hocks

[B.F.G]

I'm sure my horse has arthritis in his one hock and so does vet, physio and farrier but for different reasons and experiences and at the same time they think he hasn't.
he was backed at 3.5yrs, left in a field for 6yrs as the (inexperienced) owner thought he had wobblers (been tested/examined since with me and no signs), brought back into work 5.5yrs ago and i've had him for 5yrs so kind of know all of his work history etc. he has always had an awkward gait with this hind leg and old scar tissue has been found running down the back of his leg so assumption is that it happened when he was a foal.
strengthening work over poles and hill work has been done with him and he has done amazing.
in the last couple of months he has had a bigger issue with the hind leg and rests it more than he used to, almost takes him a minute to get his leg working as it should, just kind of less lift until its woken up if that makes sense.
he has dragged his toe a fair bit, does have a few lame strides but not always. when he's been shod the last 3 times (done every 5 or 6 weeks as needed) he has been reluctant to put the leg down after it's been pulled forward and placed on the stand for clenches to be done, he's ok with it going backwards. no muscle difference in back or hind end, in fact has a good amount of butt muscle. no heat, swelling, bumps.
only thing that has changed is moving yards, the field is now on a slight slope and the path down to the field has an extremely steep slope which he has found tricky especially as he has to go slow so i can walk with him!
he has been doing great up until the other night when he had a big slip on the road, back leg slipped under (not anything new but the skid was long), he had yesterday off and today he just didn't feel right and was back toe dragging.
he doesn't seem to get worse being in, if anything i'd say he gets better from being in. vet said it could be suspensory, hock or something else and even said we can inject hocks and if that doesnt help then maybe go down the route of de nerving (if it's not bone obviously). just to add his work is mainly hacking although he had done xc, a hunter trial (all low level), local shows and unaffiliated dressage.

any experiences would be appreciated.

 

[nikkimariet]

Lameness work up? No point in guesswork.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Lameness work up? No point in guesswork.

Yes this get it nerve blocked so you know what your dealing with, could be just about anything so no point treating the hocks without knowing for sure.

 

[angel7]

Get a better vet.

 

[B.F.G]

flexion tests have been done but that is about it. they didn't want to rush in and run up bills so started with box rest and bute. flexion test was extremely positive so she did lower test too and he was better than other although still not great. he had his health check last week and was told hes looking good however he had a slide on thursday on the road and he's back to being off again. i am going to speak to a vet that i used last year (only changed vets dues to moving yards) and see if she can come out and see him as she's been his vet for 4yrs. as someone said above get a different vet.......not going to slate the vet as it makes a change they don't want to rush in and spend all money however i don't feel comfortable with her thoughts on him and don't feel she listens to what is said, just hears a few words here and there.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Getting a one stop lameness work up at horsepital almost always finds the issue(s) more quickly and costs less than multiple home visits by an ambulatory vet who does a bit of this and a bit of that over multiple home visits.

The horse will likely need all or most of nerve blocks, scans and x rays. It can take half a day.

An alternative is a fully equipped ambulatory vet who brings out all the diagnostic kit with them. There are some fully ambulatory equine vets now who offer that service.

 

[Elno]

You won't know for sure unless you x ray the hocks. Like others pointed out- you can get them done either at a clinic or an ambulatory vet with an xray machine.

Btw, very odd of the vet to talk about injections and especially de nerving when you don't even know for sure what the issue is. First you determine the cause of lameness, then you choose a proper treatment.

I would change vets.

 

[Landcruiser]

My horse presented as resting leg more but not lame, about 3 yrs ago. I had mentally noted it, but then his hock blew up, I got his hocks Xrayed (fully ambulatory equine vet, booked the x ray machine to come out when I booked the appointment). One hock was clean, the fat one had advanced arthritic changes and was career ending (we did TREC). The vet was amazed at how sound he had been, and still was, given that he had some nasty looking spurs and wear. He had a couple of rounds of arthramid which kept him gently hacking for a few more years - he was always very active and keen (and still is, at 26), and never lame in walk, and only about 2/10 in trot. He fully retired earlier this year. His hock remains fat, but is comfortable and he has no difficulty when having his hooves trimmed.

 

[holeymoley]

You'll need to go down full lameness work up route- see him walked and trotted up, x rays and nerve blocks before you can really make a diagnosis. If not insured it'll be a good couple of hundred pounds.