neck arthritis

[Asha]

Has anyone any experience of this ?

One of mine has just been diagnosed as having a bone spur in the C7, which is touching the spinal cord. The vet is going to discuss the x rays with a specialist, so i wont know much until next week. Vet says he will eventually get neuro problems as it progresses, but they don't know how long this will take.

We spotted something wasn't right as he started to keep his head very low as if hes grazing while trotting when in the field.
Hes being given bute at the minute, which seems to help, as hes less grumpy.

 

[hihosilver]

Has anyone any experience of this ?

One of mine has just been diagnosed as having a bone spur in the C7, which is touching the spinal cord. The vet is going to discuss the x rays with a specialist, so i wont know much until next week. Vet says he will eventually get neuro problems as it progresses, but they don't know how long this will take.

We spotted something wasn't right as he started to keep his head very low as if hes grazing while trotting when in the field.
Hes being given bute at the minute, which seems to help, as hes less grumpy.

Yes- my ISH 7 year old mare did. It was diagnosed at Liphook as a 5 year old as she was really uncomfortable which affected the movement especially in front. I had x-rays and bone scan to confirm. She was turned out for a year and was given the all clear to start riding but I knew straight away she was in pain. The condition deteriorated very quickly. I had her PTS the next day. I still wished I had never bought her back into work but I tried with the vets consent. I hope yours is a more positive outcome. good luck x

 

[scrapster]

I have just retired my 8 year old due to this. He became unpredictable under saddle and was deemed dangerous. So he’s now joined my other lad with similar issues in the field

 

[Steerpike]

Yes one of mine has neck arthritis, we found out after a bone scan, we decided to retire him as he has mild arthritis all along his back as well.

 

[rabatsa]

In a donkey. He was finding it difficult to lower his head to eat from floor level.

 

[Flicker]

One of the horses on our yard was diagnosed with this. His owner retired him pretty much immediately and PTS a couple of years later.

 

[dixie]

Yes mine has this. He was medicated at age 8 but it never worked. He doesn't appear to be in any pain though and looks the picture of health. In the field you would never know. However I've tried to re-introduce work a couple of times now but he's just not right. So he is a very sprightly fabulous looking field ornament, now 11yrs old. He's also extremely happy, no grumpiness at all, so I wouldn't say he's in pain, just doesn't appear to know what his legs are particularly doing under saddle.

 

[chocolategirl]

I’ve had 2 different cases. One, a 9yr old Westphalian mare, she had degenerative joint disease of the neck and basically the cartilage in between, I think it was c2 and c3?, had literally disintegrated and the poor girl had to be PTS. The other one I have has facet joint degeneration of the neck bone! Hers is a little more positive though thankfully. She was diagnosed about two and a half years ago after she started tripping and stumbling a lot. She had been eventing successfully up to 100 level that season. Following a veterinary consult, she was diagnosed with moderate degeneration, so it could have been worse. Following injections and regular physio, she is back eventing, in fact she went double clear last week at kelsall in the 90! I do have her on a joint supplement and turmeric. She has 3 monthly checkups at the vets, when she usually has her neck reinjected due to a build up of fluid in between the joints, but there has been no further degeneration thank god! Last time the vet saw her she didn’t need injections and I’m convinced it’s the joint supplement I now have her on. I also make sure she is kept fit as muscle supports the skeleton, this is SO very important. Hope yours has a positive outcome OP. I accept that ours is time sensitive, but for now, we are still able to carry on as normal, relatively speaking.

 

[Asha]

Yes- my ISH 7 year old mare did. It was diagnosed at Liphook as a 5 year old as she was really uncomfortable which affected the movement especially in front. I had x-rays and bone scan to confirm. She was turned out for a year and was given the all clear to start riding but I knew straight away she was in pain. The condition deteriorated very quickly. I had her PTS the next day. I still wished I had never bought her back into work but I tried with the vets consent. I hope yours is a more positive outcome. good luck x

Sorry to hear about your mare hihosilver. You gave her every chance, which is all anyone can do. At least shes pain free now x

 

[Asha]

I have just retired my 8 year old due to this. He became unpredictable under saddle and was deemed dangerous. So he’s now joined my other lad with similar issues in the field

Yes one of mine has neck arthritis, we found out after a bone scan, we decided to retire him as he has mild arthritis all along his back as well.

