If hock injections don’t work?

[little_critter]

As title. My boy had his hocks injected with steroids, then 4 x cartrofen injections in May.
I think we got a bit of improvement for a few weeks but since mid Aug he’s been underpowered, on the forehand and reluctant to do more than dawdle. I now think he also looks lame behind (hard to tell on my own, will ask someone to trot him up this evening)
So now what?
(I will of course be speaking to the vet…but have others had minimal success with hock injections? What did you do?)

 

[sbloom]

It's common that hock issues are tied in to posture, it's not even really that anything else is secondary/compensation which is the way that vets see it - it's still rare for them to look at posture and compensatory movement patterns, and see that they are the cause. He's on the forehand so by definition there are postural issues going on, of course if he's lame then the vet is first stop, but read up on Celeste Leilani Lazaris, Louise Mauferon Osteopath, Encompass Equine Solutions...there are tons of others (I share a lot of their stuff on my page and profile on FB), we are so used to seeing minor postural issues that we don't see it, at all, so please don't take this as criticism. It's why we have an epidemic of these types of issues, and joint injections etc.

Good luck, it's awful when you realise a treatment hasn't solved the issue.

 

[rabatsa]

When hock injections did not work mine retired from all work and lived for a few years as a pasture ornament before pts.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I had one 18yr old cob who was medicated in both hocks, sadly it didn't work. V rare but it caused a breakdown of cartilage. Sadly he was def not a candidate for more than a week or so field rest, I had to make a v hard decision 8 years ago, as he started to struggle getting up.
As I say though, it's a very rare thing to happen.
I hope that with x rays and scanning that your vet can get to see further and advise on treatment.

 

[Birker2020]

I had chemical arthrodesis (ethanol fusion). Horse continued with SJ, dressage and fun rides for approx 7 or 8 yrs afterwards. Best decision I made.

The steroid injections and a course of 3 fusions of Tildren showed no improvement. I had to still choose my surfaces well and had remedial shoeing but I'd not hesitate to do it again although speaking to a professional recently I understand its no longer the preferred method of choice and there are better things out there now.

 

[Lady Jane]

It's common that hock issues are tied in to posture, it's not even really that anything else is secondary/compensation which is the way that vets see it - it's still rare for them to look at posture and compensatory movement patterns, and see that they are the cause. He's on the forehand so by definition there are postural issues going on, of course if he's lame then the vet is first stop, but read up on Celeste Leilani Lazaris, Louise Mauferon Osteopath, Encompass Equine Solutions...there are tons of others (I share a lot of their stuff on my page and profile on FB), we are so used to seeing minor postural issues that we don't see it, at all, so please don't take this as criticism. It's why we have an epidemic of these types of issues, and joint injections etc.

Good luck, it's awful when you realise a treatment hasn't solved the issue.

What's your Facebook page? Sounds like useful reading

 

[sbloom]

What's your Facebook page? Sounds like useful reading

That would probably put me the wrong side of the advertising rules on here, I used to saddle fit for little_critter before I relocated (but I'm not hard to find)

 

[HelenBack]

Have you asked your vet about Arthramid? It's a gel type stuff that they inject and it's supposed to provide cushioning for the joints, or something like that. Steroids only worked for my boy for about two weeks but the Arthramid was a real game changer and after that he felt the best he had in a long time. My vet says they're seeing a lot of success with it now and often it lasts for 18-24 months. I'd definitely go for it again over steroids.

Like everything it all seems to be vet preference, my vet isn't a fan of cartrophen but I know lots of others really like it. Definitely worth asking your vet's opinion in my view though.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I'm in the same boat. Sbloom is also my saddle fitter and I've been working on my pony's posture too but she does have arthritic changes shown in xrays and she is at best 1/5th lame behind even with Arthramid injections (steroids worked for 2 weeks, the second lot didn't work at all). I'm looking at fusing the hock. A couple of horses have had it on my yard and seen great success.

 

[AandK]

I would try arthramid before giving up. Fusion will only work if it is the lower small joints that are affected, my 9yo has some changes of the big joint (tarsocrural) due to an injury 3yrs ago, so he wouldn't be a candidate for fusion.

 

[sbloom]

The first fundamental to ask is, is it the hock, that the treatment hasn't worked on the hock? Or is it another issue that may or may not be decided is related (it almost certainly will be)? Your options are different depending on that answer but postural work will help with both potentially, after treatments as required. Injection is the window of opportunity to work on the underlying causes while the horse is pain free.

 

[little_critter]

I'm confident on the postural side of things. I have recently moved in with a trainer / friend who is very up on in hand / postural / correct working etc etc and we are working on this.
I know he has posture issues but watching him last night I can't help but feel that he looked unlevel behind and I suspect his posture problems (which have recently worsened) are a result of him not using his hinds evenly (I suspect the left hind is sore)