Locking patella - op or wait ?

[Donna40]

My 4 year old gelding has a locking patella. I keep getting conflicting advice about what to do. Ranging from, wait until he is 5/6 before your op because he may grow out of it, work him every day to build up his muscles in the area and that may help, and even, operate straight away dont' wait, in case he gets arthritus in the joint.
I am very confused and would like to hear from people who have had horses with this problem and how they coped with it.
Thanks

 

[ann-jen]

Difficult to say without seeing him - perhaps post a piccie. If he is weak in his topline and quarters then I would try to build that up first as sometimes once they are more muscled up the problem stops.

 

[christine48]

My friend's horse had the op. They do it under local anaesthetic. What does your vet recommend?

 

[merlinsquest]

Just dont wait till the insurance can exclude you!!! This can be a difficult decision if the waiting can extend to over a year and therefore they can wriggle out of paying!!

 

[custard]

Mine had problems with this a few years back, as an 8 year old but partly due to lack of condition and muscle tone.

Vet advised daily short work sessions plus swimming which really helped, swimming has lots of other benefits too.

If he/she will authorise it you may well be able to claim this as physio on the insurance and only go for the op as the last resort.

 

[Tia]

I have a mare who is badly affected by this. I have thoroughly researched the surgery and have spoken to a few vets about it and the general consensus was that the op was only 25% successful and not to go for it.

I've decided to give my mare till next year to see whether she outgrows it or whether we just continue to go round and round with her appearing much better and then all of a sudden going back downhill again.

For those who may have been following her story, she is back in a flat field now and once again has improved dramatically.....most peculiar.

 

[BethH]

Hi my horse gets this on occasion especially if a bit damp and dreary. His is caused by being a secondary sympton of kissing spines basically because he wasn't able to use his back legs effectively and therefore couldn't muscle up very well around the area. (I am not suggesting your horse has KS, as a locking patella is a fairly common problem with horses).

My vet and surgeon both said that it is common for it to disappear with work and muscling and didn't seem too worried about it. As your horse is only 4, he is only just starting his working life, I wouldn't panic but keep it under review and work him steadily, slowly and calmly to build up supporting muscle. I spent a great deal of time long reining Ryan which did wonders for his control, movement and suppleness and when I re-backed him I spent lots of time getting a really good calm but big walk and it has really helped him. He still locks up occasionally but usually if he gets overweight or doesn't do much work for a couple of weeks. I use it as a sign to tell me if he is sore or needs his grazing muzzle on! I amalso a big believer in loads of turnout if possible as it keeps them flexible.

Hope that helps.

 

[fuzzyp]

Hi, my mare had this when she was about 3yrs of age, we waited until she was older, after breaking her in and developing her quadriceps muscles. She didn't improve and had the keyhole surgery when she had just turned five. She had no problems after and is now happily SHWJ. The only thing that i was warned about was possible stifle arthritis in the future which just means that she will have preventative measures put in place earlier than usual such as Glucoflex etc...Obviously each case is individual and physio combined with correct training may solve some but in my case surgery became the only viable option.I would suggest listening to your vets opinion whilst continuing sensible exercise. My insurance company was great but i understand this may not apply to all of them! Best of luck.

 

[pixiebee]

dont do the op yet. wait-my pony had it when he was 4(now 14!) and he grew out of it by the time he was 5 1/2 - 6. i did lots of uphill work for muscle tone and exercise definately helps. my pony is fully fit and is still jumping 3ft 3 happily and out hunting etc. so dont panick!!!!

 

[Butterbean]

Agree to try waiting to see how you get on with building up strength & muscle. My horse started locking up when he was 5 (last year), he would only do it occasionally and it didn't incapacitate him as badly as it does with some horses though he would be sore for a day or so. However vet advice was just to leave him and see if he grows out of it & do as much hillwork as possible to build up his muscles (though vet doesn't think the op is much of a problem either).
Over the last few months he has greatly improved, still locks now and then but a lot less severe so fingers crossed he is growing out of it.

 

[reddie]

We had a cob with it. With consistent work and lots of turnout he was fine. When he did lock up usually after a rest from work, a few steps backwards usually released it and he was fine after that.

 

[jinglejoys]

Little Blue had this when she was younger and grew out of it.My Vet just advised backing up and pleanty of excersize .Malaga has it if he's in a small paddock or stabled the vet gave the same advice and it doesn't bother him much now.
I also try this diet on him
http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsmdiet.htm