Hock arthritis best treatments and outcomes?

[sparky1981]

So sadly my horse as recently been diagnosed with arthritis in his hocks. 4/10 lame before flexion. 7/10 after. Worse on the right hind but not great on both and also suspected suspensory problem. He is also lame in front but less so in both fronts but could be because of loading on the fronts because of pain behind. He’s a 15.2 Connemara rising 13. Is injections the best route or is that just going to wear off and take us back again? As anyone else managed things in a different way?I have resigned myself that at best he will be a happy hack but keeping him sound enough to just do this and be happy enough is my ultimate aim. Experiences would be great thanks

 

[Red-1]

I have known a lot with this, and they have been injected but then put onto lighter work, so straight line hacking. They all stayed sound long term, unless worked on the school or jumped, when it would return.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My 13 year old Connie had Cartrophen for hock arthritis for a year and while there was an improvement I decided that a daily sachet of Danilon was more effective. He has had mild laminitis from concussion so steroids into the joint were out of the question and he has a thickened suspensory in the left fore which has healed and doesn’t cause any problems at the moment. Currently a perfectly sound muddy field ornament while he has no shoes on for the winter but he is allowed to jump up to 60cm occasionally, does fun rides and hacks regularly all summer. He never goes near a school and sadly he can’t go to the gallops any longer as the going in both are to deep.

 

[sparky1981]

Thankyou both this is helpful. The vet has already injected his coffin joints at the front and we were going to do his hinds but I’m leaning towards just hacking him and as you say bute either as and when he needs it or daily but hearing other ideas and experiences is super helpful

 

[ITPersonnage]

As someone who has arthritis, the best thing you can do to help him is to keep the weight off and keep him active, both in terms of light hacking but also turnout. Steroid injections are great but they do wear off so usually need repeating, but painkillers are also a blessing. If a horse "looks" stiff and sore they really are as they mask a lot of soreness. Best of luck with him. My old girl also used to appreciate Back on Track hock boots in winter. Some people swear by boswelia.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

As someone who has arthritis, the best thing you can do to help him is to keep the weight off and keep him active, both in terms of light hacking but also turnout. Steroid injections are great but they do wear off so usually need repeating, but painkillers are also a blessing.

This was exactly my thinking with giving Danilon. I too have arthritis and take drugs daily which make my life so much easier and while I don’t think I would give Bute long term and do use a stomach protector for him he is a different pony now. Still a grumpy old git but rolls and gets up with ease.

 

[Michen]

Oh gosh that is quite lame. My Connie also has the same but never more than 2/3 tenths after flexion. He has had two lots of steroids pretty much 12 months apart. I am very careful to have him vet checked every 2/3 months as his lameness is subtle so I wouldn’t know if they had got bad again, last time the only sign was an issue travelling and he had literally been checked a week or two before it started so it can flare up very quickly.

He does everything bar hunting as he has a ligament injury that’s healed but I won’t risk. So low level eventing 80/90. That said I don’t over train him- so no jumping week in week out or schooling overly hard etc- he does lots of hacking.

He is shod with lateral extensions although is barefoot at the moment which he will be for around 4 months as I like their feet to have a break every year.

Sorry edited to add he also has tildren, which I found more effective for him than steroids though the combination of the two brings him 100% sound post flexion.

 

[SEL]

Arthramid gel injections were game changers. My mare wouldn't bring her hind legs forward for the farrier but now the right leg is just like any other horse and the left - which has a bone spur - is ok so long as he uses a low stand.

Expensive but less lami risk than steroids - which wore off in weeks for her.

Then she strained a suspensory ligament just as we were coming back into work ?

 

[angel7]

Arthramid gel should really become the first line treatment, the research is out there for its effectiveness.
Steriods are cheap but risky in good doers. If more gel was used I believe the price would come down.
Not sure why its so expensive as the same volumes used in cosmetic surgery are not as pricey...

 

[Michen]

Arthramid gel should really become the first line treatment, the research is out there for its effectiveness.
Steriods are cheap but risky in good doers. If more gel was used I believe the price would come down.
Not sure why its so expensive as the same volumes used in cosmetic surgery are not as pricey...

Why? It’s also a last resort in that you can’t put anything else in there once you’ve done it.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Have you had x rays done? Mine were shocking but after cortisone injected into the joint (that brings it’s own risks, infection etc), I had bonus years of him staying sound and in light work. He was on 2 Danilon for 2 years until I lost him last week. He had lots of bone fragments up and down the area around the hocks. They could have been removed but the vet said it would just reoccur and I felt that the risks of a general anaesthetic outweighed the benefits when he was mostly sound and comfortable.

 

[angel7]

Its the thinking that its last resort that I think is the issue.
Steroids can still be given 30 days after the gel injection but isnt usually needed as 82% of cases improve so much after 2 doses of gel.
Steroids only reduce the inflamation of the joint but the gel actually improves the interior cartilage and synovial linings.

 

[angel7]

Bute can still be used of course, but if the gel doesn't work theres little chance the steroid will...

