My horse is a walking vet bill

J

Jsye

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So I was loaning a horse in 2013 for 6months and my parents bought him for me as a surprise for my 21st birthday.

Only since having ownership of him he has sprouted numerous medical conditions! (typical)

In February 2014 he was diagnosed with Cushings disease at age 10. He is now on prascend and doing OK as far as Cushings goes.

About 2 months ago he was diagnosed with bone spavin in both hocks. He has had cartrophen injections and a course off tildren. He was due to have joint injections about 2 weeks ago but couldn't have it has he had a slightly infected cut quite close to the injection area and vet didn't feel comfortable doing it due to the risk of infection getting into the joint. I've not yet rescheduled him having these hock injections but hoping to do so soon. I've also nearly reached my insurance limit too so any further treatment I'll have to fund myself.

Yesterday I brought him in and a few hours later I tacked up and went riding. Felt like he was stepping a bit short so I trotted him and low and behold he's lame. No stones stuck in shoes, no pulses. Just lame.
He's also managed to cut himself on his hind leg again close to his hock.

I'm considering turning him away for the winter and giving him some time off to just chill out and then maybe see how he is in spring and go from there. But I feel bad and don't want him to think I'm abandoning him.

I don't even know what I'm hoping to achieve by posting this I just feel like I'm stuck in a rut with him and that there is always *something* wrong :(

Anyone else had such terrible luck with their horse? He is so lovely and I love him so much.
I feel terrible for him I just want him to be happy and ok.
 
If you can get the new cut near his hock cleaned up again then he will be able to have another hock injection.

Ask you vet about the possibility of ethanol infusion. Its around £300 for both hocks. I have heard of this being effective for a lot of horses my own included. It might be better to do this than keep paying for joint injections. You need to diagnose why he has gone lame again so maybe a call to your vet for a visit and a correct diagnosis and you could discuss the fusion with him then.
 
I know how you feel. 6 months after I bought my girl, after a 25 year wait, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and I was told there was no treatment. Then there was treatment but just after the insurance stopped paying out, the EU imposed CASCADE on us and the drugs were 7 times the price of the identical human product. Then she needed antiinflammatories and we discovered that there was only one product on the market that didn't clash with the anti-convulsants and it was about 4 times the price of bute. Finally she added Cushings to the mix. I worked out once that she cost me in excess of £44000, just for drugs. Oh dear!
 
Another one who knows that feeling, 6 months after ownership horse blows a tendon eventing..... recovers post surgery back in full work and eventing again, within 6 months of full work he has another tendon related injury (different leg this time) sadly means his eventing career is over and he is enduring another stint of box rest :( bloody horses
 
My hand is firmly up! Bless him he's cost me very little since I've had him (7 years) but the last 7 months he has been diagnosed with sacroiliac injury (2x injections and a bone scan), PSSM (blood tests and expensive supplements), his liver enzymes are up and down and up again, and now he is heading back to hospital for a head CT for possible neurological issues (and is no longer insured!)
 
Me too know the feeling I think I have had more vets visits this year than in the last ten years, I have been to Newmarket three times for two different horses, first one got a pedal bone infection got over that then lame again torn ddft really badly retirement job, then got laminitis got over that then it came back and I had to have her pts, second horse went lame in spring his got a hole in hind suspensory still on box rest, had the vet out when on box rest as his legs swelled like balloons that was a nice £170! I just want this year to be over now I have had enough.

Sorry to all of you that have had similar issues it's just so frustrating isn't it.
 
You are not alone with his lovely.

I am on first name terms with the receptionists at my vets so much so they ask how he is doing!. First it was lameness. Then a corn last summer then a bit more lameness then an abcess, after that it was colic then it was a very severe skin condition, while treating the skin condition he almost got laminintis l. Then 3 weeks my vet came for a review of my horses legs when he dropped weight like God knows what so all physical stuff checked out. Just last week I had to get the vet at as he got kicked in the field and fractured his frontal bone (our forehead). Just today it was blood test in regards t the weight loss and possible need to go to the vet in regards to the weight loss and the kick to the head!

