Possible arthritis, clicky joints

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AndersonLucy

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hi, my 12 yo mare has clicky joints. Her right hind clicks when she lifts it off the floor. My vet has said it is probably due to reduced fluids in her joints and arthritis. She isn't unsound and I currently compete at affil dressage. BUT I have noticed she takes longer to warm up, is shorter in her stride and less willing to go forwards until she is properly worked in.
My question is knowing there is possible changes going on in her joints do I carry on progressing her training ( working towards medium) or back off now and resign myself to having to compete (or not at all) at a lower gentler level , or go through the expensive and invasive process of vets, injections, scans etc etc to find out and possible help or hinder her. Has any one else had this problem, and the outcome please
 
My 17yo mare has recently been diagnosed with early-stages Arthritis. She'd been a bit unsound on and off for a while out hacking, which prompted me to ask the vet to take a look and we took x-rays.

I'd be inclined to ask for x-rays TBH so you can see what's going on, in the first instance, and take it from there and then make whatever decisions you need to.

I'm giving mine a supplement recommended by my physio for her, its produced by a local vets and has achieved some good results.

Having vet investigations at the early stage meant that we could see what's going on and make decisions accordingly rather than worry about what might be going wrong. Also it meant that the vet and farrier could do a joint visit and work out how best to proceed, i.e. was any remedial farriery necessary. Good to get vet AND farrier involved if they'll both speak to each other!!

Good luck anyway............
 
Sounds like you need a proper assessment of her. TBH I have always thought that clicky joints were harmless and to do with the ligaments stretching like bands around the joints, and is normal. but I stand to be corrected.

Wikipedia says:

The physical mechanism causing a cracking sound produced by bending, twisting, or compressing joints is uncertain. Suggested causes include:
Cracking sounds occur when bubbles form in joints as they are pulled apart[1]
Cavitation within the joint—small cavities of partial vacuum form in the synovial fluid and then rapidly collapse, producing a sharp sound.
Rapid stretching of ligaments.[2]
Intra-articular (within-joint) adhesions being broken.[2]
 
Hiya, yes cracking on its own not a problem and as yet she is not bothered by it and is still working fine. But my vet said its due to less fluid in the joint capsule so there is wear and tear going on. All older horses and humans will have this but with other symptoms is a sign of arthritis and as vets do would suggest investigating. My worry is to start some thing that will show some changes, and let's face it what horse would not have changes as they get older, which then becomes a claim, exclusion on insurance etc. Do I reduce work now in anticipation of arthritis or keep going till she does become unsound. Wish she could talk to me!!
 
Its important to allow some form of exercise, low impact exercise, so no trotting excessively on the roads, or too much jumping until she has been diagnosed and treated. Once she's had treatment there is no reason why she can't continue the workload, that's the whole point.

Arthritic horses benefit from work on a daily basis alongside as much turnout as possible, keeping them shut up in a stable is the worse thing you can do for them.

A few xrays won't set you back too much, at least then you can make a decision of which way to go forwards. Putting her on a good joint supplement might work wonders, althoguh the really decent ones with lots of study behind them are very expensive.

If its spavin you suspect then you might start to see subtle changes, an unwillingness to go fowards, changing legs in canter or a disunited canter, clipping the hind toe on concrete/tarmac in trot. You can always take action then, although I would have thought you would get a better outcome if its picked up earlier rather than later.
 
applecart14 said:
Its important to allow some form of exercise, low impact exercise, so no trotting excessively on the roads, or too much jumping until she has been diagnosed and treated. Once she's had treatment there is no reason why she can't continue the workload, that's the whole point.

Arthritic horses benefit from work on a daily basis alongside as much turnout as possible, keeping them shut up in a stable is the worse thing you can do for them.

A few xrays won't set you back too much, at least then you can make a decision of which way to go forwards. Putting her on a good joint supplement might work wonders, althoguh the really decent ones with lots of study behind them are very expensive.

If its spavin you suspect then you might start to see subtle changes, an unwillingness to go fowards, changing legs in canter or a disunited canter, clipping the hind toe on concrete/tarmac in trot. You can always take action then, although I would have thought you would get a better outcome if its picked up earlier rather than later.
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Hi, thank you for the info. I don't as a matter of course trot on roads, go fast on hard ground, I don't jump very often as it's not our thing, and only on surfaces, I don't compete on grass only arenas. She is on a good supplement, my vet approved, also turmeric. I have magnetic boots, she is pretty much out 24/7 and worked very much according to how she feels and responds. I know the next step would be X-rays and scans just wanted to know if any one out there felt their horses change, and become clicky. nice to have these forums to bounce ideas off people. I am new to this site. Thank you
 
Mine has started clicking constantly and it happens when he isn't as well muscled. Mine had spavin diagnosed and the clicking carrying on after starting to put muscle on again after an illness which was odd for him as it had always stopped within a few days of work. I thought it was coming from the stifle/hip area but my vet reckons it's the fetlock - not sure who's right on that one as it sounds higher up to me! As Applecart say daily work if they can tolerate it, mine copes some days not others, but I try to at least long rein or ride 5 days a week - I need a day off and so does he!

As for supplements I find most don't work but someone has recommended Arthi-Aid to me so I'm going to give that a try and he is also being tested again for cushings as he is lethargic and I can't tell if it is sore hocks or metabolic! If only they could speak - although mine does a good job of frowning when he thinks I've got something wrong!
 
AndersonLucy said:
Hi, thank you for the info. I don't as a matter of course trot on roads, go fast on hard ground, I don't jump very often as it's not our thing, and only on surfaces, I don't compete on grass only arenas. She is on a good supplement, my vet approved, also turmeric. I have magnetic boots, she is pretty much out 24/7 and worked very much according to how she feels and responds. I know the next step would be X-rays and scans just wanted to know if any one out there felt their horses change, and become clicky. nice to have these forums to bounce ideas off people. I am new to this site. Thank you
Click to expand...

Glad to help, its a good site, this is why I enjoy coming on here, to bounce ideas of people and here their experiences. You might not agree with what they say but sometimes someone will suggest something and you go "Oh gosh I never thought of that!".

Yeah forgot to mention magnetic boots, I am a big fan of these and my horse has worn these every day for about 10 years now, the bioflow ones. He's had a break from them over the summer because they were rubbing his legs and making them sore but I will start putting them back on when he is stabled more during the day as they only go out for 2 hours a day in the winter in a sandpit instead of a field, which I really think had helped with his joints, and previous injuries.

Weight is another biggy, trying to keep as much weight of your horse as possible to help with their joints. I'm starting a bit of a fitness drive again with myself and my horse and aim to get about 30-40KG off him, he currently weighs in at around 700KG. This will really help him.
 
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