ocd and what to feed to help joints???

[minmax]

My 3 yr old has ocd in the hock, had the joint injected and is now having 7 days of adequan(sp) and have to work him inhand till oct/nov then have him checked again then poss inject joint again and then see in Jan nxt year with xrays and scan if any changes. Vet has advised to find a feed that supports the needs for the joints ie copper etc. Any ideas? He is having Cortaflex HA already.

 

[Cliqmo]

Cortaflex provides the horse with the 'building blocks' by which the horse can produce its own joint lubricants- if the reason your horse struggles to produce lubricants isn't related to a lack of these building blocks, but rather with a problem in the the actual process, Cortaflex might not help and you may be better on a complete supplement- just a thought

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

My horse had Adequan jabs but one a week not one every day?

 

[eventrider23]

Surelimb in his feeds will ensure he is getting enough vits and mins but no calories.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Sorry - but I have never heard of any dietary supplements (or injections) helping if there is TRUE OCD (i.e. chips, or bits of ligament floating around.) If these are present in a 3 year old, they need to be removed by arthroscopy, or the horse will be a candidate for early onset arthritis - even if he doesn't go lame once he starts work!

Has surgery been mentioned?

 

[TarrSteps]

The only feed related approach to DJDs I've heard people use with any success is the "old fashioned" European practice of, at the first sign of any trouble, taking the horse off all concentrates except perhaps a vit/min and going to an "all hay" diet, keeping the horse lean and lowering protein intake. I'm not saying it's the most modern but it has been a go to approach for people used to dealing with such issues for a long time.

That said, if the horse has active, symptomatic OCD the die is cast. Removal of the chips and/or "smoothing" of the joint surfaces has been successful for some horses and some, of course, go on to live long, happy and sound lives with it anyway. Just a matter of waiting and seeing, probably.

I'd wonder about any feed being promoted for this condition and would want to see some proof. If your horse is being fed adequately then he should be getting all he needs. It's not even conclusive "too much" of what he needs is a problem UNLESS the horse is predisposed.

What were your vet's suggestions?

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
The only feed related approach to DJDs I've heard people use with any success is the "old fashioned" European practice of, at the first sign of any trouble, taking the horse off all concentrates except perhaps a vit/min and going to an "all hay" diet, keeping the horse lean and lowering protein intake.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep - that's the starting point if you think you MIGHT have a problem. I had a fast growing filly who - just after weaning - showed a bit of lameness plus heat and effusion in both stifles. She went onto immediate box rest with a modest haylage ration and a bit of SureLimb for mins/vits. After 3 months on this regime she was allowed limited exercise - and is now out in the field and showing no swelling or lameness. (Still on a forage only diet.)

It MIGHT have been early signs of OCD - we haven't x-rayed her yet. Not much point in the early stages because what you see may not be what you end up with - and no sense operating until it's stabilised. She WILL go for x-ray before backing at 3 - even if there are no more symptoms - and OCD often only shows up when a horse goes into work. If she needs surgery then, she'll have it.

 

[minmax]

He has, left hock- roughening of distal end of lateral malleolus, right stifle- subltle flattening of medial condyle. No chips or 'mice' as yet. swelling in the hock joint was present but is now monimal. Slight lameness on a circle on lunge.

 

[druid]

Calphormin is suggested as being useful - not sure if works though!

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
He has, left hock- roughening of distal end of lateral malleolus, right stifle- subltle flattening of medial condyle. No chips or 'mice' as yet. swelling in the hock joint was present but is now monimal. Slight lameness on a circle on lunge.

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds quite hopeful. Box rest, restricted diet but with a good min/vit supplement (I'd recommend SureLimb) and a good joint supplement (I'd recommend Riaflex Complete which has a slightly better spec than the vets' favourite Synequin at a third of the price!) might sort him out without the need for surgery.

If there are no chips at 3, I would expect you're through the worst of it - and it's just a case of allowing the joints to 'heal'.

 

[S_N]

Just seen this - ditto Janet! Good luck with it all henners!

 

[minmax]

Thankyou. Hav'nt been told to box rest tho, he is turned out with my older horse who is quiet. Was with a yearling colt who was mounting him and golloping round all the time. He is having the Adequan now, had first one today then will have 6 more at 4 day intervals. I'm to work him lightly in hand, with lunging on big circles and start long reining. Don't want to back him yet as a chunky type and don't want the strain on his joints! Wanted to wait till 3 + 1/2 before doing this sort of work but vet wants it done to work the joints....