Sickle hocks and possible bone spavin - any experiences?

[DuckToller]

Our 18yr old 11.3hh shetland x is having problems with his off hind. The first sign was a year ago, when he was stiff after doing games practice. He had done two sessions (more hanging about than working hard though), so I cut him back to one session every other week and he was sound from then on.

He went suddenly very lame in that leg during a flatwork lesson a couple of weeks ago, almost dragging the leg behind for a few strides, then he was ok again, before the rider even had a chance to pull him up. I assumed it was a stone (he's not shod behind).

Saturday morning he did a short session of games (not full speed and not much bending) and then a few hours later a one-hour flatwork lesson, but again in a group and not much trotting/cantering. He was hugely lame Saturday afternoon when he came in from the field, not too bad Sunday, and sound again by Monday.

Does this sound like bone spavin or arthritis? He has very sickle hocks, farrier years ago said "They'll be f***ed before long!" in that matter-of-fact way that farriers have.

Will get the vet out, but no point at the moment as he is sound again, wondering what the prognosis will be if it is bone spavin.

Suspect his games career is over, but he needs to do some work as he is a thelwell type and will be lami by the end of the month if he isn't doing something. Tricky!

 

[Birker2020]

Spavin symptoms are usually dragging the toe, intermittent lameness, prounounced hip lifting on lame leg. My horse has bone spavin and he has had intra articular injections, Tildren and is on Equine America '10,000mg glucosamine with MSM' as MSM is very good for bone spavin. I would recommend the Tildren only if you are insured as it is about £350-£400 a shot and you probably need two the first year but it is the best stuff available for spavin and navicular atm. PM if I can be of further help (only available weekday lunchtime).

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Could it be a sticking stifle? Minis and shetlands are very prone to this- we had one that had the same symptoms and Bob Baskerville did a quick keyhole style op and completely cured it!

 

[cellie]

My horse had surgery for spavin last january.The vet can do a flexation test or possibly you could do one yourself this is the first step of diagnosis.You have several options for treatment.

 

[DuckToller]

applecart14 - he has far more wear on the toe on that hoof than on the other, so that points to spavin then. He is not insured, so will have to give the Tildren a miss, but will try the Equine America with MSM.

D_D_D - I did wonder at first about locking stifle, as my previous horse had it, but since that time in the school he has been more hopping lame than dragging, so maybe that was a red herring, although he is doing less work, so perhaps he has less muscle mass there than he used to.