Hocks

SSM

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So Donkey has had her hock drained twice - synovial fluid -

We took a tumble out hunting rather like Bambi skidding on the ice.

Not one has she been lame, hardly under flexion even, however on both sides of the joints we still have swelling where the for want of a better word fluid sacks have stretched. It is the first thing judges notice at the two shows we have been to - This weekend they said she was unlevel because she struck off on the wrong canter and looked hollow through the back - following evening instructor agreed she was NOT unlevel - she was bored and fed up after a 3 1/2 hour wait for our class.

Anyone else who has been through this - do you have any other ways of getting this swelling down further as I am not convinced draining again will do it, it is of course better in the evening after a day out in the field - but we have the Royal next week and she will have to be stabled the day before.

She is wearing magnetic boots at night.

Thanks!
 
Be careful having them drained as you can deplete the synovial fluid which is necessary for keeping the joints lubricated.

My horse had a lot of joint effusion in one hock (classic bog spavin) caused by a cartilage chip (he smashed his hock in the stable, the idiot). After the chip was removed and the joint cleaned out, the effusion remained, but was considerably reduced by an injection of HA and anti inflammatory steroids directly into the joint. He also gets oral HA (Conquor gel, google it). This has brought the joint back pretty much to normal.

Similarly, horse has never been lame and is sound on flexion. Joint looked UGLY before the surgery/injections.
 
Ok, probably not what you want to hear, but Bloss has synovial fluid on her hocks - after having it drained once times it just came back. Now she has arthritis in both hocks. She has large fluid lumps on both hocks, but on the inside and around the joint if that makes sense.

She gets very stiff and was on mobifor when she was stabled at night - now she is out 24/7 i dont give her a joint suppliment as shes walking around all day if that makes sense.

Also i get fluid on my knees, have had them drained about 6times now (3 times for each) and had cortizone injections. I also now have mild arthritis in my knees.
 
Thanks will look up the oral gel, however vet gave her HA but would not give her steriods due to the laminitus risk.

There is no bone fusion on xrays
 
I've had my knees drained too, and subsequently have been told that this has advanced the onset of arthritis..........am now on a waiting list for arthroscopy (same op. as my horse LOL).
 
no it wasnt actually as she was always sound when ridden altho took ages to warmup and id have to do it carefully in walk - i mainly put her in foal because ive always wanted to breed with her and it seemed like the best time to do it. i couldnt ride her on hard ground or trot on roads etc as that would affect her the following day. Shes always lame on flexion tests too, and if she was stabled and then i took her out and trotted her up she would be lame too.

its one of the reasons why i probably wont bring her back into work tho, im undecided yet.
 
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Is this why you put her in foal? Only asking as that has always been my plan for Donkey next year.

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WB stally? Or perhaps a TB??
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Did you tell the judges she'd done it out hunting? IME they don't mind so much when you tell them this (depending on the judge)! Would rubbing some limament into them take the swelling down slightly.
 
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