Stem cell treatment for mild hock arthritis?

[Amyrossiter1992]

Hi there I've read all the posts on here from this topic but wanted too ask again and ask a few other questions!... So I have a Irish draught mare 5 years old bought her 5 months ago obviously worked too young before I had her and she's just been diagnosed from xrays and lameness test that she had mild arthritis or bone spavin but not lame atall just stiff on turning and when warming up its in her 2 back hocks one worse than the other but apparently very mild. So had stem cells injections in both 2 weeks ago and she's still on box rest planning on using sedaline and turning out in a weeks time... Any people out there gone through this and have positive stories or anyone that stem cells didn't work for so they tried something else we just want too hack her a few fun rides a year and some jumping now and then! Any positive ideas on rehabilitation ideas also I'm trying too take it very slow she could have gone out a week ago too full turnout but I feel she would gallop off like a loon! So prospone it another week anyone evened after this procedure and how long has it lasted if its positive? Vet has said it could quote possibly fix her forever and have spoken too a few that that has happened for they were racers tho! Any info about this atall would be greatly appreciated!

 

[hopscotch bandit]

I wasn't aware you could use stem cells in the treatment of spavin. Thought that was for tendons and ligaments.

Are you referring to IRAP which is protein rich serum and is used in joints?

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

I wasn't aware you could use stem cells in the treatment of spavin. Thought that was for tendons and ligaments.

Are you referring to IRAP which is protein rich serum and is used in joints?

Hi the vet had told me it's lower hock pain due too mild arthritis that's what it is specifically I've just read that bone spavin is the same thing? Maybe I read that incorrectly sorry! And it's the stem cell injections she had into both hocks have u had this treatment for your horses before any info?

 

[HelenBack]

They're getting quite into stem cell therapy at my vets and I know of a couple of horses that have had it done. My understanding is it's best used in cases of mild arthritis, and where the arthritis is more advanced another treatment option might be preferable. At the moment though I think the problem is that the treatment is still relatively new and so it doesn't yet have lots of evidence to back it up. I gather the vets are seeing several cases where it's really helpful but also starting see cases where it seems to work for a while but then after 9 months or so the horses are sore again. Obviously it's a lot to spend if it doesn't give you a long term result but if it does work for the long term that's really good.

It sounds like in your case with your horse being young and only having mild arthritis it's definitely worth a go, especially if you have insurance. Hopefully your horse will be one that benefits from it for a good while, but if not then there are still other things you can try.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

They're getting quite into stem cell therapy at my vets and I know of a couple of horses that have had it done. My understanding is it's best used in cases of mild arthritis, and where the arthritis is more advanced another treatment option might be preferable. At the moment though I think the problem is that the treatment is still relatively new and so it doesn't yet have lots of evidence to back it up. I gather the vets are seeing several cases where it's really helpful but also starting see cases where it seems to work for a while but then after 9 months or so the horses are sore again. Obviously it's a lot to spend if it doesn't give you a long term result but if it does work for the long term that's really good.

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That's really interesting, thanks for taking the time to explain.

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

They're getting quite into stem cell therapy at my vets and I know of a couple of horses that have had it done. My understanding is it's best used in cases of mild arthritis, and where the arthritis is more advanced another treatment option might be preferable. At the moment though I think the problem is that the treatment is still relatively new and so it doesn't yet have lots of evidence to back it up. I gather the vets are seeing several cases where it's really helpful but also starting see cases where it seems to work for a while but then after 9 months or so the horses are sore again. Obviously it's a lot to spend if it doesn't give you a long term result but if it does work for the long term that's really good.

It sounds like in your caswith your horse being young and only having mild arthritis it's definitely worth a go, especially if you have insurance. Hopefully your horse will be one that benefits from it for a good while, but if not then there are still other things you can try.

I hope so she's so perfect in every way and so quiet for such a young horse! My vet told me t

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

Thank u for your reply! X

 

[Michen]

Worth a go, I might mention this to my vet.

For what it's worth I have a 9 year old with hock arthiritis. He was injected 10 months ago now with steroids and had Tildren and hasn't needed doing since. He is kept fit and lean.

I do, however, have him looked at by a vet every 2-3 months including flexions and he will also have an under saddle assessment soon as well. He is slightly lame in one hind post flexion but it trots out well before the end of the trot up. I also had x rays done on all four feet to ensure things were ok, so that any compensatory foot balance issues could be addressed.

Appreciate this is extreme, my horse had a rare ligament injury earlier last year too, so I'm ultra cautious. But I do think it's worth really keeping on top of any changes with spavin because it can be so subtle and then affect other areas of the body as they compensate.

He's currently in the best form he has ever been in his life.

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

Worth a go, I might mention this to my vet.

