sacroiliac joint issue - experience of long term prognosis

[Fizzandfun]

We bought my 9 year old daughter a first ridden last September. He’s NFP x Welsh. 17 years old. Done everything. Beautiful pony and the first three months were fantastic. Then this January his behaviour changed and he became unpredictable on the ground and unhappy ridden.

After tests, scoping, blocking we eventually had him bone scanned and according to the hospital, it’s the worst case of sacroiliac joint issues she has seen, particularly for a pony. Ultra sound has shown boney changes too so he’s been in a lot of pain which explains everything. Note that his limbs are all clean and so it’s not a secondary issue. Vet has suggested some sort of trauma in the field although it could be older (he passed 5 stage vetting in September).

We’re going to try treating over the next few month although that could be limited due to lami risk. Vet said that if he was to improve, she’d expect to see improvement in the first 8 weeks.

I have asked what the long term prognosis is for him. He’s likely never going to be ridden again, and certainly not for our purpose as a first ridden. My daughters confidence is in the floor with everything as it is. Luckily she can plod around on a little welshie at the yard but I’m not sure if she’ll find the love again.

We are on working livery at a small and friendly supportive yard and my daughter was having several lessons a week. He’s now on full livery as he clearly can’t be ridden.

Long term I’m not sure what to do for the best. He’ll buck when being lead from the field if he catches his back. I won’t allow any child to handle him as he’s not safe. I have the option to retire him at another retirement yard but I’d like to know if this is a possibility for him. If he’s always going to be in low level pain, should we consider PTS? I don’t believe in keeping any animal in pain but I’ve no experience of this disease and so I’d like to hear from those who do.

Thank you

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine had sacroiliac pain but he also had hock arthritis and suspensory damage behind so was probably caused by the other issues, we didn't actually investigate the sacroiliac we just medicated it as a matter of course as the canter had deteriorated.

I saw an improvement within about 10 days and his continued to get better ever since that was about 4 months ago his 19 this year.

 

[Fizzandfun]

Mine had sacroiliac pain but he also had hock arthritis and suspensory damage behind so was probably caused by the other issues, we didn't actually investigate the sacroiliac we just medicated it as a matter of course as the canter had deteriorated.

I saw an improvement within about 10 days and his continued to get better ever since that was about 4 months ago his 19 this year.

Great to hear about your horses improvement. I think sadly we’re in a different situation as it’s likely he’ll never be ridden again, certainly not as a first ridden. His isn’t a secondary issues unfortunately.

I hope your horse continues to improve

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Great to hear about your horses improvement. I think sadly we’re in a different situation as it’s likely he’ll never be ridden again, certainly not as a first ridden. His isn’t a secondary issues unfortunately.

I hope your horse continues to improve

Thank you it's such a shame about your pony.

Was it steroids they were going to try?

 

[sbloom]

Deleted for not reading properly!

 

[Fizzandfun]

Thank you it's such a shame about your pony.

Was it steroids they were going to try?

He’s only 13.2hh and lami risk so steroids are likely to be out. Also, seems unfair to put him on steroids to be field sound?

 

[Tiddlypom]

If you have a good chiro vet, then I'd 100% recommend them to look at the pony. What mine has done to keep my mare pain free and happy after she sustained a major pelvic injury in the field in early lockdown is nothing short of miraculous.
Mare did have both SI joints medicated too, but that was last done in Aug 20. My chiro vet and regular vet work in tandem.

The steroids are injected directly into the SI joints with s0dding long needles, they aren't given orally. My mare has controlled Cushing's but her weight was good and the lami risk from the SI joint medications was considered to be low.

However, if the pony cannot be made comfortable then PTS is the responsible thing to do.

 

[millikins]

My daughter's mare damaged her SI, we have no idea how, can only think she slipped in the field. She had extensive treatment including injecting the joint, physio etc but sadly she didn't ever come right and we pts. In hindsight I think she might have done better just turned away for a year but that's not the first thing you think when the animal presents as "not quite right". I'm sorry that's probably not what you wanted to hear, there is a FB group with lots of members, many have successfully rehabbed.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have been through this with a friends horse it did not end well this horse did it when it put one hind leg down a rabbit hole .
Paying livery with a child I would PTS and buy another pony .
Its an awful thing but you only get a chance to be a child with a pony once .
You will have to manage it with your daughter , I would probably consider sending him to a retirement yard briefly and then get the deed done .

 

[Fizzandfun]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I’m definitely happy to try suitable treatment - the chiro vet sounds like a great option.

I guess the question is will it help him in the long term? If he slips again in they field can it reoccur? Will he have issues getting up? All crystal ball questions.

We can turn him out 24/7 for six months and see how he is although my daughter will never get on him again, and we’d never sell him so he’s with us. We’ll do what’s right but knowing if it’s right for him to live in persist pain as he clearly is now is the hard question. I guess we’ll know more in a few months to see how he is responding to treatment. It’s all so sad that it’s ended the way it has.

 

[ester]

Plenty of metabolically compromised horses and ponies get steriods injected into joints and if it's that or PTS because he's not comfortable it's worth considering/chatting to the vet. Generally they are kept in a day or 2 after in part to limit lami risk, but also to limit the joint movement post injection. But I don't think vets say 'worse I've ever seen' very often and that would certainly concern me re. pain levels, it sounds like he's been successfully covering up the pain for a long time.

If he were mine I think he'd get the stifles injected asap, be turned out to decide whether the retirement home was a feasible/best option for him or whether he is still in too much pain for that to be fair.

 

[Fizzandfun]

Yep, I wasn’t great to hear. And honestly his behavioural change has been like a switch has been switched so he’s definitely made it loud and clear that he’s in acute pain.

I have the option to turn him out for the next six months so I think we’ll have to see how he gets on in the next two month with treatment and then decide.

 

[SEL]

My EMS horse had steroid into her SI, arthramid into her hocks and a course of physio. I wouldn't not inject because of the EMS - it goes into the joint so the lami risk is small. I kept a muzzle on her for a week to be on the safe side but no pulses or other issues.

I think I'd try in your case. It sounds like he's borderline PTS anyway so if by some remote chance he gets laminitis then at least you know you tried.