Plan for investigating possible arthritis

[MereChristmas]

I expect this has been dealt with before however, here goes

Mature pony, on the early side of elderly, is fit, well and hacking out without trouble. However he has slight problems going down hill. I thought, as you might expect me to, arthritis.
How do I begin to investigate this? My vet, although a horse owner, is not an equine specialist and to my knowledge the practice doesn’t have the equipment or facilities to do full work up etc.
A plan of action is needed.
What should I do?
Begin by contacting my vet, ask what they could do and if they can’t offer much, ask for a referral?
I don’t want to pay twice for investigations.
Thanks

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'd ask for referral straight away to an equine vet or hospital.

 

[MereChristmas]

I'd ask for referral straight away to an equine vet or hospital.

Does anyone know if practices would do this without seeing the pony?

 

[ycbm]

You don't need to ask for a referral to a vet hospital, they are mostly just vet practices with a hospital. Just ring the practice and book in for a performance workup.

There are 3 practices near me with hospitals that will take direct bookings.

 

[MereChristmas]

You don't need to ask for a referral to a vet hospital, they are mostly just vet practices with a hospital. Just ring the practice and book in for a performance workup.

There are 3 practices near me with hospitals that will take direct bookings.

Thank you. I thought you had to be referred. I will investigate further.

 

[ycbm]

I think the vet school hospitals like Leahurst/Liverpool and Edinburgh/Royal Dick need a referral, but, in this area at least, there are standard vet practices which have invested in hospitals and those you can go to direct by registering as a client.

They are well used to doing performance workups.
.

 

[Melody Grey]

Which area of the country are you in roughly @Meredith? Maybe we can suggest which hospitals might be worth contacting?

 

[MereChristmas]

Which area of the country are you in roughly @Meredith? Maybe we can suggest which hospitals might be worth contacting?

Probably miles from any where, we usually are.
About half way down the Welsh border on the English side

 

[ihatework]

Don’t bother with a non specialist vet.
Just register with your local bigger equine practice and book in for a basic work up. It will be much cheaper in long term. Just be clear on your brief and budget, for an older horse with symptoms they should hopefully be able to identify most likely joints just from visual/flexion then target imaging accordingly

 

[MereChristmas]

Don’t bother with a non specialist vet.
Just register with your LOCAL bigger equine practice and book in for a basic work up. It will be much cheaper in long term. Just be clear on your brief and budget, for an older horse with symptoms they should hopefully be able to identify most likely joints just from visual/flexion then target imaging accordingly

Thank you. I’ve highlighted one word as I’ve not found anything close yet.

 

[gryff]

Abbey Equine Centre | Experts In Equine Health

Abbey Equine Clinic is located just outside the idyllic town of Abergavenny “The Gateway to Wales”. We are ideally located to provide high-quality veterinary cover across the valleys and Monmouthshire.

www.abbeyequine.co.uk

Would these be too far? I know they've got an excellent reputation. I'm Swansea area, and some people around here prefer to take their horses to this practice.

 

[SEL]

You could start with your own basic checks and video him being trotted up straight line and on the lunge. That might make it more obvious if there's a specific leg / foot which you could then discuss with your local vet.

After a hideously expensive and not hugely productive session at an equine vet I'm more cautious about just handing over a NQR horse these days.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I assumed everyone in this country had mobile equine vets who come to you with scanners and x-rays? I thought this was the norm ?
Here in SW a non-equine vet won't do horses at all.
Or am I spoiled for choice?
My vets go a bit further and perform procedures and even surgeries at your premises. I've seen them remove a keratoma at our yard !

 

[MereChristmas]

Abbey Equine Centre | Experts In Equine Health

Abbey Equine Clinic is located just outside the idyllic town of Abergavenny “The Gateway to Wales”. We are ideally located to provide high-quality veterinary cover across the valleys and Monmouthshire.

www.abbeyequine.co.uk

Would these be too far? I know they've got an excellent reputation. I'm Swansea area, and some people around here prefer to take their horses to this practice.

Thank you but it’s over 60 miles away

 

[MereChristmas]

I assumed everyone in this country had mobile equine vets who come to you with scanners and x-rays? I thought this was the norm ?
Here in SW a non-equine vet won't do horses at all.
Or am I spoiled for choice?
My vets go a bit further and perform procedures and even surgeries at your premises. I've seen them remove a keratoma at our yard !

My vets treat small animals and horses but their main area is sheep and cattle.

 

[ihatework]

Thank you. I’ve highlighted one word as I’ve not found anything close yet.

There must be somewhere within 60-90 mins with hospital facilities (it’s definitely worth finding out and knowing where you are going to box in an emergency).
I’m not the area but I’m sure someone can give options. Only one I know vaguely in that direction would be three counties.

 

[GreyDot]

I have had a positive personal experience with these vets.
English side of Welsh border

Lower House Equine Clinic | Experts In Equine Health | Vets in Shropshire

Setting Vetinary Standards - Our Passion is your Horse. For Out Of Hours Call 01691 830 444

lowerhouseequineclinic.co.uk

 

[SantaVera]

Before going down the vet route I'd think about what I will do if arthritis is found. What treatment are you prepared to have? As you say horse is hacking ok except for down hill, can you minimise hill work? Could you try a bute trial to see if it's pain related in the first instance,much cheaper than x-ray and if the horse is still reluctant downhill then it's unlikely to be pain related and possibly due to something else like just being unbalanced.

 

[MereChristmas]

Before going down the vet route I'd think about what I will do if arthritis is found. What treatment are you prepared to have? As you say horse is hacking ok except for down hill, can you minimise hill work? Could you try a bute trial to see if it's pain related in the first instance,much cheaper than x-ray and if the horse is still reluctant downhill then it's unlikely to be pain related and possibly due to something else like just being unbalanced.

Thanks for your suggestions.
I cannot minimise hill work unfortunately. They are every where here!
Pony had a bute trial before his ulcer diagnosis. It made very little difference to his way of going downhill but that may have been because the ulcer pain made him extremely reactive.
He hasn’t got much worse in the last year but I wanted to be prepared.
Physio says he is a little stiff but not too bad considering his age.

There must be somewhere within 60-90 mins with hospital facilities (it’s definitely worth finding out and knowing where you are going to box in an emergency).
I’m not the area but I’m sure someone can give options. Only one I know vaguely in that direction would be three counties.

Thanks. I know Three Counties. It is 60 miles away. None of the routes are easy driving sadly.

I have had a positive personal experience with these vets.
English side of Welsh border

Lower House Equine Clinic | Experts In Equine Health | Vets in Shropshire

Setting Vetinary Standards - Our Passion is your Horse. For Out Of Hours Call 01691 830 444

lowerhouseequineclinic.co.uk

Thanks. I had forgotten Lower House. It is a bit closer.

 

[toppedoff]

Going nothing to add but I hope all goes okay

 

[Sossigpoker]

My vets treat small animals and horses but their main area is sheep and cattle.

We had vets like that here about 10-20 years ago , now we have several equine vets and small /farm animal vets won't do horses. I assumed that was the norm.

 

[MereChristmas]

We had vets like that here about 10-20 years ago , now we have several equine vets and small /farm animal vets won't do horses. I assumed that was the norm.

Where are you?
I live in the middle Welsh Marches, England side.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Where are you?
I live in the middle Welsh Marches, England side.

South West England

 

[MereChristmas]

South West England

Not an area I know much about, except for some holidays over 50 years ago

 

[Sossigpoker]

Not an area I know much about, except for some holidays over 50 years ago

I'm not even that far SW lol !