OCD in stifles and back

[ElvisandTilly]

My 6 year old gelding has just been diagnosed with OCD in both stifles, and back. Its worse in his left hind. It started with him not walking straight, his back legs not following his fronts. Thankfully I got him checked out straight away!

They are injecting into the joints first and op as a very final try if all else fails.

Has anyone experienced this with their horse and had the injections and what was the response? Was it good?

He has been on good grass for the summer and has filled out and grown up looking more mature could this have caused a growth spurt due to the wet summer and good grass we have had?

Any advice or info would be appreciated as only just found out and its all unclear in my head!!!

 

[Halfstep]

I know about hock ocd as my horse had it (well a chip caused by trauma, not developmental but same thing really). There was no question at all about getting it operated on. From everything I read and heard about from the vets, the only way to prevent the joint from deteriorating over time and arthritis setting in is to remove the chips. They do this through keyhole surgery using an arthroscope. They usually inject the joint around six weeks after surgery to remove any residual inflammation.

Injecting will only alleviate the symptoms short term, I'm afraid. The chips will still be in the joint and still be causing wear to the cartilage. If the horse has already started to show locomotion changes, I would go straight for the operation but get a very good surgeon who has done a lot of these ops to do it, as the stifle joint is complicated!

Good luck.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

Thank you for that halfstep. As far as I am aware, as I haven't yet seen the xrays and scans yet, that there are no bone chips in the joints, its the cartilage that is just inflammed and thinning of bone density in his spine.

The vet he has seen was very positive that he will respond to the injections. I will ask about this and will be viewing the xrays and scans when the jabs are to be done just to make sure we are not wasting time and money when op is the only way forward.

Will update when seen the vet.

Thanks again. x

 

[CBFan]

Hi!

Just to put your mind at rest it is very unlikely to be anything that you have done in recent years that caused this and more likely something that got overlooked when he was a yearling / 2yo that has only just shown up as his workload has increased.

My 17 month old filly has it and my vet has assured me that surgery / treatment for it is usually very successful and horses go on to persue successful competitive careers. unfortunately for me my filly is one of the worst cases they (surgeon and vet) have ever operated on and at best will make a light hack.

Sorry if I sound negative about my girl but by the sounds of it your boy sounds like a much more positive case - especially as it obviously hasn't cased any problems until now. I can't stress the importance of rest and anti-inflamitories though - follow your vets instructions to a T. I echo the thought on going for surgery ASAP. it's his best hope of a pain free and sound future but you can't expect complete soundness until 6 months after op.

Good luck! If you need any more help / advice / support PM me... after 10 months of it I know a fair bit... chin up hun xxx

 

[StephanieKoczy]

oooh this is one thing I know of very well lol! its a terrible thiong to have diagnosed but please dont think its the end of everything!

My girl was diagnosed with OCD in both hocks and srifles after I found she was dragging her right hind in trot. We had nerve blocks and Xrays with our local vet and he told me what she had. So...I was give the option injections or surgery.

THe problem with injections is that the symptoms are helped, but the underlying problem will remain until its sorted. So, about 3 days later she was off to Newmarket where she was operated on (june of this year) She is 5 this year and after 1 month box rest...lots of walking inhand, then ridden, introducing trot about 2 days ago we had our first canter since her op. She is sorted now and back in regular work and she couldnt look happier.

So there you go, Ive been there and done that and dont stick to one thing, weigh out your options. Im a student from a non-horsey family so BIG decision! Good luck with everything, Ill be thinking bout you both!

 

[ElvisandTilly]

Thank you all for your positive replies!

Just had vet out to reassess Flin, and to show me the xrays etc and discuss what next. After reading Halfsteps reply I had decided I wanted to go for the decision to have the joint arthroscoped at least.

After speaking to the vet and seeing the xrays, he wanted to go straight for the op as he hasn't shown any improvement with physio or box rest and has had lamesness for quite a few weeks now. Nothing too obvious like chips of bone in the joint on his xray but some surface edges look rough, so its very early stages of OCD. He says they can treat it whilst in there and will know more of what is going on once they have looked as it could be a torn meniscus or something else.

I have to ring the office tomorrow to get him booked in but it looks like it will be next week now.

His problem with his back is a separate issue and should respond well just to the injections but its the least of his problems at the moment so we will start treatment for that once op out of way and starting recovery.

Although it is serious I feel quite positive about his outcome after reading your posts and anything else I can find on the t'internet!

I will update on progress and good vibes will be needed in buckets full!!

Thanks again to you all. x