Hock arthritis.

[poiuytrewq]

What’s good now?
Supplements, boots, wraps, injections. What else Is around and reccomended?

Do joint supplements prevent issues or can they really reverse some damage already done?

Nb- have contacted my vet and am waiting to hear back just interested in what’s helped others.

 

[lynz88]

1 bute a day and 1 cartrophen injection every 4 weeks keeps mine ticking over. It's been 3 years since the last steroid injection into the hock and is needing another. I also found him to be more comfortable barefoot than in shoes.

Depending on how bad it is, I know of others that can be managed on boswelia or devils claw. I haven't tried devils claw but boswelia wasn't strong enough so went back to the bute (it did get him to about 75-80% of where the bute gets him to so not altogether too bad).

Joint supplements themselves...well I am not entirely convinced that there is something that truly works but I guess depends on how bad it is. I do find that MSM is very helpful overall and is cheap and chips. Arthritis to my knowledge, is degenerative so no reversing but management is key to slow the process down.

Long warm ups, limited circles, and keeping them generally moving is also very important.

 

[Goldenstar]

Arthimid ( and other similar products ) ,would be at the top of my list .
Steroid injected in the first instance then arthimid although in some instances vets now do both at the same time .
Weight control if the horse is fat get it slim .
Regular appropriate exercise you need to work this out on a horse by horse basis because it’s not one size fits all .
A work programme that follows the general path of a Kissing spine rehab to get the core and thoracic sling really strong .
Regular physio and or massage type work to keep the muscles right.
I have had great result with one horse by using the supplement Bosmerix .

 

[ycbm]

When I looked there was some evidence that 4Cyte could reverse damage. It looks very expensive, but the dose is tiny so it really isn't. I was recommended it by a vet and it was astonishing how it removed the filling from Charlie's fetlock joint after a few days. Unfortunately that also meant he lost the cushioning of the fluid and went lame, but that was very different from a bit of hock arthritis.
.

 

[lynz88]

Would also echo GS on regular physio work as they will lock themselves up in other ways given the compensations.

(I've not heard of Bosmerix - will look it up!)

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks, some to look at that I’ve not heard of or don’t know much about.
4Cyte is a new one on me, Arthimid I’ve heard of but never experienced so will look at both those.
Boxmerix I had a friend who had amazing results so that’s a possible.

Basically, this is the TB I retired a few years ago, got home more recently and found that other than being stiff he didn’t seem to have his main issue anymore, which was tripping.

So he’s not in work. Im incredibly lucky to have a friend who’s helping me out with loosening him off, giving him regular laser and electro magnetic treatment and advising on a bit of groundwork to just see what happens.
She is working on him weekly at the moment and there had already been improvement.
So he’s walking out in hand, which we actually both seem to enjoy! Im also doing other bits, tail pulls, tummy lifts turn on the forehand and such like to see if moving helps.
We just wondered if a- the hocks will loosen up the more he moves (hand walking and exercises)
Or b- we inject now and hope that gets better movement from the beginning.
Or some other options.
Maybe being in work regularly will help in the long run.
He is barefoot behind but I have shod in front since he came home as he had to walk over stony entrances and couldn’t.

 

[Abacus]

The biggest difference to mine was living out, and keeping him in steady regular work. I’m lucky enough to have a great sharer who rides him at the weekend and goes for long hacks mostly in walk. But 24/7 turnout keeps him from seizing up and probably does a similar job to more intense physio or work plans as mentioned above (though I’m not knocking these). He’s on about 4 acres, not massive, but the constant mooching about must help. He’s 26 and on fine form.

 

[poiuytrewq]

The biggest difference to mine was living out, and keeping him in steady regular work. I’m lucky enough to have a great sharer who rides him at the weekend and goes for long hacks mostly in walk. But 24/7 turnout keeps him from seizing up and probably does a similar job to more intense physio or work plans as mentioned above (though I’m not knocking these). He’s on about 4 acres, not massive, but the constant mooching about must help. He’s 26 and on fine form.

Mine seems to have stiffened up in his two years out. It was pretty muddy where he was though so i think that didn't help. He is now in for the day and out all night every night on much drier land.

 

[Goldenstar]

Being out all the time does not help all of them in all situations. When Fatty retired the first winter I kept him out he was miserable and stiff the next winter I stabled him at night in the worst weather he was a different horse .

 

[ihatework]

One steroid, then arthramid

 

[Tiddlypom]

Both my regular vet and my chiro vet describe Arthramid as a ‘game changer’ in the management of hock arthritis. It is an inert gel that becomes bound to the articular surfaces of the joints and reduces the painful grinding of bone against bone. It has a genuine therapeutic effect.

My vets routinely do Arthramid + steroids at the same time for the best results, as both work in different ways and they complement each other.

Whilst it’s not cheap, it’s not stupid money either.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Mine had Tildren and since then regular physio and is on 4cyte. Tildren made a huge difference overall (he has mild hock arthritis and kissing spine) and physio every 6 wks keeps him well and avoids compensatory movement due to any niggles. Just started on 4cyte to keep things good as vet said Tildren is pretty much a once and done approach as it can cause issues. Another horse on our yard also had it, one who was competing at a decent level and also benefited massively.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Both my regular vet and my chiro vet describe Arthramid as a ‘game changer’ in the management of hock arthritis. It is an inert gel that becomes bound to the articular surfaces of the joints and reduces the painful grinding of bone against bone. It has a genuine therapeutic effect.

