Not a good day - been to the vets.

Carefreegirl

Carefreegirl

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Took my horse to the vets today as she's been lame for a week with no improvement. Vet came out last week and nerveblocked the n/f which made no change so took her over for further investigation hoping just muscular high up. Gutted is an understatement :( after loads of trotting up, flexion tests etc she had xrays and has arthritis in her hock. She's only 8. Vet was pretty optimistic and has injected both hocks. I've to give her the rest of the week off and then 10 days walk followed by 10 days walk and trot then take her back for another check. Certainly wasn't the diagnosis I was expecting.

Has anyone got experience of these injections ? Do they work ? As I say vet seemed pretty optimistic and he's very forthright so ive been very brave and only cried once :)

Any GOOD stories please as I'm not ready for bad ones yet.
 
Sorry to hear about your girl
Found out my mare had it when she was 11 and she had the injections [i was told would last around a year and ended up last 1 year and a half!]and since she had them she went on too compete BS comfortably upto 1m [1.10jump offs] and did bit of XC, Hacking etc.
Shes just had her hocks re done resently and was jumping all the bonus jumps at RAF halton sponsored ride sunday.
So its not all doom and gloom x
 
:( But as ^^^^^ it's not necessarily a terrible diagnosis. Mine was diagnosed at 10 when we bought her and injected. She's gone on to jump up to 1.20 and compete at Medium BD (she'd never been out in dressage before she was 13) and is going better than ever at 15.

Management is key. Mine needs to walk A LOT. She won't get enough walking just being in the field, so she goes on the walker too and we usually do a mini hack before work to make sure that she's really warmed up before we start. Also experiment with joint supplements. I use apple cider vinegar, gluco-whatsit and MSM and am about to try tumeric on a a friend's advice!
 
Thank sjb, I know halton and if you're jumping the bonuses then there's no way your mare is in any discomfort :)
JGC - I know but when it's your own 'baby'..... Tumeric ??? What as in the powder ?
 
As others have said its nowhere near as bad as people think..

My guy was diagnosed when he was 7 (he is now 14) and does affiliated dressage. He never had injections (they weren't widely used when he was diagnosed), instead he was given bute whilst he was brought back into work.

It doesn't really affect him now, if he isn't worked for a few weeks he can be abit stiff but apart from that hes fine. The key with him is to keep him working.

Oh and I also feed him cortaflex which seems to help.
 
Had my current one injected six months ago and he's been a lot happier to carry his weight on his hocks since. If you are lucky, they will work, but if not it should only be a matter of time before they fuse. Both my spavined horses were under ten when it began.

I feed glucosamine and MSM.
 
You would not BELIEVE the number of horses at the very top of every discipline who require these injections to keep going. Depending on what they are injecting, it doesn't matter that you have had to do it quite young: hopefully you won't need to do him/her again for quite a while. All being well, there is no need for this outcome to limit your horse's capabilities in any way, so no wonder your vet was positive! I suspect that the opposite will be the case - you won't believe how scopy and confident he/she will feel now, it will be like a car with a new engine :) There, how's that for positive? :p
 
Thanks guys. Been to pub and your replies plus 2 large glasses of wine later I'm feeling much more optimistic :)
Hopefully we'll come on in leaps and bounds as the discomfort / pain must of been holding her back. From novice dressage to advanced in one injection :)
Seriously though spoken to my instructor and we're just going work her training round her 'hocks' now. We were working towards competing elementary in the summer and she
 
Sorry on phone !
She says we'll still work towards that but it may be the autumn. Can't change it but know what we're dealing with. Onwards and upwards :) :) :)
 
Snap - been to the vets today as well. However, I wont comment on my trip, its the subject of the thread I am about to write. I just wanted to say chin up love, from the posts on here it does not look like the end of the world. Lets hope your horse improves and gets back into work.

Life always looks better after a glass or two of wine, and I will be sending lots of healing vibes to you.
 
I don't have any experience but just wanted to send my regards. These horses, they're such heart breakers. Or at the very best a constant source of worry!
 
Thanks jess. I keep her at a stud and I've threatened her with a baby if she doesn't buck her ideas up ! I think she like the idea of a year off......
 
Don't get too upset, there are several drugs that can be used, some vastly more expensive then others, some last longer than others.

My boy 17.2 M/W was 11 when he first needed help. Both hocks done with the 'top end' stuff (insurance) that lasted him 2 years. Got stiff again in the depths of winter, little work and little turn out did not help him. Done again and lasted 12 months. Done again in the summer and has been sound ever since in his hocks, which more than can be said for his check ligament, but that is another story ! Vet also recommended hinds with heel supports.

As others have said many horses are medicated and lead a good active and often competitive life. You may look at my horses history and think what a crock, but those injections took him to 200 points, many county level ridden hunter championship wins and Hoys twice. So don't cry too many tears for your horse, a good vet and his box of modern tricks will sort you out.

The actual procedure does carry a risk of infection and most vets will want to do the injections in hospital.

Good luck and I hope all is well for your horse in the future.
 
