Really need cheering up.

[fallenangel123]

Sorry in advance for this pity party I am having but I need to offload and figure a different perspective might help.

My 19 year old mare was diagnosed with arthritic changes in her joints, basically everything but her right hind! She has been comfortable on glucosamine and got her down to half a bute a day, vet said fine to do light hacking with her which I did. Last month she seemed unlevel in front and vet suggested upping the bute gradually as there was no obvious cause, she came sound at one and a half a day.

Yesterday she trotted up lame again both in front and behind.

I am so depressed, honestly if she can't stay paddock sound on that level of bute then I feel I am just trying to keep her going for me, not really what is best for her. She has never been a good doer and winter is always tough to keep weight on. So tell me am I right that it is probably time to call it a day or am I missing something obvious??

 

[ATrueClassAct]

Is she just having arthiritic changes? My girl Is 22 and earlier this year she came in hopping lame from the field. Thought to have done her tendon completely in. Our old vet did all the tendon tests etc and after a week she was completely sound. So vet scanned etc again but couldn't find out what was wrong. Had to have a referral to another vet. Vet came out, did all the lameness test on her, she had just been through a slight arthritic change and banged the painful part in the field. Brought back into full work, I just have to keep an eye on it. Turned out that some of the lameness was due to a weaker immune system with Cushings, so she suffered more with feet/leg problems. However my vet said that she should be ridden for as much as she can( and she's ridden 1 hour, 6 times a week and very fit. Does everything.) where as 4 years ago she was on bute once a. Day and would often be lame/stiff since she wasn't being worked properly due to the fact I was bogged down by school.
4 years later, no bute and 100% sound. When it comes to arthiric changes you have to try and keep them active and preferably as the nights get colder, keep the legs wrapped up! Just try and perserve through it and if any doubt. Talk to your vet!

 

[Cluny]

I'm so sorry, my heart goes out to you. My WB has been diagnosed with arthritis in his neck and impingement of his spinal cord due to bony growth. He is on a heavy dosage of human steroids (120 pills a day), to bring down the inflammation, and it has worked to a certain extent, but I'm not feeling too positive at the moment either.

 

[snopuma]

I'm so sorry, my heart goes out to you. My WB has been diagnosed with arthritis in his neck and impingement of his spinal cord due to bony growth. He is on a heavy dosage of human steroids (120 pills a day), to bring down the inflammation, and it has worked to a certain extent, but I'm not feeling too positive at the moment either.

This is exactly what my old boy has, he is 31 and for 3 years has been on 100 steroids a day, for three years I have said I will not put him through another winter, but he keeps on going, at first with this 'wobblers' i had to put him in a small paddock on his own, he was completely wonky and walking in travers all the time, now you wouldn't know, I tried to reduce the tablets by 5 less once but he was instantly wonky again, so now I have a hard decision of when to do it, he is very tired but he is a big boy and it is an amazing age, I have had him since he was 4 and he has always been a good and brilliant boy, its so hard to say goodbye to him.