My horse has arthritis

Paint it Lucky

Paint it Lucky

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My old boy has been on and off lame for the last few weeks. Not hopping but not tracking up and stiff on one back leg. Got the vet out the other day and he confirmed what I suspected that his hock joint is quite bad on that leg. Vet said one of the joints in it was nearly but not quite fused. Said that his hock hasn't got much room to inject anything into it and it probably wouldn't work anyway and as horse is 21 probably wouldn't be worth it.

I am sad
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Vet says to put him on bute indefinately and to keep him working as it is important to keep him moving or he will just stiffen up and get worse. It is hard to know what to do for the best, I am not a fan of working horses on bute as I worry I may push him too hard because of the painkiller. Up until now he's been doing dressage to a reasonable level, I don't feel he can do this now as it would be unfair to ask him to take weight behind when his hocks clearly aren't up to it. I guess I will have to semi-retire him as a hack only.

Don't really know what to do. It is the cold weather I think that's made him suddenly go so bad though I'm sure it was always coming anyway. I should have asked the vet to for more info but I was quite emotional at the time so didn't feel like talking.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice? I've not owned an arthritic hrse before so don't really know what to do for the best. I love my boy and just want him to be comfortable and not push him too much. WIll it ease off abit when the weather gets warmer or does it not work that way? He is already on a strong joint supplement and wears magnetic boot wraps at night.

Thanks PL
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Hi, my parents bought me a fantastic horse as a hack and we knew she was already on cortaflex for a stiff knee. This was probably as result of being crazily jumped by her previous owners. Vets said she would be fine for hacking and light work, just not competing but after less than a year of occasional hacking her knee swelled up and never went down. The vets said arthritis is now in all her joints but particularly her knee which is always swollen.

I'm afraid to say that I think your horse would probably just be ok for gentle hacks maybe but not much more. Then again, I'm not an expert and I really think it depends on the situation. My horse, Inca, is still only 15 but has been retired for a few years now on bute and cortaflex everyday (she looks stiff in trot but shows no signs of pain and lives a happy outdoor life with her buddies). I'm sure the cold weather and hard ground isn't helping your situation though! I would suggest to keep hacking him and just see how it goes.
 
Just be gentle with him! I've had the child form of arthritis and gentle exercise is important - can't see that it would be massively different for horses! Not sure if you can give horses glucosamine - it's herbal and for joint pains!

Not sure if that helps!
 
Glucosamine herbal? Not heard that one.

My mare has arthritis in both knees, and is on a strong joint supplement (Flexadin) plus half a Danilon daily. She is honestly like a different horse - forward-going, bouncy and loads of fun. She really benefits from light regular exercise. We school once or twice a week, and we hack out two or three times a week. The only thing I don't do with her right now is jumping, as i think its jsut too much strain on her knees.

If your horse is still ridable with his arthritis, the best thing is to keep him working. he may not be able to work to his former level of dressage in this weather, but when it warms up a bit he may be easier in his movement.
 
TBH i am a wimp and the tablets were too big for me but my mum uses them everyday and they've helped her loads! Glad i was of some help! Keep me updated though!
 
My horse has arthritis and once hocks fused he is much sounder. Had a month of bute but now off it and is doing well. We mainly do hacking and light schooling and he is only on blue chip dynamic which is great.
Just take one day at a time and see how it goes. I have found that stable wraps and field wraps also ease the stiffness though each horse is different.
Good luck with it all x
 
my horse developed low ringbone in both fronts and arthritis of the high hock joint in back right about 3 1/2 years ago. She went to langford vets for investigation and when they phoned with the diagnosis' it basically sounded like they were telling us it wasn't worth bringing her home. 2 months box rest (for the ringbone) followed by 2 months field rest, using NAF MSM supplement and a course of cartrophen injections and she came 95% sound. Started working her, hacking out and then after a couple of months light schooling and she came right and started going better than ever. We have since been out doing unaff prelim dressage and once out of about 10 tests has a judge commented on her being stiff behind. She has had another course of cartrophen injections since the original and they make a world of difference to her. It may be worth discussing this option with your vet.
Also, shoeing can help. My girl has natural balance type shoes in front and hinds with a lateral extension and slightly lower than normal road stud to help. Again, discuss this with your vet and farrier.
 
Oh hon which lad iS it? Is it arthritis or spavin in his hocks? As you know with roo we tried loads of things, glucosamine really helps go for the highest percentage you can find, equine america one is good and won't break the bank. Other things that help are gentle exercise magnetic boots-I still have roos that I don't need anymore let me know if you want them, also chat to your farrier he may need to support the outside of his hoofs as he will wear unevenly and this will make it worse.

Massive hugs honey pm me if you need anything even if it's just a chat it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.

Love t and lu
 
Thanks everyone, have definately given me things to think about. T it's my other one (not Lu), vet said hock joint is fusing, said he could x-ray it but probably not worth it as he was pretty sure what was going on anyway. He did say to get some shoes with lateral extensions so i will speak to the farrier about this. I've got him some boot wraps like River had and these do seem to help.

Hope you and Luca are doing ok. Heard about his leg, is it better now? Lots of love A xx
 
jay has spavin's in both hinds, hes been turned away for the winter on 24/7 turnout as he doesn't cope being in and not worked, hes on no bute premium liquid and turmeric and is looking pretty good at the moment, hoping he can be ridden as a hack in spring, although he doesn't do "light" hacking so should be interesting lol
 
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