Hock arthritis in a younger horse? And KS diagnosis

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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My lovely Louie was diagnosed with arthritis in both hocks today. He's not been himself for the last few weeks and struggled with a flexion test last week. He had steroid injections into the joint hopefully they work. He is however only 8 and I always think of arthritis as an older horse thing. I'm just sad this will effect the rest of his life.

The other worrying thing was when his spine was xrayed he had one vertebrae touching and possibly causing discomfort but it may just be his hocks so we're going to wait before we pursue his back further. Having lost a horse to KS recently I'm absolutely heartbroken and slightly worried about his future but feeling quite confident he's a much better candidate for surgery than Andy ever was.

Any positive experiences welcome, I'm so sick of things going wrong and just want a healthy happy pony again.
 
Kokopelli said:
My lovely Louie was diagnosed with arthritis in both hocks today. He's not been himself for the last few weeks and struggled with a flexion test last week. He had steroid injections into the joint hopefully they work. He is however only 8 and I always think of arthritis as an older horse thing. I'm just sad this will effect the rest of his life.

The other worrying thing was when his spine was xrayed he had one vertebrae touching and possibly causing discomfort but it may just be his hocks so we're going to wait before we pursue his back further. Having lost a horse to KS recently I'm absolutely heartbroken and slightly worried about his future but feeling quite confident he's a much better candidate for surgery than Andy ever was.

Any positive experiences welcome, I'm so sick of things going wrong and just want a healthy happy pony again.
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Unfortunately I think hock arthritis is pretty common in quite young horses. My gelding had it in both hocks aged just 8. Sadly by then he had terrible KS too. Hopefully you have caught it early enough to reverse any damage to the back as usually it is the hock problem which causes the back problem rather than the other way around.
 
Seems odd it's so common in young horses.
The xrays showed a very healthy spine other than this one veterbrae and the vet said the op would slice a part of the offending veterbrae off. He seemed quite positive about the prognosis so fingers crossed.
 
Nope definitely hock arthritis confirmed with x rays. Other tests showed no issues thankfully. The vet actually thinks the two are not related, he's just a compact pony so not too much space for his spine.
 
Sorry to hear about your horse. My 7yo was diagnosed with lower hock arthritis in August. She had steroid injection after a Bute trial in Sept and has been very lightly hacked over the winter. I booked my first lesson in January since the injection, and she was lame on that leg, so assuming the injection has worn off. It shows up more in trot in circles than in walk. Sorry this isn't very encouraging. Hope you have better luck with yours
 
Sorry about your horse. Do you know If the vet included HA injection aswell as steroid? I ask because my horse was diagnosed last May and first injection only lasted until end of Aug..so 3.5 months, she was only just getting fit again by then. Vet noted that horspital had not used HA and reinjected her in Sept with HA included and thus far she is still sound (touches wood), it's possible of course that a second injection without the HA would have lasted longer second time in..don't know how this works..but do check and ask about HA for future treatments if it wasn't used this time around as it is said to give longer lasting affect.
 
My Harry was diagnosed with arthritis in both hocks aged 8. He had an operation to fuse his hocks, it was really successful and my RI always said he was sounder than most horses she knew! He is now retired (aged 12) but thats because he is a bit dangerous to ride! I would really recommend the operation. I dont know anything about KS (thank goodness) but good luck with that too.
 
i had two diagnosed with the same! one 9 and one 12. both working fine now.. have to work them long and low and keep them in work so they don't lose muscle. Also need to keep them on supplements for it, but both (touch wood!!!!) are going better than ever and haven't needed more injections yet. I'd swear part of it is them living out 24/7 though with their heads down grazing.
 
My homebred eventer was diagnosed in 2013 at the age of 7. She has large bone spurs on the the lower front of both hocks, almost certainly brought on by being vastly overweight and worked on hard ground as a 5 year old (not by me, I might add!) The steroid injections were given then, but I didn't see any difference. She was only 1/10th lame, and eventing successfully at intro. I've had her ever since on tumeric, nothing else, and put her in plastic shoes which have been a revelation. She's going better than ever, and jumping clear around Novice BE courses. Every horse is different, but correct supplementation and shoeing is key with this IMO. According to my vet, she shouldn't be able to jump at all, let alone find 1-15m easy! Don't give up hope.
 
