IRAP -Anyone familiar with this treatment

J

Joyous70

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 August 2010
Messages
1,947
Visit site
My vet has mentioned IRAP as being a possible treatment for my boy, who has not responded to hyonate/steriod injections for coffin joint arthritis.

Does anyone have any experience of this treatment, if so could you tell me if it was succesful etc.? I am considering this as an option, however, as we are not insured its a big decision to make cost wise.
 
Yes!

One of mine was diagnosed with mild-moderate coffin joint arthritis (following an old pedal bone fracture) in October last year. He responded to steroid injections but the benefits were very short-lived (less than a month each time), so my vet suggested IRAP.

He had his 3 doses (2 weeks apart) in the New Year, the last one was early Feb. He kept us worrying as he remained very slightly lame throughout the process and for 2 weeks afterwards, then one morning he boinged out of stable, declared that he was sound and demanded to know what we would be doing :D

We are still in the 'wait and see what happens' year but he's been back out SJing and eventing (not yet to the level he was at before but that's because of the weather not his foot). I took him back to the vets last week as he was starting to feel a tiny bit less-confident with his jumping and he had a further injection. He's a complete wuss and takes a good week to get over the treatment but I rode him last night and he felt almost back to normal. He's due to be at Buckminster this weekend (assuming it runs :rolleyes:).

After talking to the vet it would seem he will need a single top-up injection every 4 months or so to keep him on track. He has no other medication in between times and is completely sound and happy.

As you probably know, the initial IRAP is around £1000 but should get you around 6 doses (we were lucky and got 8 but lost one due to contamination during defrosting), then the ongoing injections will usually include an anti-biotic shot as well.

I understand the success rate is extremely high, and the added benefit is there's no withdrawal period for competition purposes.

Happy to discuss further by PM if you want to. Good luck :D
 
My mare had IRAP treatment in both her hind fetlocks a couple of years ago. She hadn't responded at all to steroid treatment but the IRAP helped her immensely. Even my vet can't believe how much she's improved on it, when she's witnessed her tanking round the field. My mare hasn't come back into work, we knew that before we did the treatment, but the aim was to make her more comfortable and it's certainly worked - she can out move my young ISH when they are larking about in the field.
 
A pony I look after a work has had IRAP treatment, she's on her forth dose tomorrow, so far she is no better. She has arthritis in the fetlock joint. I can't see her ever coming sound.
 
Yes, for a swollen tendon sheath in hind leg. He had three treatments a fortnight apart, first one at Rossdales and then by my own vet and came sound immediately they were finished. This was 18 months ago and no recurrence at all.

I liked it as an alternative to steroids as the risks are less. I still have 3 syringes of the serum in my freezer :eek:

Like MM's boy, he also announced he was fine by bolting on the road during the box rest, but ridden bit - the bolt was about a mile and no ill effects at all (well, not on him!).
 
Yes, mine has had IRAP for mild coffin joint arthritis. Had hyonate and steroids first, but took a month to come sound and only held for a further 2 months. As insured decided to give IRAP a go. 3 Injections 2 weeks apart. Took 2 weeks after his last injection til he came sound, but *touches wood* has been sound since. Is now having a top up with course of 3 again, 6 months later and will have 1 thereafter every 3-4 months, now his insurance has run out. Has been really great for him so far. He is back hacking, schooling and about to start jumping. His slow progress has been due to an old suspensory injury, not the coffin joint problem. :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top