For what it's worth I have a 9 year old with hock arthiritis. He was injected 10 months ago now with steroids and had Tildren and hasn't needed doing since. He is kept fit and lean.

I do, however, have him looked at by a vet every 2-3 months including flexions and he will also have an under saddle assessment soon as well. He is slightly lame in one hind post flexion but it trots out well before the end of the trot up. I also had x rays done on all four feet to ensure things were ok, so that any compensatory foot balance issues could be addressed.

Appreciate this is extreme, my horse had a rare ligament injury earlier last year too, so I'm ultra cautious. But I do think it's worth really keeping on top of any changes with spavin because it can be so subtle and then affect other areas of the body as they compensate.

He's currently in the best form he has ever been in his life.

That's really helpful and glad too here yours is sound and doing well! It's such a worry with them isn't it and yes mine also had remedial farrier work done also as she wasent even let me know what your vet says about it! Thanks again

 

[HelenBack]

Worth a go, I might mention this to my vet.

For what it's worth I have a 9 year old with hock arthiritis. He was injected 10 months ago now with steroids and had Tildren and hasn't needed doing since. He is kept fit and lean.

I do, however, have him looked at by a vet every 2-3 months including flexions and he will also have an under saddle assessment soon as well. He is slightly lame in one hind post flexion but it trots out well before the end of the trot up. I also had x rays done on all four feet to ensure things were ok, so that any compensatory foot balance issues could be addressed.

Appreciate this is extreme, my horse had a rare ligament injury earlier last year too, so I'm ultra cautious. But I do think it's worth really keeping on top of any changes with spavin because it can be so subtle and then affect other areas of the body as they compensate.

He's currently in the best form he has ever been in his life.

Deffo worth asking your vet in your case I think, although I get the impression like with a lot of new things some vets are very excited about it and others less so! The idea is that it's regenerative though which I think is why they go for it in younger horses/ milder cases.

It's not cheap, about 2.5k just for the stem cells before you add in costs for vet to put them in. Quite an expensive experiment so maybe that's why uptake has been limited so far!

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

Deffo worth asking your vet in your case I think, although I get the impression like with a lot of new things some vets are very excited about it and others less so! The idea is that it's regenerative though which I think is why they go for it in younger horses/ milder cases.

It's not cheap, about 2.5k just for the stem cells before you add in costs for vet to put them in. Quite an expensive experiment so maybe that's why uptake has been limited so far!

Yes I can definitely say it is expensive we only went this route because she's so young and the vet said there's a really good chance it will work with her as it's quite mild and caught it so soon. Fingers crossed I think the most important thing is the rehabilitation stages I'm finding quote difficult as she's going loopy now as she's been on box rest for 14 days and I don't like sedating her in the stable when she's got her net so saving the sedation for when she gets some turnout! ? Of the weather improves that is

 

[Tiffus]

Yes I can definitely say it is expensive we only went this route because she's so young and the vet said there's a really good chance it will work with her as it's quite mild and caught it so soon. Fingers crossed I think the most important thing is the rehabilitation stages I'm finding quote difficult as she's going loopy now as she's been on box rest for 14 days and I don't like sedating her in the stable when she's got her net so saving the sedation for when she gets some turnout! ? Of the weather improves that is

Can I ask how your mare is going? Mine had the exact same diagnosis and had stem cell 8 days ago. Currently due to turnout on Sunday but worried as turnout is a bit uneven so may wait or do gradual turnout.

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

Can I ask how your mare is going? Mine had the exact same diagnosis and had stem cell 8 days ago. Currently due to turnout on Sunday but worried as turnout is a bit uneven so may wait or do gradual turnout.

Hi she's just had her latest xrays and check up and it all looks alot better not perfect but a big difference she was 2/5 lame in the beginning and now she's not lame atall completely sound she had remedial farriery work as well too correct her feet as this effects the hocks and it showed in the x rays this is spot on now. With the turn out we were in a bug heard who gallop round all the time so we did a total of 25 days full box rest then she had 2 walks out of the stable a day for 2 weeks gradually increasing wlaks too half an hour then she was turned out at night only for about 7 hours but she was fully sedated everytime she had turn out on recommendation by our vet! Now we're just getting her fitness up again! Good luck I hope you have a great outcome!

 

[BronsonNutter]

Can I ask how your mare is going? Mine had the exact same diagnosis and had stem cell 8 days ago. Currently due to turnout on Sunday but worried as turnout is a bit uneven so may wait or do gradual turnout.

If it helps Tiffus, my 6yr old mare had stem cells into her lower hock joints 4w ago and has just been reviewed today as sound. I have been hacking, walking, trotting and just reintroduced canter this week, and she has been living out barring 3 days box rest initially. She was quite sore initially (March) so had steroids into the hocks but wasn't totally sound following steroids alone, so I'm pretty pleased with the results following stem cells. Hopefully it will slow down the recurrance of any lameness as we'll have healthier cartlidge in there!