Thanks all for your stories, especially nice to hear of the positives. He seemed a happy boy this morning but was bleeding a tiny bit where the injections went in. Is this normal?

What's weird is the lameness is so small that he would have passed a 2 stage vetting. But normally where he moves nicely he just looked average hence the further tests.
 
This is something I would try turmeric for. Look for the turmeric users page on facebook for info. I'm not normally one for these things, but it is an natural anti-inflammatory and I have seen it have great effect on a few horses and dogs now.

One of the retired horses here is a hulking great 17.1hh warmblood who is only 7 years old and has it in both hocks. His is quite severe so his owner decided to just retire him to a life in huge fields with friends and nice hills to keep him in condition. He's doing really well and the constant movement of being out 24/7 has done wonders for him. He was really tight and uncomfortable when he arrived but he flies about the place now with not a hint of lameness.

If the vet is positive, you should be too. It certainly doesn't have to mean the end of a normal or even competitive working life, either issue, so try to stay positive xxx
 
From a human point of view I have arthritis in a hip, and have reguarly had steroid injections. Personally I find they wear off in 6-8 weeks, but you can't have them more frequently than every 3 months, so don't expect permanent results. Also recommend glucosamine, tumeric and cider apple vinegar, not cures, but definately help. Gentle, regular work, lots of time to loosen up before asking anything. Hopefully you'll only need to manage it until fusion happens.

My old mare managed for years (full work including jumping) with careful management. Try to keep any excess weight of them, avoid concussive activities, be aware they will be stiffer in cold, damp conditions so ask less and warm up better then. Do your best to keep muscle condition good, as that will help them move well. Less and often is better than occasional heavy bursts. Also turn out as much as possible to maximise movement. Don't give up, you could have a comfortable pony for many years.
 
Kokopelli said:
My lovely Louie was diagnosed with arthritis in both hocks today. He's not been himself for the last few weeks and struggled with a flexion test last week. He had steroid injections into the joint hopefully they work. He is however only 8 and I always think of arthritis as an older horse thing. I'm just sad this will effect the rest of his life.

The other worrying thing was when his spine was xrayed he had one vertebrae touching and possibly causing discomfort but it may just be his hocks so we're going to wait before we pursue his back further. Having lost a horse to KS recently I'm absolutely heartbroken and slightly worried about his future but feeling quite confident he's a much better candidate for surgery than Andy ever was.

Any positive experiences welcome, I'm so sick of things going wrong and just want a healthy happy pony again.
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I think it is WAY more common than most people believe, especially in horses doing anything other than very steady hacking! I did the intramuscular injections for YO's young showjumper a few years back and that went on OK as far as I am aware. Vet told me she was seeing more and more cobs with it as people see them as good allrounders and push them harder than they are really designed for. They were bred to do lighter farm work, take the family to church on Sundays, go hunting on Sundays with the farmer, but generally much slower work than they are used for nowadays. Interesting.
 
My horse was also diagnosed with hock arthritis as a 6yr old in sept! I've currently turned her out for for winter, but the vet said if fusion happened she could be lightly competed again if she was happy. :) so going to start up again in the spring with hacking and see what happens, hope it all works out for yours.
 
My horse was diagnosed with arthiritis in both hocks and in the hips, in early July, she had just turned 7. A day at the horsepital for diagnosis and she was given injections in both hocks and in the hips. So far so good.
She is worked about three times a week by my daughter and once or twice a week by me. We were told by the vet to keep her in as much work as possible, without being silly. The only issue we have is that she bucks on the first canter strike off, or if you ask for collection before she has warmed up properly. She can jump but doesn't really enjoy it.
Lately I have noticed that there is flexion in the hocks although the toes do still drag a bit. She is far happier and more forward going.
 
My old pony was 'retired' from a riding school aged 4 with hock issues.

He was passed from pillar to post for 10 years as a childs pony, always very naughty (pain?)

