Leather pads for coffin joint arthritis.

[Fourtoomany]

My mare went for a full lameness work up at the vet this week. She has some arthritic changes to her coffin joints. She will be receiving some steroid injections to both of her feet to see if this will help with the discomfort and the vets seem to think that this will be the best place to start. They also recommended that she be fitted with some pads so my farrier came out on Tuesday and pads with rolled shoes were fitted.

I have been advised to keep her working until Monday when the vet is due and she’s on one bute a day which has made all the difference.

My question is how different should she be feeling with pads on? She is a big moving horse and when I rode her in the school briefly today she felt very different. Almost like her action was much higher from the knees! I’m sure she feels better as she was more forward and relaxed. It’s just a bit of a different feeling and I’m not sure if this is expected.

Does take time for them to adjust to the sensation?

Should I have the physio come out once she has had her treatment to see if she needs any help over her whole body as she becomes more comfortable but starts to use herself differently?

Really hoping these steroids help. I realise that it can be a hit or a miss and there are other options to consider. I haven’t had her very long after getting her from someone I know down south where she passed her vetting with no issues (she’s only 9) so this is all very disheartening.

 

[FitzyFitz]

Likely its the rolled breakover that is doing the higher action as she'll pick her feet up better. A pad wouldnt make a huge amount of difference in a school. Was she shod before?

Any time you make a significant change to their feet they move a bit different for a while, i'd definitely recommend a physio visit, if she's been uncomfortable for a while there'll be some soreness elsewhere and she's bound to move slightly differently post treatment.

 

[Fourtoomany]

Thanks for that. She was shod before. I’m always worried that small differences in one place may mean that they can then start feeling stuff elsewhere! Especially since this may be something that’s been grumbling away for a while and she’s changed her way of going.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Getting a good bodyworker on her is a good call, she’ll have been moving wonkily for a while to avoid the soreness in her feet.

I had very good and long lasting results with Arthramid gel in both front coffins for my mare who had early arthritic changes. I’d always recommend it over just steroids if you have the choice.