My vets routinely do Arthramid + steroids at the same time for the best results, as both work in different ways and they complement each other.

Whilst it’s not cheap, it’s not stupid money either.

Out of interest roughly what is not cheap?!

I totally maxed out my insurance policy, bank balance and life on this horse
I’m really hesitantly excited that we may be getting better but I really can’t start chucking too much cash away again.
That sounds awful doesn’t it but we never got any real answers the first time round.

 

[Alibear]

As well as the steroid, arthramid and tildren mentioned.
Equioxx tablets can be effective and are more targeted for joint pain relief than bute. Possibly also gentler the stomach.
The do work out around £1 per day, but so do a lot of the supplements.

 

[HopOnTrot]

We are off to the vets tomorrow to get hocks looked at, steroids are off the table but I’m going to ask about Arthrimed or platelet/plasma?? therapy (my instructor was telling me about it, it’s made from their own blood?).

I think hers are quite mild but being 100% will help her work through from behind which will help her KS.

 

[Peglo]

I put a pair of Equi SteamZ magnetic bands on my old TB. When I took them off to clean and dry them I’m fairly sure I noticed a difference in her stiffness. I’m not actually sure I believe in that kind of thing but I didn’t think it would hurt to try and it did seem to help.

I wouldn’t recommend them over veterinary treatments obviously and she was on joint supplements until she needed bute too but used the bands as well.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Ive had great results with steroid and arthramid, i use arthramid instead now she has cushings and i like that the arthramid protects the joint.

Mine is slightly stiff atm out as the ground is so muddy and boggy everywhere, so sometimes in for the worst of the winter/ground conditions is preferable

 

[Zoeypxo]

Fwiw i had both hocks done August 2022 1 syringe in each it costed £700 inc call out and sedation done at my yard. I think itll need doing again this year but it has been worth the money for sure

 

[Love]

Not read all replies so may have been mentioned. Mine was diagnosed with the start of OA in both hocks last summer. Before diagnosis I noticed a huge difference when on NAF superflex senior (it does also spice him up though just as a warning). Have tried both the normal and senior version and senior far better. Then arthramid has been amazing. It took a bit longer than was expected to fully kick in but I feel I now have my old boy back again. Highly reccomend both. My physio also suggested feeding boswellia alongside the superflex but I didn't notice any further improvement and I'm suspicious it started to make him girthy so stopped it.

 

[Magnetic Sparrow]

Steroid injections then Cartrophen have been very successful for two of mine.

I want human Cartrophen

 

[SEL]

I'd got straight for arthramid - wasted money doing steroids first IMO (although they work for some)

About £600 from memory.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

For people using 4Cyte where is the best place to buy it from?

B has had Cartrophen but it didn’t last very long on him so I won’t use it again. I can’t use steroids either as he’s an ex laminitic and would like to use Arthramid but he is in the vets on Friday for molar extraction so can’t really afford it at the moment. I looks as though the 4Cyte might be a good stopgap before having both hocks done before he comes back into work.

 

[minesadouble]

Our mare has just had Arthramid, it was £900 for both hocks, 2 vials.
The steroid totalled around £350 for both hocks if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[Cowpony]

Arthramid only works if you still have a big enough gap in the joint. Mine didnt, so we are back on the steroid injections. Vets were very definite about keeping on riding her to keep her moving.

 

[ozpoz]

Steroid injections then Cartrophen have been very successful for two of mine.

I want human Cartrophen

So do I - I emailed the Aussie clinic where it is being trialled (Pentosan) but was turned down on location reasons.

 

[lynz88]

My vet wanted to be part of the human trial

Arthramid only works if you still have a big enough gap in the joint. Mine didnt, so we are back on the steroid injections. Vets were very definite about keeping on riding her to keep her moving.

This is good to know as I have a very very small gap and was going to ask but seems it won't be suitable. Either way, bute and regular cartrophen. I tried having mine out 24/7 and wasn't for him- he lost a lot of weight especially in winter and wasn't sleeping

 

[Tiddlypom]

My wonky mare has very little space left in one hock, but nevertheless my vet got the Arthramid in successfully. It does take patience and skill, and she checked and rechecked the placement of the needle on x Ray several times before depressing the plunger on the syringe.

It’s worked very well (Arthramid + steroid).

 

[Zoeypxo]

My vet wanted to be part of the human trial


This is good to know as I have a very very small gap and was going to ask but seems it won't be suitable. Either way, bute and regular cartrophen. I tried having mine out 24/7 and wasn't for him- he lost a lot of weight especially in winter and wasn't sleeping

A friends horse had very little space very advanced arthritis and they gave arthramid a go after steroid did nothing, it did make him sound for 12 months

 

[lynz88]

Good to know in case steroid doesn't do anything this time around.

 

[Peglo]

Can anyone explain the difference between cartrophen and arthramid or is it just a brand difference? As far as I’ve read it seems to do the same thing or would you use it for different scenarios?
Sorry to derail OP.