My boy probably has OCD

[LauraWinter]

Following my post last week about my boy who we suspected of having a mild upward fixation of patella, vet came out today as per the plan and he has also since gone lame again

Today he showed up 3/10ths lame again as he had done a few weeks ago, only to appear sound after a course of bute. Today we lunged him in the school, where he appeared more or less sound and then the vet asked me to lunge him on the yard and he was hopping

I have never seen a horse suddenly show up so lame on a change of surface (mind you I have never lunged a horse on concrete before)

Apparently this indicates more likely a bone problem than a soft tissue one, and we are thinking probably OCD- he is a big young boy who appears very lanky and gangly and apparently prime candidate for this kind of problem. He is also very 'weak' in hos stifle area on both sides and the one on which he is lame has been 'giving way' on him in the school occasionally.

Anyway, the vet then started on his nerve blocks but we only got halfway through as we had already been there for two hours by this point and both Vet and I had to be elsewhere so he is back tomorrow to carry them on and take x-rays. He got to the point of doing a general block just above the hock which blocks everything below that point and he was still lame as a dog

I guess this means its probably in his stifle.

Please, please somebody tell me some good stories about their horses with OCD in the stifle(s) or I might cry

Feel free to share my bottle of wine in which I am drowning my sorrows if you got this far

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Sorry, I've really got no knowledge of OCD whatsoever, but there was definitly someone in here that did and plenty of others who can help.

I, in the mean time can offer you some Roses chocolate and a drink to make you feel better!

Huge vibes for your boy

 

[golddustsara]

No experience of OCD but having a lame horse I can sympathise. Sending you lots of good luck and healing ((((vibes)))) x

 

[LauraWinter]

I was just writing on your thread as well then I hit the wrong key and lost my whole post.... I was going to offer you my sympathy too, both being in a similar situation

Perhaps we should start a 'owners of lame horses' thread so we can sympathise with, support and report back to each other for all those of us with broken neds

 

[PhoebeandOla]

Hi we had a horse at my old yard which had OCD in 4 joints and has since been operated on. I personally dont know much about it but do know that horse had operations about 3 months ago and is now getting turned out for a few hours a day and can soon start light ridden work so there is hope sweetie chin up and I hope your boy is ok

 

[vikkiandmonica]

My gelding had the same symptoms as you described, and it turned out when he was x-rayed that he had a lack of hoof/soft tissue on one foot between his pedal bone and the bottom of his foot, so going on hard ground and stones etc. causes him pain. It has been sorted easily with pads on both front feet which absorbs some of the shock that comes from hard ground, and we have since done hunter trials etc. with him never comin lame, so long as he has these pads on... maybe your boy has the same?

 

[CBFan]

Fear not! OCD is quite easily and usually very successfully operated on. it's a relatively quick recovery too as its keyhole surgery. if it is suspected, your best bet is to cut to the chase and just get xrays done of the stifle that way you'll know for sure. Good luck!

 

[LauraWheeler]

poor you i know there is nothing worse than not knowing what is wrong and there for not knowing how to help your horse. I have everything crossed that you find out soon and i hope it is something you can sort out.

 

[Booboos]

I am so sorry to hear that, but try to think positive! Wait for a diagnosis first and then see how things go.

If it is OCD depending on the severity there are a number of options including injections, shock wave treatment and the operation.

Just for info OCD does not always show on the x-rays (if it is a cartiledge problem it won't show) and revovery usually involves a substantial time of box rest. On the plus side the statistics are good with about 80% of horses returning to the level of work they were at before the op.

Good luck!