He is on the injections for tendonitis and is also having shock wave therapy alongside the injections. The vet saw him last thursday after not having seen him for 2 weeks and the swelling around the tendon has halved in size
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Not sure if it is due to cartrophen or shock wave therapy or both.

So probably not the answer you were looking for really, but thought i would share. Would like to think the cartrophen works especially for the price
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Yeah I know what you mean about the price! (Thank goodness for Amtrust).

Its good to hear your horse is improving, sounds hopeful
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Thank-you, it is looking more positive now, but 3 weeks ago another vet just wrote (sp) him off, i spent the whole weekend in tears thinking he would have to be put down, it was awful as he is only 5 years old!.

Phoned veterinary practice the following monday with some questions, my vet was on holiday so i spoke to a different vet who said there was treatment available and if i wanted he would start it straight away. My new vet seems impressed with the cartrophen and has used it before with positive results.
I'm just a happy bunny that my poor boy is getting treatment and it looks more positive, my vet even said i was now allowed to get excited about his future prognosis.

Hope it all works for you as well, and yes i thank-god for NFU
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My vet recommended it for a horse i had with a nasty ligament injury. He had been on box rest for 8 weeks with little sign of improvement. He also had 1 per week for 4 weeks and the results were positive.

He may have eventually come sound without the injections but it probably would have taken alot longer.

Good luck with your horse
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Goodness how lucky your original vet was on holiday! I like the sound of 'being allowed to get excited about his future prognosis'! Vets are usually very guarded about the future!
 
For anyone who is unlucky enough to not have insurance to pay for Cartrophen their is an alternative, (I have nothing to do with this drug, only putting this on to help people out) it is called Pentosan and is exactly the same, just cheaper. If your vet writes you a prescription (which they have to do if you ask) and you google it, you can buy it online. We use it and it works well.
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My 7 year old mare was diagnosed with slight arthritic changes in her coffin joints two years ago. She had 4 cartrophen injections weekly then now has a six monthly one. Touch wood she has stayed sound, I was late with the last injection, she went a tiny bit pottery, vet came and gave her a cartrophen jab and within a week she was back to normal so I must say I think it is great stuff
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My very elderly mare had arthritis in just about every joint of her legs
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She had a Cartrophen injection once a month for 6 months which seemed to make little if or no difference.

As we were unable to manage her pain she was PTS before the winter came.
 
Sorry to hear that
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I was told by my vet that Cartrophen works best at preventing further deterioration of the joints so would work better on a horse in the early stages.
 
Hi, I know dogs are different to horses but...
my vet highly recommended Cartrophen for her arthritis. It treats the problem rather than easing the joints like glucosmine etc.
I believe it did make a difference to her, however, the injection itself made her so ill, that after the 3rd one we had to stop. My dog was so ill from it at one point in the evening after it I actually thought she had died!
My vet said her reaction was very unusual.
And of course she is a dog, not a horse!
Pointless of me to post really, must get a life! Good luck!
 
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