Hock steroid injections

[doodle]

If your horse has had these how long have they lasted for?

 

[Pippity]

My first lot only lasted six months or so, but that was because I'd turned her away over winter because of various other niggles. (Turned out to be a badly-fitting saddle that the saddle fitter had twice passed as fitting perfectly.) The current lot are about six months in and, with consistent, sympathetic work, she's still doing absolutely fine.

My old share horse used to need them about every 2-3 years.

 

[bouncing_ball]

If your horse has had these how long have they lasted for?

Depends if vet injected short or long acting steroids.

Short in hock typical effect 2-6 months

Long in hock typical effect 6-12 months

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Mine was reasonable for about 4 years afterwards but is now retired and very comfortable on a lot of Danilon but has chronic arthritis. Have you had x rays done? It would be beneficial, IMO, as you see the extent of the changes.

 

[doodle]

Minto had one aged 13 and never had another issue. But his was very mild. Top joint so we didn’t want fusion.

Cinnamontoast. Yes he has xrays last week which showed pretty bad changes in lower joint. Vet hoping for fusion. If it comes to Danilon then that’s what I’ll do but long term Danilon caused issues with Minto so would worry about that.

Bouncing ball. I didn’t know there was a difference. I would imagine long term ones not sure why would use short term. Really looking for actual cases.

I ask as these seem to have really helped him. Of course we will tell more when the vet comes back. I’m just thinking long term and trying to be realistic.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve had one injected once and they stayed good for a few years after, the other more recently has only lasted a few months.

 

[Irishcob6]

First hock injections for mine lasted 14 months which the vet was very pleased with - suppose it depends on workload, individual horse, severity etc

 

[tatty_v]

My boy’s last on average about a year. He just has steroids, I think there are potentially longer lasting ones (eg Tildren, athramid etc) but we haven’t needed those yet. I am expecting the duration to get shorter as he gets older (he’s 20 now).

 

[Merrymoles]

My lad only had his done in September but is doing well. So it's too early for me to say but vet was hopeful of six months minimum. His is a broken bone, rather than arthritis, however so it's more about whether the bone fragment settles. He is not 100 per cent sound but OK to be ridden gently.

 

[JulesRules]

Mine was done once about 5 or 6 years ago, and been good since.

 

[eggs]

One of mine was done about 3 years ago. X-rays showed only very slight changes but as he was working PSG vet advised injecting as he was very, very slight 'off'. Not had to be repeated yet

 

[Annagain]

Not hocks but coffin joint - first one lasted about 10 years (with a significant reduction in workload as well). At that point we knew the arthritic changes were mild and would get worse due to his poor foot confomration but we didn't expect it to take that long. X-rays after 10 years showed significant deterioration. The second injection lasted about 8 months - I stopped riding him over lockdown and when we tried to start again, he just couldn't do it. I think he'd got used to a certain level of pain when being ridden before and after a break wasn't used to it any more as he was pretty sound in the field. He had another injection in May but it didn't work so he's retired now - but he is 25.

 

[doodle]

Thanks everyone. I am less confident this will be a long term improvement.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Steroid injections in the hock joints on my bone spavin horse didn't work. He is now on osphos which seems to help!