Managing Spavin

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Ziggy_

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My Tb had spavin a few years ago and is now LOU. She has been back in work for eighteen months and competed over the summer with no problems. When she was unfit she used to stumble badly on her left hind but this improved with work and this practically disappeared over the summer.

She has had 2 months off (not ideal I know but circumstances forced it) and is now short on her left hind in walk. She trots up sound.

Her treatment was cortizone (sp?) injections into both hocks - I was told it was fully fused in both hocks and a year later she passed flexion tests. The right hock has never given me any cause for concern but I've never thought she was 100% on her left hind because of the stumbling, although I put it down to being unfit and it improved with work. I trot her up most days before I ride (paranoid owner syndrome) and I've never seen her trot up lame.

I'd like to hear from anyone with experience of spavin - is it possible for them to need more treatment, would she be better brought back into work, or is it possible for it to get worse?
 
Funnily enough our ID had a course of injections directly into his hock £150 for each injection total cost £650 including scans. He was 17 then he's now 19 and a little unfit, started stumbling quite badly on this same hock (left hind). Vet says because he's had those injections he can't have them again and she thinks its arthritus so now on Danilon for rest of his life. I've just asked other half what they injected him with we don't think it was cortizone without digging out the old invoices. But when they scanned him at 17 was told his legs were clean no lumps, bumps or anything no splints and for an older horse of his age it was very unusual. So I'm a little unsure as to whether I think arthritus is correct or if he is just unfit.
 
So from the sound of that, theoretically it is probably related to unfitness (or possibly arthritis) rather than unsoundness, and is related to the spavin rather than another problem?

That helps a bit
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My horse was diagnosed with spavin aged 10. Inoticed that he was short in his hind legs.

He had 2 injections a year apart.

I was advised to keep my horse gently exercising to encourage bone fusion and to keep him supple. I stopped jumping him. My horse is stiff if he has not been exercised regularly such as when the weather is bad/hard ground.

My horse also had lateral extensions to his hind shoes for about 12-18 months.

Its great that your horse is not lame, she may be short on one side because that has not quite fused yet. Once the joint fuses, the pain disappears, or it may be fused, but she is more stiff on this side for some reason.

I have a feeling that with regular gentle exercise, her shortness will improve. If not, another injection would be worth considering. The injection of local anaesthetic and cortisone (steroid) is to alleviate pain and destroy the joint cartilage to encourage fusion. My vet said there wasnt any limit as to the number of injections my horse could have, but luckily, he did not need any more.

I was advised to avoid trotting on hard ground/roads where possible and not to turn my horse in tight circles as this puts increased pressure on the inside hind leg.

Do you know which joint you horse has bone spavin in? If its the lower joint the tarsal metatarsal joint its the same as my horse and the outcome is good. Maybe her short leg has bone spavin higher up in the joint than the other one?

Keeping the weight off the horse is also strongly recommended, but its the hardest of all for my horse as he is part highland and an extremely good doer.

I am not a vet (obviously), but I would not expect the condition to deteriorate once the bones have fused.

I hope this helps a little bit. x
 
Thanks for that, thats really helpful. I don't know which joint(s) she had it in so possibly she could have developed it in another joint in the left hind, or it hadn't fully fused in the first place....

In which case I will have the vet take a look.

Thanks again
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Your'e very welcome, I am pleased its helped you.

I hope your horse is better soon. I am sure she will be with your excellent care and attention.

Let us know how she gets on. x
 
I should have also mentioned that some fusions can take years to complete. My horse took about 2.5-3 years.

I also had physiotherapy for Jake as his altered gait made his back and hindquarters a bit stiff - he only needed about 2 sessions and really liked the heat lamp.
 
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