Yes mine has this. He was medicated at age 8 but it never worked. He doesn't appear to be in any pain though and looks the picture of health. In the field you would never know. However I've tried to re-introduce work a couple of times now but he's just not right. So he is a very sprightly fabulous looking field ornament, now 11yrs old. He's also extremely happy, no grumpiness at all, so I wouldn't say he's in pain, just doesn't appear to know what his legs are particularly doing under saddle.

its great to hear some can enjoy a happy retirement x

I’ve had 2 different cases. One, a 9yr old Westphalian mare, she had degenerative joint disease of the neck and basically the cartilage in between, I think it was c2 and c3?, had literally disintegrated and the poor girl had to be PTS. The other one I have has facet joint degeneration of the neck bone! Hers is a little more positive though thankfully. She was diagnosed about two and a half years ago after she started tripping and stumbling a lot. She had been eventing successfully up to 100 level that season. Following a veterinary consult, she was diagnosed with moderate degeneration, so it could have been worse. Following injections and regular physio, she is back eventing, in fact she went double clear last week at kelsall in the 90! I do have her on a joint supplement and turmeric. She has 3 monthly checkups at the vets, when she usually has her neck reinjected due to a build up of fluid in between the joints, but there has been no further degeneration thank god! Last time the vet saw her she didn’t need injections and I’m convinced it’s the joint supplement I now have her on. I also make sure she is kept fit as muscle supports the skeleton, this is SO very important. Hope yours has a positive outcome OP. I accept that ours is time sensitive, but for now, we are still able to carry on as normal, relatively speaking.

I really hope its something similar to yours chocolategirl. He loves his work, and loves competing even more so. He gets so frustrated when he see the others going off in the box. I'm hoping some form of injections etc can help, as at the minute hes certainly not himself. he doesn't even want grooming, just walks to the back of the stable. Hes worse when hes been out in the field, as he seems to get stuck after grazing. I tried to get him to lift his head yesterday, by offering treats, and he just couldn't. He exploded, when he settled down I gave him more bute, which seems to take the edge off a bit.

Thanks for the replies everyone

 

[ester]

I know of one but don't suspect he had any spurs with neuro concerns.

He lost his ability to canter transition. In a different home/regime- essentially 24/7 turnout and lots of hacking instead of dressage work he seemed to be pretty happy and he did go back dressaging again albeit on minimal schooling at home - he was well bred enough and had the basics enough that he didn't need keeping up together to do an elementary test.

 

[ester]

having searched, and was sold 3 years after the original sale and is still competing (and winning a lot!) of elementaries. It would be interesting to know which vertebrae were actually involved with him and whether they have just fused which means he can continue but not progress (he was winnig elems pre dx in 2009).

 

[Asha]

I know of one but don't suspect he had any spurs with neuro concerns.

He lost his ability to canter transition. In a different home/regime- essentially 24/7 turnout and lots of hacking instead of dressage work he seemed to be pretty happy and he did go back dressaging again albeit on minimal schooling at home - he was well bred enough and had the basics enough that he didn't need keeping up together to do an elementary test.

That's encouraging, thanks Ester. fingers crossed the expert vet can come up with something

 

[Asha]

Ive just spoken to the vet for an update. Unfortunately there is nothing they can do. They have recommended we PTS.

I'm heartbroken.

 

[ester]

Oh gosh, so sorry Asha

 

[Steerpike]

Sorry to hear

 

[ElectricChampagne]

Oh no I am so sorry! Great big hugs on the way to you.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Oh no, Asha, that is bleddy rubbish. Horses can be heartbreakers, can't they.

Is he one of your homebreds?

 

[Asha]

Oh no, Asha, that is bleddy rubbish. Horses can be heartbreakers, can't they.

Is he one of your homebreds?

Yes , my first born .

 

[dixie]

Oh blimey. I’m so sorry the prognosis wasn’t better.

 

[Tiddlypom]

What a lovely chap. This is awful beyond words.

Hugs xxxx

 

[Floofball]

Beautiful boy, so sorry you didn’t get better news, it’s heartbreaking when they’re in pain.

 

[scrapster]

So sorry x

 

[ozpoz]

Oh no, devastating for you. I'm so sorry.x

 

[rabatsa]

So sorry.

 

[Asha]

Beautiful boy, so sorry you didn’t get better news, it’s heartbreaking when they’re in pain.

It really is . I was hoping to give him a long and happy retirement. But the vets think he will deteriorate quickly. I went to the field last night , and his neck was stuck very low again . I just need to dig deep now and do the right thing .

Thank you all for your kind replies x