Luxating patella’s- moved to Tack Room for responses please!

[suebou]

I have a 7 year old tb, failed racehorse, who we have brought gently back to work. From a really promising start three years ago, he has been diagnosed with grade2/3 ulcers which we are managing with some success.
To cut a long investigation short, he has been diagnosed by a vet, with luxating patellas in both hind legs. Significantly worse on left. We have started gentle re hab, in hand walking round fields, using poles in arena, three/four times a week. This is the second week and it seems as though he is pretty unhappy, teeth grinding, biting, kicking at stomach. He has always been the sweetest horse and obv this change is making everyone miserable.
Does anyone have any positive stories

 

[suebou]

Anyone? He’s getting a full work up next week but the sight of him struggling to move last night is not what we want to see.

 

[Oneday]

Had 2 mares with upward fixation of patella, which I think is the same thing. 1st mare showed up when she was 4, snatching picking up legs and a couple of times it locked and she was sliding down stable wall until it freed.2nd I bought as a yearling and showed up shortly after I bought her, mainly snatching and occasionally locked behind her but freed on its own, was pretty depressed had bought another with same issue, but then thought 1st mare it resolved as soon as she was fit and never bothered her till U lost her at 21. Was more of a problem with unbroken as couldn't work her to get her fit. She was TB and was stabled overnight in winter, was really affecting her when rising 3, so thought better out and turned her out 24/7 beginning of March. TB was suggested she might need surgery but didn't. Had no issues once they were fit and didn't reoccur in later life. TB was still sound when I lost her to Cushings at 27 and was in work until 26 and could still throw spectacular airs above the ground at that age. Hope you are as lucky and vet can advise on best options

 

[Birker2020]

We had one at our yard, once it was reversed it clicked back into place and fortunately didn't go back.
I think the best thing once they are 'okay' is turnout onto hilly pasture.

I believe corrective shoeing can help a lot of cases possibly elevating the heel.
I have read that water therapy is good for this too, I would imagine a treadmill and not swimming.

 

[Orangina]

Had he dropped a bit of weight when it first showed up at all? There is a fat pad in that area that helps keep them in place. I know most advice says they need to be lean to help but I disagree to a certain extent and especially with an ex racer -I reckon if you manage to get a bit of weight on him it might help

 

[ester]

Upward fixation is not the same thing as luxuation which is much more rare especially in an adult horse

 

[Birker2020]

Upward fixation is not the same thing as luxuation which is much more rare especially in an adult horse

If that was directed at me Ester I apologise but I thought the two things were the same. https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/patellar-luxation

 

[ester]

They are listing two versions of it in foals there. It was actually targeted at one day who said they weren’t sure it was the same.
What the OP is describing doesn’t sound like upward fixation at all (perhaps they can confirm) and the treatment options (or lack of) appear to be very different.
I suspect some of the confusion is because luxation does just mean dislocation
https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/issues/eve-21-9-464-466_CC_09-020_Busschers.pdf

 

[suebou]

Had he dropped a bit of weight when it first showed up at all? There is a fat pad in that area that helps keep them in place. I know most advice says they need to be lean to help but I disagree to a certain extent and especially with an ex racer -I reckon if you manage to get a bit of weight on him it might help

E
thats interesting, he’s probably in the best condition weight wise he’s ever been. He had a locking stifle when he arrived but this is much more significant and in both hinds. I‘ll try and put video up……
he’s never been great at walking down hill, in hindsight, and he’s stopped lying down which he’s always done. I feel there is something major going in in spine/pelvis but we’ll know in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed it just needs regular manipulation or something straightforward to allow him to be pain free and to hack a bit.