OCD in stifle

Mine had OCD in both stifles, arthroscopy, 9 months box rest (hell) and gradual return to work, 12 months after the op pronounced 99% likely to be fine for the rest of his life, but a further 6 months later problem recurred. Unfortunately he had to be PTS.
 
My friends horse has OCD and was treated at Rossdales with everything that could have possibly cured her but unfortunately nothing worked and she has been retired since 6 years old. She gets stiff from time to time and is never 100% sound but she's happy with her field family. When it starts to give her constant pain my friend will end her suffering :(
 
Countrychic said:
Thanks that confirms my thoughts, I'm not prepared to put a horse through hell for a low chance of soundness
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But then you never know, your horse may well respond to the first treatment you try! There are others that have responded to you saying that their horses are coming back into work.
I'm of the opinion that if you can afford it and the horse has some chance then you should do everything you can before you call it a day. It might NOT be hell, the treatments my friend used involved mostly injections, she only had 1 lot of keyhole surgery....her insurance covered everything.
What has your vet said?
 
Countrychic said:
Thanks that confirms my thoughts, I'm not prepared to put a horse through hell for a low chance of soundness
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How old is horse? How big is horse? how bad is the OCD?

All these have a bearing on how well the horse will recover after surgery. Please also bare in mind that most horses take longer to recover soundness after the opp than vets predict.

I had a filly diagnosed at 9 months and had the opp at 16 months... is now sound but how much work she will be able to do is yet unknown. Hers was the worst case her VERY experienced surgeon had ever seen.
 
9 month filly, standing 14.1 and 14.3 at the bum at the mo. Very well bred and lovely sweet thing. Was intended to be used for show jumping around 1.40+ if all had gone to plan. Don't know extent yet, x rays next week. Vet indicated he feels it looks like it could be a nasty case.
Not sure that I would put a baby through a lengthy box rest to be a 17hh hack. I have had terrible experience with a horse with spavin and 3 yrs down the line he is retired at 11 and I wish I'd saved myself the money and hassle and accepted he wouldn't show jump again.
I really rate this filly and have everything crossed that it's somethi g else. but vet seemed convinced
 
It's early days yet and perhaps she has mild case that can be treated more easily. To be honest if I had to do it all again, I probably would, but I would not do the box rest. I know this is controvercial but the horse went loopy on box rest which did not help his recovery, nor his temperament and it was a miracle no one was hurt. I would keep turning out in a very small paddock to keep the illusion of normality and I would send the horse to a professional for its rehab ridden work. But despite the bad outcome with my boy I would do it all again as at least it gave him a chance.
 
i think if i had to do it all again i'd do more box rest! my horse was good as gold in the box but he only had 6wks box rest and then was meant to have 6mths paddock rest. 2days later he came in hopping lame on the opposite hind leg with a big swollen hock. back on box rest for another 10d. out again gradually and doped up on ACP but still skidding round the field like a loony. after 2mths still skidding up to the fence and coming up lame so vet told me to start riding him in walk which we did for 30mins twice weekly for 4mths until he got the all clear to come back into work 3mths ago. With hindsight I wish I'd kept him in and worked him from the stable and not turned out until he was 100% back in work. different horses prefer different routines.
 
hmmmm yeah I can understand your gut feeling. I was advised by my vet that mine wouldn't be ridable but she is now back with her breeder who says she's sound and she's backing her this year. I think, the younger they are the better chance they have as they heel so much better. I think you need to find out the extent of the OCD and go from there.

Mine was on box rest for a year in the end (had lots of other growth related problems too) and she coped remarkably well, although did start turning herself inside out a bit towards the end.
 
My colt was diagnosed with OCD at 10 months old had box rest and paddock rest and then the keyhole operation to remove the floating bone chips with more box and paddock rest afterwards... His vet is very hopeful that he will be the horse he would of been without his problem, one reason is because he is still young and he wont finish developing until he is 2 and a half ... It was alot of upset and alot of work but I would do it all again, He is now nearly 2 and still has a slight swelling in his hock but we are hoping he will be ok and will know when he is broken at 4 yrs old..

Good luck and dont give up .....
 
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