Oh! And just tonight he walked in from the field fine came in lame! Badly! Heat in his foot. Picked it out and there was a massive stone. 10 mins later walked out sound.
I have jabs next month aswell! After next month I don't want to see my vet until next year!!
My bank balance is once again crying .
 
Update on vet bill horse: He is now lame in front. He has also cut (maybe a kick) his near hind near his hock and his hock has ballooned into something massive. Sigh.

I too wish this year would just hurry up and end! I'm sick of worrying, it's draining me financially, mentally and physically.

Sorry to hear that other people have had such awful luck too :-( though it makes me feel better that I'm not the only person experiencing such bad luck - I suppose it's just 'one of those things'. Surely this means we are all due some good luck soon *I hope*
 
Yep. Had mine just 12 days shy of a year and she has been perfect. Am even thinking if reducing my insurance cover.
Then whoop - colic in the field. Surgery needed. That diagnosis and referral was £300!!
Surgery and minor relaps ten days in hospital left me forking out £800+++ in addition to the £5000 insurance - and remember the original £300!
6 vet visits at home since. A ton of painkillers and antibiotics. I've been billed for half of this - £350 still wIting for the other half.
She cost me 3.3k. She is delightful and totally perfect for my ambitions.
And doing well x
 
Yes. The youngster I bought as a foal now has a diagnosis of possible DJD as a 4 yo, though he has started work and so far things are looking ok. About 1k spent on that so far. Lost my old CB to cushings and arthritis last year, so bought a TB as second horse/companion. He ran through a fence in the field a few months ago; 2k of vet's bills on that. Now he AND the 4 yo have been diagnosed with leukocytoclastic vasculitis and are in the middle of steroid and antibiotic treatment. I think I'll just give the vet my credit card and pin....
 
Thought I would update you all. Just last Tuesday he coliced at night,vet came down, turns out he has an infection! More bute and antibiotics
 
Jim bob said:
You are not alone with his lovely.

I am on first name terms with the receptionists at my vets so much so they ask how he is doing!. First it was lameness. Then a corn last summer then a bit more lameness then an abcess, after that it was colic then it was a very severe skin condition, while treating the skin condition he almost got laminintis l. Then 3 weeks my vet came for a review of my horses legs when he dropped weight like God knows what so all physical stuff checked out. Just last week I had to get the vet at as he got kicked in the field and fractured his frontal bone (our forehead). Just today it was blood test in regards t the weight loss and possible need to go to the vet in regards to the weight loss and the kick to the head!

Oh! And just tonight he walked in from the field fine came in lame! Badly! Heat in his foot. Picked it out and there was a massive stone. 10 mins later walked out sound.
I have jabs next month aswell! After next month I don't want to see my vet until next year!!
My bank balance is once again crying .
Click to expand...

Jim bob said:
Thought I would update you all. Just last Tuesday he coliced at night,vet came down, turns out he has an infection! More bute and antibiotics
Click to expand...

Wow - that is some list - feel for you.

Surely he is done now, do you call him sick note by any chance?
 
Jsye said:
Update on vet bill horse: He is now lame in front. He has also cut (maybe a kick) his near hind near his hock and his hock has ballooned into something massive. Sigh.

I too wish this year would just hurry up and end! I'm sick of worrying, it's draining me financially, mentally and physically.

Sorry to hear that other people have had such awful luck too :-( though it makes me feel better that I'm not the only person experiencing such bad luck - I suppose it's just 'one of those things'. Surely this means we are all due some good luck soon *I hope*
Click to expand...

Rubbish, bloomin horses, hope he is all done with the injuries.
 
LJR. Nope but I should call him sick note! Hopefully he will be... After the trip to the vets this week to find out the cause of his weightloss. I have told him no more vets after next months jabs then that's it. Mum cant handle it!
 
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