 

[Goldenstar]

I would go for gel into the hocks and osphos which is done IV .
I am a big fan of gel .
I now put into all of mine as a precaution when they are about ten .

 

[Tiddlypom]

Subject to vet approval I wouldn't mess about with steroid injections in future - more risky and shorter lasting than Arthramid.

But neither of my hock jab horses were ever as lame as the OPs, so I'm not sure quite what to suggest. 4/10 lame before flexion is pretty lame.

Both of mine initially had steroid jabs in their hocks, the effects of which wore off quite quickly. Followed by Arthramid, which has lasted for 16 months in each horse so far and counting. One had Arthramid in both front coffins 2 years ago and is still doing well in front too.

 

[spotty_pony]

My boy has been having steroid injections in his hocks since he was the same age as your horse - he is now 22! He usually has them every other year and has just had them done two weeks ago - they improvement in him is very noticeable and he is a lot happier after having them medicated. He was only 1-2/10 lame before flexion though.

I made the decision at diagnosis to stop all schooling, lungeing and show jumping. We have only hacked and hunted for the last 9 years as Vet said circle work would shorten his ridden life.

Now at 22, we hack out approx 3 days per week and I am careful with the ground, etc and go very occasional steady hunting. I feed him pure Boswellia in his feed, and he had as much turnout as possible and is currently still out 24/7 except for in wet and windy weather.

 

[SEL]

And I'm going to do my stuck record of making sure you rule out PSSM because tight muscles can make any lameness in the hindquarters so much worse - & the prognosis for recovery a lot worse sadly.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Why? It’s also a last resort in that you can’t put anything else in there once you’ve done it.

Is that true?

 

[Michen]

Is that true?

That's what I've been told, although not sure/can't remember if it was my vet who said it!

 

[tiga71]

My 23 year old has recently had his hocks injected with arthramid andit seems to have done the trick. I won't be jumping him anymore but we went for our first fast hack today since his treatment and he was in fine form.

He is a good doer and lives out in a massive field so I didn't want to risk lami with steroid injections.

He wasn't xrayed as at his age we thought the likely issue was hocks. He was only 1/10th lame after flexion.

He hasn't been schooled for a while but he will just be hacking now with the odd jump on a fun ride if he feels good.

 

[sparky1981]

Thankyou so much for your replies. My worry is how lame he is and I’m semi toying with pretty much retiring him but if comfortable enough light hacking him maybe twice a week. He has loads of turnout mainly 24/7 in summer and 6.45am till 5pm daily in the winter. Can anyone suggest any helpful supplements?

 

[Regandal]

Boswellia or Devil’s Claw. Both proven to reduce inflammation, boswellia has the added benefit of slowing arthritic progression (in humans). You need something with a minimum of 55% boswellic acids, if a seller won’t tell you then their product probably contains less. Both of those are also pain killing.

 

[HelenBack]

That's what I've been told, although not sure/can't remember if it was my vet who said it!

My vet initially said that but is now saying you can put more in later on if needs be and I do know people who have done this.

My horse is another who has done well with arthramid when other things either didn't work or didn't last long. He only hacks now so I'm hoping to just keep him going for as long as possible with a bit of danilon now and then if needed. If he does need more in the future though I think arthramid is what I would ask for.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Boswellia is great for mildly creaky horses but the OP's horse, if still 4/10 lame, needs proper prescription anti inflammatories.

 

[Goldenstar]

That's what I've been told, although not sure/can't remember if it was my vet who said it!

Defiantly not true .

 

[sparky1981]

Thankyou for your replies a lot to think about

 

[Slightlyconfused]

My vet initially said that but is now saying you can put more in later on if needs be and I do know people who have done this.

My horse is another who has done well with arthramid when other things either didn't work or didn't last long. He only hacks now so I'm hoping to just keep him going for as long as possible with a bit of danilon now and then if needed. If he does need more in the future though I think arthramid is what I would ask for.

My friend had it repeat after 4 years so you can put more gel in.

 

[throwawayaccount]

my mare has bone spavin in her hocks, she had ethanol and Tildren and then steroids. she was also having shockwave for her back (all under insurance/vets advice at the time)

I think so much was thrown at her its hard to say which made the difference positively, I had a few short weeks of being able to ride and even though she was the 'best' she'd ever been she wasn't quite right. she went back to the vets and all I can say is after the steroids she never came right again and is now retired. I wish I had been warned by my vets of the risks of steroids as she then got a bout of lami and then cellulitis. after this I just retired her

good luck with your connie x

 

[Birker2020]

Why? It’s also a last resort in that you can’t put anything else in there once you’ve done it.

You can't with chemical arthrodesis either (using Ethanol). But the cost of the ethanol injection is about £1.70. The cost of the contrast dye and injection 'techniques' and the xray and the 'xray interpretation' is what brought the cost up to £700 with the two hocks treated.

 

[Welshiefan84]

Hi is it true you can have two doses of arthramid is that close together I thought this was the last chance if this first dose did not work. Been going so well then at eight weeks he is lame again, farrier coming to check for abscess later.