 

[Tiffus]

Hi she's just had her latest xrays and check up and it all looks alot better not perfect but a big difference she was 2/5 lame in the beginning and now she's not lame atall completely sound she had remedial farriery work as well too correct her feet as this effects the hocks and it showed in the x rays this is spot on now. With the turn out we were in a bug heard who gallop round all the time so we did a total of 25 days full box rest then she had 2 walks out of the stable a day for 2 weeks gradually increasing wlaks too half an hour then she was turned out at night only for about 7 hours but she was fully sedated everytime she had turn out on recommendation by our vet! Now we're just getting her fitness up again! Good luck I hope you have a great outcome!

Thank you she's moving for some flat individual turnout where I can rehab her a bit easier and increase it gradually, esp with all this wet, slippery weather ?? glad your mare is seeing the benefits so nicely

 

[Tiffus]

If it helps Tiffus, my 6yr old mare had stem cells into her lower hock joints 4w ago and has just been reviewed today as sound. I have been hacking, walking, trotting and just reintroduced canter this week, and she has been living out barring 3 days box rest initially. She was quite sore initially (March) so had steroids into the hocks but wasn't totally sound following steroids alone, so I'm pretty pleased with the results following stem cells. Hopefully it will slow down the recurrance of any lameness as we'll have healthier cartlidge in there!

Fingers crossed most definitely ??

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

Hey, how are all your horses doing post stem cell therapy?

I'm interested to hear because I'm considering whether to treat hock arthritis in one of mine with stem cells or arthramid (under vet advice obv). Thanks!

 

[Amyrossiter1992]

Hey, how are all your horses doing post stem cell therapy?

I'm interested to hear because I'm considering whether to treat hock arthritis in one of mine with stem cells or arthramid (under vet advice obv). Thanks!

Hi my mare touch wood has been sound for months now nothing has re occurred yet and she's not on anything not even supplements as my vet suggested nothing too be given so we can see the true results I'm hacking her or schooling her every other day 2 hour hacks 30 mins school and she's doing fab! ??She carries on this way I can't say it will work forever but it's been nearly a year I think and it's worked so far so hopefully your horse is okay too! Good luck

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

Thank you, that's great to hear. I hope the good times last a long time for you both

 

[ycbm]

Can i bump this as my vet is suggesting stem cell into the hocks for my 8 year old. How is everyone doing?
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[HelenBack]

I've read your other thread but haven't commented but form what you've said and based on my understanding of how the stem cells are supposed to work, I think it might be worth a go. It's meant to be regenerative so for a young horse with very early signs of problems it could be ideal and hopefully help him for many years to come. The only thing is I think there's still a bit of a lack of evidence on how well they do work in the long term so you take the chance of paying a lot of money and not getting the outcome you want but I suppose that's the same as everything with horses isn't it?

They're probably 2.5k plus now for both hocks so can you afford that if you're not insured? If you do try and they don't work you can still do other things like steroids or get afterwards so nothing lost but money and I do think they'd be an effective first line for your particular situation. It's just a shame they're so bloody expensive!

 

[ycbm]

I've got an initial quote of c. £1000 a hock and he's worth that because he's going to be my last horse whatever happens, I think. I also am lucky enough to have it in the bank and I love this horse more than any other I've ever owned.
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[HelenBack]

Sounds like maybe they've gotten a bit cheaper in the last couple of years then. Maybe that sort of thing where it's something new and starts out hellishly expensive and then gradually gets cheaper over time.

I say go for it based on what you've just said above. I think if it works then it's definitely a better option than starting on the steroids just yet and I know exactly what you mean about loving him so much it's worth it.

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

Afraid I can't be of any help, I didn't go ahead with it because my horse ended up with a litany of medical issues. Now an incredibly handsome and even more incredibly useless field ornament but still much loved

 

[JLW123]

If it helps Tiffus, my 6yr old mare had stem cells into her lower hock joints 4w ago and has just been reviewed today as sound. I have been hacking, walking, trotting and just reintroduced canter this week, and she has been living out barring 3 days box rest initially. She was quite sore initially (March) so had steroids into the hocks but wasn't totally sound following steroids alone, so I'm pretty pleased with the results following stem cells. Hopefully it will slow down the recurrance of any lameness as we'll have healthier cartlidge in there!

Hi, I’ve seen your post obviously from a while ago now but wondered years later if you still have your horse how they were after the stem cell treatment. I have a 6 year old dragging his hoofs with arthritis in his hocks and an option for him so wondered the longer term outcome. Thanks