If it makes you feel better both my horses are broken at the moment :( I think Nitty has been giving BH work avoidance guidance whilst I haven't been looking! :mad:
 
Thanks AA :) I only had a little 'wobble' when the vet mentioned suspensories - luckily scans show they're ok but got to keep an eye on if / when arthritis starts to really bother her.
Jess - that's crap news :( Hope yours aren't out of action for to long.
 
My horse is 6 and had both her hocks and stifles injected, best decision ever she is so much happier! i wouldnt worry!
 
carefreegirl said:
Jess - that's crap news :( Hope yours aren't out of action for to long.
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Well, Nits is always broken so I'm used to that. I don't think I'll ever get to do anything much with her :D

BH will be fine I'm sure. He's very lame and it came on suddenly. I usually find they're the types of lameness which clear up the easiest.
 
carefreegirl said:
Thanks AA :) I only had a little 'wobble' when the vet mentioned suspensories - luckily scans show they're ok but got to keep an eye on if / when arthritis starts to really bother her.
Jess - that's crap news :( Hope yours aren't out of action for to long.
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I had the world biggest wobble last August when my horse did his hind inferior check, he has been on box rest ever since. He has coped better than me, I have been to hell and back worrying about him. This thread has started me wondering if his hocks are still ok after all the months of barn rest. He starts walking on Easter Sunday so I guess I will find out then !
 
Jess - is Nits a tb by any chance ?
AA - good luck for Easter Sunday, not long to go....
Irobson - that's what I'm hoping, no more discomfort = happier horse= better work :)
 
Nitty is indeed the stereotypical TB! BH isn't much better. He looks chunky but he's probably about 3/4TB as well. I'm a glutton for punishment. :rolleyes: :D

I don't think he's very broken. He spent Sunday cantering down stony tracks because I couldn't persuade him to use the verge. I am pretty sure he's just stepped on something the big lout! :mad: Bit annoying as I had plans this week but as long as he recovers it isn't the end of the world.
 
Hi Haven't read all the responses in detail but they seem pretty positive. Strangely enough two at the yard where I keep mine have just had their hocks done - one is a 5 year old TB raced a couple of times and been being reschooled about a year and the other is a Friesian just started being ridden.

Keep us posted.
 
Hi HP, seems a very common occurrence reading the replies. I always suspected I was common :)
Aiming for Herts in June so depending how we get on may see you at Hickstead :)

Hows that for positive thinking :)
 
Injections did not work for my old horse but I gave him time and he is completely sound and has been hunted hard over the winter. So its certainly not the end of the world.
 
Pidge has had it twice in the same hock and injected each time. Before the first time we could not do any lateral work at all, since he's fine. Hasn't stopped us doing what we both enjoy
IMG_0496.jpg

I just make sure he stays on his joint supplement and keep him fit and not fat and take care on very hard or rutted ground which TBH I would do even if he didn't have the arthritis :D
When I first found out I thought it was the end of the world, but had a huge amount of support from people on here and they were right it isn't the end of the world.
Feel free to PM if you want to chat about anything?
 
It is not always doom and gloom, my boy had the injections to as well as a bilateral neurectomy, he's now back in full work and feeling better than ever. I've known of a lot that have had it and gone back to full work. And as someone else mentioned a lot of top level horses have multiple injections to keep them going, especially the Dressage ones.
 
carefreegirl said:
Thanks AA :) I only had a little 'wobble' when the vet mentioned suspensories - luckily scans show they're ok but got to keep an eye on if / when arthritis starts to really bother her.
Jess - that's crap news :( Hope yours aren't out of action for to long.
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I have a 5 yr old who had both hocks injected about a month ago. Vet laughed and said I was the only person who was so pleased that their horse was lame (after they blocked the suspensories and it didnt work)

Anyway did a dressage at the weekend and judge underlined comments about what a super walk pace he had.......so i guess injections are working!

good luck
 
Thanks guys and lovely pic pidgeon :) I'm actually looking forward to riding her now as she won't be in any pain / discomfort. I'd had the chiropractor out a few times recently which I put down to being a nutter in the field but the vet said needing things put back into place is a sure sign that somethings wrong lower down. I guess it's a case of thinking I know my horse to well and not thinking it's anything other than a playing in the field injury.

Just looked on my insurance and the right hock is excluded :( as she had the joint flushed as few years back. Better start doing some overtime.
 
TableDancer said:
You would not BELIEVE the number of horses at the very top of every discipline who require these injections to keep going. Depending on what they are injecting, it doesn't matter that you have had to do it quite young: hopefully you won't need to do him/her again for quite a while. All being well, there is no need for this outcome to limit your horse's capabilities in any way, so no wonder your vet was positive! I suspect that the opposite will be the case - you won't believe how scopy and confident he/she will feel now, it will be like a car with a new engine :) There, how's that for positive? :p
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^^^^ agree with TD! Sooo many horses out there have to have hock injections (some on a regular basis) and not only does it not limited them but it also makes you realise what they were lacking before.

Chin up, it's definitely not the end of her ridden career :)
 
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