Managing arthritis

[Jackson]

Hi all,
I don't have an arthritic horse, but I was just curious as to how you would manage one, what supplements are available and so on. For those of you who's horses do have arthritis, where abouts and how severe is it? can you work and compete as normal? I would think that you would have to spend more time warming up and so on. How has it affected your relationship and routine with your horse? and what sort of medication is there about these days?
Thanks!

 

[chestnut cob]

Hi all,
I don't have an arthritic horse,

I do!

but I was just curious as to how you would manage one

IME, take each day as it comes and go by how the horse feels. And spend most of my time being totally neurotic about it and driving myself insane!!

what supplements are available and so on.

Mine is on a joint supplement (Joint FX) plus linseed and rosehips, both of which are supposed to help.

For those of you who's horses do have arthritis, where abouts and how severe is it?

Spavins in both hocks (mild) and ringbone in left fore. I don't think the severity really matters as different horses have different pain thresholds. When mine went lame with his spavins, my vet said he expected to see huge changes because of how lame he was but they are only very mild. Same in front...he expected it to b v bad because he was v lame yet the changes aren't that bad. My horse is a diva!

can you work and compete as normal?

Where the spavins are concerned, yes (in my case). He has had them medicated with cortisone twice and despite being overdue by the calendar, he hasn't needed them to be done this year as is moving well and not sore. I took him up to my instructor a couple of weeks ago for a lesson and she said the spavins will mean he'll struggle to truly "sit" behind the way a younger horse or one without spavins would/could, but he does OK. He'll do a bit of lateral work, more as suppling exercise than anything else. He isn't jumping any more because the ringbone is in a front leg so too much concussion, though I might pop a few small things if we hunt this coming season and the ground is soft enough. I haven't had any probs with the spavins since they were diagnosed bar him getting a bit stiff behind about 15 months ago, so had them remedicated. The ringbone is a different matter because it's more aggressive. He is sound ATM but does have to be monitored carefully - no trotting on roads, no trotting/cantering on less than perfect ground (I prefer soft), won't work him in deep/poor arenas.

I would think that you would have to spend more time warming up and so on.

Not for the front legs but yes for the backs he does need a bit more warming up - I don't know how much of that is just that he's an older horse (16) so takes more time for his muscles to warm up anyway. I know when he's feeling his spavins because he tends to want to overbend when schooling rather than work correctly - those days I'd just aim for some long and low work so he stretches properly and leave it at that.

How has it affected your relationship and routine with your horse?

Apart from making me neurotic and slightly insane because I'm always looking for lameness and worrying about every little thing... I guess in some ways it has made it better because I have to listen to what he "tells" me and just be careful what I do with him. Routine-wise, I've moved him onto grass livery so that he is out 24/7. He is so much better now he can move around all day (or stand around if he wants to, but isn't forced to) - far happier horse and moving better too. He's also better in regular work, though if he is sore in front he obviously doesn't work.

and what sort of medication is there about these days?
Thanks!

Depends on what for... mine has been treated with cortisone injections into his hocks. Vet has discussed IRAP, shockwave and cortisone for the front legs too but we went for Tildren and Adeuquan. You can't cure arthritis, I think all you can do is try to limit the progress and make the horse as comfortable as possible. There is also always bute. My boy has been struggling with the hard ground (in front) so currently having 1 bute per day until the ground improves - vet suggested it and said to a big horse like mine (17hh IDx), 1 bute is the equivalent to me taking half a paracetamol each day (**disclaimer** I am not trying to keep a crippled and decrepit horse going... he still enjoys his work and is happy). We had a lot of rain over the weekend so I'm going to try him on half a bute for a few days, see how he goes.

Hope that helps!

 

[Bojangles]

chestnut cob- Does linseed put on weights?? Where did you get your's from?? He is a good doer so weight is always a worry to me
I use Bosweilla and msm glucosmen sp? which have worked so far.

 

[chestnut cob]

chestnut cob- Does linseed put on weights?? Where did you get your's from?? He is a good doer so weight is always a worry to me
I use Bosweilla and msm glucosmen sp? which have worked so far.

Mine is an incredibly good doer but he doesn't seem to have put on weight as a direct result of feeding linseed (in fact he's quite a nice weight at the moment). I think I've heard/read people talk about using it to put weight on but I think you'd have to feed quite a lot. I get it from Charnwood and just give him a mugful every day.

Have heard good things about Boswellia - what is it?

 

[Jackson]

Thanks for the info, Chestnut cob! I worry about every little thing as it is

Do you find that the linseed helps a lot? And what are the risks with the cortisone, how does it work?