Hock arthritis

[Tashagrahamx]

Hello
I have a 8 years old thoroughbred mare that was diagnosed with kissing spines , mild hock arthritis of the lower joints and si pain in February . she had steroid injections into both hocks and 3 weeks later had her back medicated we started her rehab and in April she went away for rehabilitation . while she was at rehabilitation they weren’t happy with her progress at the beginning as she was still reactive along back and si so they called there vet out to take a look and she ended up needing her si injected and her hocks were redone with arthramid. this made a huge difference straight away and her rehabilitation came along amazing there was no reaction to her back or si and we began ridden work. she completed her rehabilitation and re schooling and came home 6th July. Everything has been going well I have kept up with hacking , schooling and continued pole work and rehabilitation while she was at home . all of a sudden her right hind leg started giving way only when ridden under saddle she had only been home 3 weeks at this point , vet was called and they found a splint to her hind right leg I was advised to stop riding until splint had settled and was no longer painful it had been 5 week and vet told us to now introduce hacking at walk and see how she goes I did a week of walk but now she feel uncomfortable on both hind legs , dragging both hind toes , right hind still giving away only when ridden and hind end just wasn’t working like the front end so vet was called again and they have xrayed her hocks and splint results showed hocks are now mild to moderate and splint is still painful but they aren’t concerned about it but she is now sore on her si and sensitive along her back I feel like am back to square one and I think these hocks are possibly causing all theses issues due to compensating or has the splint possibly set everything off again ? I heartbroken and confused what next to do some people have recommended getting her hocks fused but am worried incase it doesn’t work can anyone offer any advice please

 

[Landcruiser]

Is she an ex racer?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Was going to ask the same as Landcruiser.

I do think when they have multiple issues that are all sort of connected its just so much going on for the body that it just sort of falls apart.

Have they ever scanned the suspensories?

 

[Tashagrahamx]

She was trained to race but didn’t actually race due to juvenile knee fracture she was then used as a broodmare . She had a nuclear scintigraphy done back in February which only showed the kissing spines , mild hock arthritis and thickening of the si. She came galloping across the field tonight to be in and pranced across the yard to her stable. I wasn’t sure if the splint has maybe cause the pain which is why the leg was giving away then not being in work has that maybe caused the hocks to flare up then the si I dunno it’s all just a bit of a puzzle

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've only ever experienced splints that don't cause lameness Louis had one on his front leg that was literally as big as an egg, but he never took a lame step with it but it did take over a year to go down and it's still there but much smaller now.

His never had hind splints but his got hock arthritis and he had a suspensory injury on the left hind, he very occasionally has a give way moment on that left hind but his 19 years old.

I think in your situation I would get scans done on the hind limbs.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

Am not sure if she’s slight lame because of the split or the arthritis or possible something completely different , splint palpitation she is reacting to so it must be sore or something in that area is sore. It’s weird because that hind leg only gives away when she has saddle and me on board so must be with weight on her back. I think I may have to have the vet back out for further tests. What signs did yours show for suspensory injury ?

 

[nutjob]

I would also get the hind suspensories scanned. I've had one with a bilateral problem so the horse wasn't lame but was not pushing from behind, had muscle wastage on the hindquarters and was very reactive and unpredictable to ride. Another which only had a problem with one was visibly lame but the amount of damage was more serious than indicated by the low level lameness. The only way to really check it out is with ultrasound scan, especially if the horse may already be having issues with the SI and hocks.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

Thank you I think that may be our next step , her cannon bone was x-rayed would that show any suspensory issues or is scans best ?

 

[nutjob]

You need an ultrasound scan. Good luck, she has a lot to contend with but it's best to get the whole picture before you start chasing one thing after the next. I also think that the kind of rehab normally recommended for the SI may not be the best if there is a suspensory issue also.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

No definitely thank you for your helpful advice I have a little gut feeling there is also something else going on so hopefully a scan will help

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yes definitely need scans x ray will only show up bone issues.

It's not that expensive most vets have a portable scan machine.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

Yeh am going to do that before nerve blocking and considering fusing hocks fingers crossed we get some answers soon

 

[sbloom]

Am not sure if she’s slight lame because of the split or the arthritis or possible something completely different , splint palpitation she is reacting to so it must be sore or something in that area is sore. It’s weird because that hind leg only gives away when she has saddle and me on board so must be with weight on her back. I think I may have to have the vet back out for further tests. What signs did yours show for suspensory injury ?

The riders weight makes so much more difference than most of us realise. I can't help.much with the medical advice but would recommend you read widely about posture and compensatory movement patterns. So often rehab isn't changing the movement patterns that were the biggest cause of the issues in the first place, but simply fitten and strengthen the horse within those patterns. Different "lens" but an important one. Polework etc seldom improves dysfunctional movement unless done by an exceptional practitioner, most that I see is simply overloading the horse by adding more stress.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

Thank you that’s definitely something to look at when we get her sound to re start her rehabilitation

 

[Alibear]

Scanning suspensories is definitely a good idea first, as if they're bad, then you have a bigger challenge. With the issues throughout her body, I'm surprised they haven't mentioned any systemic treatment to stop the bone overgrowth. Like tildren or osphos, especially as you say, the hocks show signs of arthritis progressing.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

Yes I feel like these hocks our possibly causing the si and back issues and if I can’t get them under control she’s going to keep having a sore back , steroids haven’t work so not sure what my options are after that

 

[Tiddlypom]

It can be very hard to work out what is affecting what when horses have multiple issues .

Having been through it you can be on a hiding to nothing trying to fix yet more problems that occur after you think that you’ve cracked the main issue.

Hocks, SI and suspensories are often linked. I’ve got the first two sorted but the suspensories remained the weak link.

 

[Tashagrahamx]

Thank you I think our next step may be suspensories then possible bone scan I feel like giving up but she’s such a sweet mare and when going she’s fantastic