Neck Arthritis / Changes

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Stushie

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Hi
Looking for experiences!

My 11 yr ol DWB dressage horse went lame behind. Took her to the equine hospital and after various X-rays, tests and scintigrophy she has confirmed changes in both hocks (lower hock joint) and worse she has arthritic changes in the neck (can’t rememer which two but think it was 5 and 6) - lower neck towards the base rather than at the poll end.

Vet has done numerous neurological tests and isn’t 100% convinced that it’s not neur related but the usual neuro signs are not massively obvious in that she doesn’t trip or stumble, stands normally, reacted ok to tail pulling etc etc but may be some subtle signs but could could also be related to the hock pain. Up until she went lame I certainly never noticed any signs but time will tell.

In hindsight (which is a wonderful thing!) she has always been tense in her neck and not overly keen to maintain a decent contact resorting to snatching at the reins which I put down to her just evading but now I know why!

So, short version lol. She is getting both hocks medicated which the vet is quite hopeful of a decent result but clearly wil be ongoing management.

Her neck is also getting medicated which may or may not help as a lot depends on whether it is impinging on on any nerves etc but we need to try It.

My question is has anyone had their horses neck treated for arthritic changes and how did the horse respond and did it return to full work? How often did it need re-medicated if relevant? Any other options ie physio, joint supplements etc that I should be awRe of?

TIA - it’s been a horrible week but I pick my princess up tomorrow and I’m in no illusions that it’s going to be a rocky road :-(
 
I was going to, in a 6yo. He also had hock changes and we had (have) a question mark over neuro. Edinburgh couldn't say whether the neck was definitely causing an issue or not. However we now also have SI issues and quite honestly, given he's not stood up to light hacking, I've thrown in the towel. We've done everything bar bone scan, since they don't show up SI issues very well and we feel they are now the biggest problem.
However...when we were thinking about medicating the various bits, vet said you can't really put a known quantity on it. They can respond well and only need redoing every year or two, or it can be a lot less than that. There's not really a clear answer unfortunately. Which is one of the reasons I've quit...too much worry and too many unknowns. Hopefully yours will respond and you can have some more time riding.
 
Had my mares neck injected July last year. C5 and C6 I think from memory. She was very neuro on the tail sway test the physio did and I was very upset as she was dreadful in walk during this test. The foot placement was okay apart from standing a bit strange if you lifted her foot and placed it base wide. Since the injection she is a very, very slightly ataxic but not to the point that she can't be ridden and some days are better than others, last night I pulled her tail and she stood her ground, other days she moves her feet.

I felt she needed her neck injecting a couple of weeks ago as she was really struggling to stretch to the one side (I do stretches every day as the physio and vet have both advised me to do) and she was rushing her stretch and creaking and clonking too and I felt she was struggling to eat her tea of the floor. So off she goes to the vet clinic for the day only to do a perfect and massive stretch for a carrot the vet was holding!! Typical.The last twice the vet has seen her (the last time being two weeks ago) he's been very pleased with her neuro signs.

So he ruled out neck and medicated the fetlock instead.

Its like any joint medication, sometimes it works for months or years, sometimes it only works for a few weeks. It depends on the horse as each is an individual.
 
Nudibranch
Even with X-rays and scintigraphy which is not cheap lol the only true accurate way of finding out is to take her to Liphook (I thinks that’s what it’s called) in Hampshire for a MRI at 2K. But this is just for a diagnosis not for any treatment. They might find something that they can treat or alternatively, they might confirm there is something but there’s nothing they can do. So, I haven’t ruled it out but it’s a big expense on top of everything else but also I’m in Scotland and so have the added issue of getting her down etc.

It’s a horrible scenario and I can understand why you chose to leave it. The middle ground option is to medicate hence that’s what we are trying first.

I’ll just see what happens but I will be watching every minor thing the horse does now lol.
 
Hopscotch bandit.
Thanks for that. Mine seems to have issues putting her neck up ie like a giraffe rather than down or to the sides. I’ll ask the vet when I pick up re what exercises I should do
 
I can't say for neck, but have a dressage WB with similar issues regarding the hocks - injections worked well for her, and she gets daily supplements with HA, MSM and one more thing that the vet recommended. I have to keep her active, though. Crossing fingers, it will also work for you.
 
My horse has changes in the C5 and C6 in his neck - he was medicated but sadly never worked and he never came successfully back into work so he was retired at the age of 8yrs. He is 11 now and looking great. I did try riding again last year as he looked so fab but it was awful.
However I think his case is different to yours as he did respond to the neurological tests and on reflection he had the signs, such as dipping behind the saddle when hacking and constantly resting his back legs and crossing them over.
From what you are saying it sounds like you've got more hope and I was lead to believe that the medication is fairly successful - 80% I thought they said.
Fingers crossed for you.
 
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