We only hack, and he's been a saint, including hunting. Aged approx 30, he's in work, and is quite happy to trot for 10 miles, and indulge in canters and gallops whenever the opportunity presents. Only ever lame for us once in 15 years - 3rd day of pony club camp, following schooling, so I figure it's the circles that hurt.
I put his 'recovery' down to not schooling, and living out on rough ground.
 
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis.

My friend's horse got diagnosed with arthritis in his hocks aged 9/10. One had already began to fuse and the other was on its way. Vet said to keep him on bute until it fused, then continue with joint powder and normal work. She kept him in work (straight line/hacking only) as the vet said that it would help the hock fuse. He was sounder than ever once the hock had fused, and she's back to schooling him normally/mad gallops around the woods/bits of SJ (small, like 2'6/2'9 only). He's on a really good joint supplement - can't remember the name, but it smells like bananas and the tub looks like protein shake stuff!
 
My ex racer boy was diagnosed with bone spavin and hock arthritis at 5. He had one set of injections and three years on has been fine ever since doing UA SJ, dressage and eventing. He's on a joint supplement and I put magnetic boots on him at night in the winter. If he is on box rest or has to stay in for any length of time he stiffens up but it soon eases off after exercise.I have been advised not to lunge him and to give him a good warm before schooling. Had the vet out recently because he didn't feel quite right and I thought perhaps his hocks were troubling him again but the vet was very impressed with his range of movement. He passed the flexion test. Turned out it was a saddle issue and nothing to do with arthritis or hocks. So I think after all that waffle, I'm saying the diagnosis/prognosis might not be as bad as you think.
 
My 4 yr old has bone spurs, which will become arthritic. He may have his hocks fused if not totally sound this summer. I understand that this will help

My friends mare had hers done at 7
 
claracanter said:
My ex racer boy was diagnosed with bone spavin and hock arthritis at 5. He had one set of injections and three years on has been fine ever since doing UA SJ, dressage and eventing. He's on a joint supplement and I put magnetic boots on him at night in the winter. If he is on box rest or has to stay in for any length of time he stiffens up but it soon eases off after exercise.I have been advised not to lunge him and to give him a good warm before schooling. Had the vet out recently because he didn't feel quite right and I thought perhaps his hocks were troubling him again but the vet was very impressed with his range of movement. He passed the flexion test. Turned out it was a saddle issue and nothing to do with arthritis or hocks. So I think after all that waffle, I'm saying the diagnosis/prognosis might not be as bad as you think.
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How old is he now?
 
Have you thought about bone scans or thermal imaging for the KS? I know of lots of horses where KS showed up on xray but they haven't shown as being "active" on scans. If/when the arthritis is sorted you may find he shows no more symptoms of pain anyway.
 
Thanks for the replays all, I'm feeling a little more positive now. He's doing gentle hacking atm and seems quite happy so I hope it continues.

annagain said:
Have you thought about bone scans or thermal imaging for the KS? I know of lots of horses where KS showed up on xray but they haven't shown as being "active" on scans. If/when the arthritis is sorted you may find he shows no more symptoms of pain anyway.
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Definitely the route we are going to go down if we don't see an improvement from the hocks as the vet doesn't think it's his back causing the behaviour. The only problem is now it's flagged on the insurance after 12 months it will no longer the covered and realistically I can't afford the operation.
 
Mine ex racer was diagnosed with hock arthritis last year just before he turned 8. He had injections as well as tildren treatment. But I don't entirely know the vets thinking as his hocks had almost fused as it was.. He did come sound but he certainly wouldn't pass a vetting!

He's maintained on cortaflex, turmeric and magnetic hock boots. He wears the hock boots while I tack up and do bits and pieces and I can tell if he hasn't worn them when I get on. He still needs a longish warm up but is moving a bit better than before, although his movement is pretty short behind, especially in his right hock. I would be interested to re xray now to see what the difference is since last year.

He's still in full work, hacking, schooling, jumping, hunting etc. But I'm careful about hard ground and over doing it with him. I have noticed the last few days he's felt a bit off at the beginning, not sure if it's the weather or maybe he's not doing so well but will see how he goes a bit longer. Once he's trotted forward for a bit he feels okay and is happy to jump when before he often put in stops.
 
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