Help, Please

[lucym]

Hi, my horse has recently been diagnosed with sacro illiac disease, an arthiritic condition in the pelvis. She was prescribed 1 month of one sachet of bute a day, and then a further month on 1/2 sachet a day. I was told to lunge her daily, which has been done, to help build up muscles, and support the area.
However after all of this, she is no better, and is in pain when she has to use her back end, i.e. when lunging.
The vets have said that I have a few options...
1/Put her down
2/Retire her, or only light hack her, whilst keeping her on 1-1 1/2 sachets of bute a day
3/put her in foal, yet she couldnt be on any painkillers

I do not know what is best, and I dont want to lose her, but I do not know if it is wise to keep her on a high dosage of bute, shes only 14, so has a long way to go. She does seem quite happy in the field though.

Any advice would be welcome, I just dont know whats best.

 

[Happy Horse]

Personally I think your options are 1 or 2. I think putting her in foal and not allowing any painkillers would be putting her in uneccesary pain and the process of giving birth would be agony. I have known horses live quite happily on Bute for a long time - why not look at option 2 and see how she goes? If she is really not happy you can alway make the decision to have her PTS at a later date.

 

[kildalton]

I don't know where you are, but my daughter's horse was treated by a brilliant physio after being written off with sacro iliac disease. I would have thought lunging would have been very pain ful for her, and not encourage her to use herself properly.

 

[lucym]

i think number 2 will probably be best, fo now. Its just my parents are paying livery to keep a horse in a field and not do anything, and I cant move on and consider getting anything else, whilst I still have her, due to the money.
Do you think putting her on loan to a loving family, that just want to hack would be an option? I realise that no one will buy her, but it could be an option (?)
I just want whats best

 

[lucym]

i'm in devon.
we have tried physio, and it helped for a few days, but then she reverted back. The vets told us to lunge her in a pessoa, so we did, but she was in pain so I stopped. I really wasnt fair

 

[AmyMay]

Think you may be wise to get a second opinion on management.

A horse at my previous yard was diagnosed with this two years ago. He was turned away for 6 months, and then brought very carefully back in to work. He is remedial shod, supported by a joint suppliment - and touch wood has made a wonderful recovery.

Obviously like with most things - each case is different. But don't give up hope yet.

If you decide that your options are only 1, 2 or 3 - then whatever you do don't put her in foal.

 

[samp]

My horse was given option of retirement or PTS - as he would never showjump. That was going back 8 years now and since then he has gone back out to affiliated SJ, XC, Dressage and hunted. I would not write him off. I had the great help from an Equine therapist and he went to her yard for 2 weeks intensive rehab - horsewalker, massage, laser treatment and then ridden - best thing I have done also had to wear weighted boots and get my saddle converted to flair. I am so pleased with the response we had. The insurance paid for it. Downside being they are best West Kent