Joint injections - opinions please?

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OrangeEmpire

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My mare needs joint injections to her hocks for spavin and I'd like your views/experiences of having the injections done at home. The norm is to go to a clinc but I'm having a transport crisis.

The vet says that the risk of infection is higher when doing it at home. Does anyone have a view on this? I'd be disinfecting her stable, providing clean warm water for the vet to wash in and generally doing my best to make it spotless.

Opinions appreciated - is the risk minimal?
Thanks!!
 
Can't see why there would be any more risk at home, as when friends horse was injected, it was in the wash bay at the equine hospital, area clipped (surgical clippers) and scrubed (no reason why that can't be done at home), then injected (with local 1st). Hock was cover, then he was shortly after booted up and travelled home.
 
Mine has had all of his coffin joint injections at home. Never had a problem. Make sure stable is clean/yard is swept. Vet uses lots of hibiscrub but otherwise all good. I wouldn't worry.
 
My boy Smokey was done a couple of months ago in the coffin joint on one of his front legs.

The vet did it 'at home' with Smokey standing tied up on the yard in his usual position, so he was v relaxed. Vet emphasised to me that it was a surgical procedure so everything must be sterile and he did thoroughly 'scrub up' beforehand. Smokey was given a sedative, and had some antibiotics injected at the same time as the steroid.

He was on box rest for a couple of days - that was definitely not sterile though. In fact the next morning I arrived at the yard to find him lying down in the box with his hooves tucked underneath him and injection site resting on the bedding!

The results have been absolutely fantastic. Although I am all too aware that the underlying problem (arthritis) is still there I have gone from having an unrideable horse to having one who is gradually increasing his exercise and thoroughly enjoying it!

I hope your experience is as good as mine. Good Luck. Jo
 
Injections into the joint must be sterile as the last thing you want is to introduce bacteria and obviously the risk is lower in a clean clinic than on a yard. The preparation I am sure will be the same but there will be a marginally higher risk just with the surroundings being less clean. Once the injection is completed then you are fine, we used to just put a light dressing on afterwards.

If you decide to have it done at home you would be best to empty the stable of bedding and disinfect it (preferably somewhere with a rubber mat as horses will occasionally go down or pratt about when they are having a joint injected if they are particularly pig headed!)
 
My mare had her hocks done at home (a few years ago now)...they were just careful about it all - we did it in the yard and the main thing is equipment was clean/sterile.
We kept her in for a couple of days...she had two lots done...with 2 weeks apart.
No problems - she went to the clinic for examination and diagnosis but it was better to do her at home than keep taking her back and to in lorry. Don't think it was a particular consideration to take her there for injections actually...
Good luck
 
agree with all the above. Had a horse done years ago at home, he was nice and relaxed, vet very careful to keep things clean and it all worked out.

I wouldnt worry about having it done at home (I know how hard it is to get horsey transport!!)

All the best and let us know how it goes!

OOhh... are you having to follow up with Adequan (sp) injections??
 
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