Hock arthritis

[Horsegirl25]

Hi all just looking for some advice on the above topic. I posted a thread about issues I was having with my 8yo welsh D and a lot of people had advised a lameness assessment.
The vet came out and felt he was mildly lame behind, long story short she nerve blocked his hocks and he came completely sound with her doing that. She didn't have the stuff to x-ray him yesterday but is going to do this when she comes back out to inject his hocks to be 100%.
I have decided to go with arthramid instead of steroid injections just with him being a native, I am very cautious about lami.. Has anyone used arthramid before? What did you think of it? The vet said it's not a 100% method as sometimes it doesn't work it just depends on the horse, however since his is mild she was hopeful it would help.

Is there anything else I can do to help him? He is only 8 so I am aware we have a long long future of keeping up with injections etc. What about supplements, magnetic boots etc - do these even help or are they a bit of a gimmic?

I have no experience with this at all, he competes BE and we have done up to BE90 successfully. Is this the end of the road? If the injections are successful will we still be able to compete, he loves XC. The vet seemed hopeful that with injections etc he would be able to still event.

 

[SEL]

There's a lot of posts - mainly positive - about it and it would be my go-to now before steroids.

Sometimes it's just bad luck with hock issues (mine was diagnosed before she'd even been in work) but getting a good physio / bodyworker in who can recommend exercises to build strong muscles is also a good idea. Often the hocks get overloaded when the quads are weak. I wouldn't want to recommend exercises without seeing your horse though.

Hoof balance is thr other area I'd focus on. My littlest cob has wonky feet (from x ray) and has remedial shoes to help reduce the pressure on joints up her leg.

 

[Birker2020]

Yes hoof balance like SEL said and increase your shoeing cycle if necessary to do this.Keep his weight down as much as you can. Increase turnout, less or no trotting on the roads, put him on a proven joint supplement. Spend more time warming up especially when it's cold.

Spavin is more a management issue than anything. Arthramid wasn't around for my horse but I went for joint injections, then Tildren and went both failed chemical arthrodesis which in 2010/11 was the 'in thing'. I was able to continue to compete my horse for another 5 plus years including low level SJ and unaff dressage.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Both my horses have hock arthritis they are older though 19 and 20 now, they have had the gel and steroid in the past and it's always worked.

Mine don't jump but we do hacking and schooling.

 

[minesadouble]

We have a teenage mare who has had steroids twice and Arthramid for the first time in January this year.

The steroid worked but effects lasted about 5 months (she's by no means crippled without but her giveaway that she's feeling her hocks is randomly going disunited when jumping).

I think the Arthramid has worked better than the steroid and she's still currently sound with no disuniting 8 months on from the Arthramid. In my personal experience and awful lot of competition horses have their hocks medicated routinely.

We try to keep her out of the arena as much as possible as I think schooling on a surface is the enemy for all horses, let alone those with hock issues.

Our mare hacks and does affiliated WHP. We are planning to retire her from competition after the BSPS Winter Champs and she will then become a happy hacker. The Arthramid has worked brilliantly for her and I would definitely recommend.

 

[scats]

Both mine have hock arthritis. Millie has arthramid in her hocks. My vet told me that arthramid doesn’t always work aswell in the hocks as in other places, but it seemed to with Millie.

Management wise she is in light but regular work. Lots of walking hacks of 20-30 mins, then maybe 1-2 light school sessions a week. I allow her to warm up at her own pace and don’t expect anything spectacular early on in the session. I let her take her time to warm up (which took some getting used to from me!). She doesn’t jump other than maybe an occasional tiny log or cross pole.
If I lunge it’s on a big circle. She does also have mild navicular.
I have her on a Devils Claw supplement.

 

[Goldenstar]

I am a big fan of using arthrimid I have had good results however I usually opt to do steroid as well to really settle the joints .
It’s take a little while to see the result ime if you use only arthrimid .
The other things that help the most is keeping the horse slim and keeping it in work and living out if you can .
However if I had to chose between fat or part stabling I would part stable ,use muzzle's, feed only straw whatever it takes to get the horse as light as you can .

 

[Peglo]

My 8 year old has just been diagnosed with this too. It’s just small changes and I think where they are arthrimid wouldn’t work for her. (The vet didn’t think it would work anyway)
Mine is also a native so I’m concerned about lami so plan to do blood tests before steroids but they think it will help. We’re also thinking doing a course of cartrophen

I’m going to put her on a joint supplement. After a look on here I suggested YuMove to my vet and she agreed it would be a good one and I have magnet boots from previous horses so will stick them on incase. I noticed a difference with one of my oldies when she wore them I think so it won’t hurt.

Good luck with your horse.

 

[IrishMilo]

Lots of horses have hock arthritis and especially as it's mild I think your chances are good! My vet really rates both Arthramid and CBD.

 

[paddi22]

biggest thing I found with any my hock arthritic ones was leaving them out 24/7. I can see the difference in the days they might need to stay in the odd time. and doing a proper long warmup and definitely doing moves like shoulder in, leg yields as part of daily practice in arena or hacking have helped them stay supple.

 

[Xmasha]

My daughters horse has hock arthritis and has had steroid injections in the past and they seem to work well. Took him back for a check up recently expecting to have them injected again and vet was thrilled with how he was moving. Said no need to medicate again (for now) he even commented as to how light on his feet he was. But we have changed what he does, he now just hacks and does a bit a schooling with me. Physio also commented that he feels the best he has done in a very long time, no sore areas /stiffness etc
My advice would be to see how he feels after and keep up physio appointments to check for any sore areas and be prepared to change what activities /disciplines you do

 

[Horsegirl25]

Thank you everyone for all your replies, although not great I am feeling hopeful reading what you all have mentioned above. It is very mild, so mild that he isn't obviously stiff or anything it was just I noticed him not tracking up on occasions. Hopefully since we have caught it early it's a positive!

I have a lot of things to research now!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Arthramid is especially effective on hock arthritis when caught early, my vets describe it as a ‘game changer’ for the treatment of hock arthritis.

It has a genuinely therapeutic effect as the gel adheres to the articular surfaces, smoothing them out. It’s not a painkiller as such, it has a more mechanical effect.

My vets prefer to inject steroid + Arthramid at the same time for the best effect, but will swerve the steroids if there are contra indications in a particular horse such as additional lami risks, and just use Arthramid. They’ll treat both hocks in a single day.

Good luck.