steroid injection in the hock, any advice .

[lornaA]

My horse was at vet yesterday for a check up on her hock that she injured back in june. She was kicked in the field and its started up an arthritic condition basically its started off a bone spavin i think. We decided to try a steroid injection into the joint as she's still just not quite rite. Has any one any experience of this treatment. All views appreciated.

 

[GTs]

It is very common - I would not be overly concerned about it. There is a risk of infecting the joint, it rarely happens though with competent vets though. I would try other options first like legend (if it is an option) because you can only inject hocks so many times before the scare tissue builds up, and you can't get the needle in there anymore - it is not a small number, so it will not be next year you will have problems but in 5-7+ you could.

 

[Bosworth]

I am very very wary of injuecting steroids into joints. I had one of mine injected in his coffin joints, he was done twice in one year and then once again the following year. The vet could not get in the 3rd time because of the scar tissue build up and I have since been told that he will never be sound again because the scar tissue is now permanent and he is lame from that.


There was a very good article in H&H last year on this issue and the conclusion was to tread carefully with this option. it may be worth seeing if you can get a back issue of the magazine and read the article before you decide. I wish I had never allowed it to be carried out.

 

[gillcook]

Poor you
My experience on bone spavins is not good, my last mare had two sets of injections into the hocks with no complications but they didn't work either gave no improvement in soundness, my sisters mare also has had bone spavins and had one set of injections which gave about 2 weeks of releif - also not the general idea they are supposed to work for much longer than this. I presume the vet has x-rayed the hocks to know that it is bone spavins? Good luck I hope your horse responds to treatment and the bone spavins fuse, unfortunately neither mine or my sisters horses came sound again.

 

[pootler]

Another issue to consider is that the steroid injections can trigger laminitis. My vet says he is more wary about injecting in the spring and autumn due to this.

Another option to consider is Tildren, try a search on here for more info.

 

[cyearsley]

Hi, my last horse developed bone spavin (worse in one than the other although a bilateral condition). I had him injected and after a short time off, I then brought him back into work gradually and we carried on as normal, including some jumping though nothing overly demanding. He was 14 at the time and it did seem to give him a second lease of life but unfortunately lost him earlier this year to unrelated condition (puncture wound). By this time it was a good six -none months since the injection into his hock and I was looking to have it done again possibly nine to twelve months on. I also put him on Cortaflex which also helped. Good luck and hope it all works out

 

[lornaA]

megan was kicked in field in june and was initially very lame. She had 2 weeks rest on bute but was still lame so i took her for further investigation. She was examined and nerve blocked and xrayed. This revealed arthrosis of the tarso metatarsal joint. She had treatment with tildren 7 weeks ago but is still slightly lame. We were at vet on friday and what he said was that its not that the tildren hasn't worked but that it wouldn't help any inflamation within the joint. The tildren was to prevent further deteriration of joint and improve the bones or something like that and he said it was more of a long term thing. He had hoped the inflamation would settle on its own. This is why the steroid injection. I'm really angry as all this is because ny horse got kicked because someone on yard decided it would be a good idea to put strange horses in together without asking me and mine was the one to be injured.

 

[madabout2]

Had the opposite experience. My Oh's horse failed vet to spavin but we were lucky had it xrayed - ti had bearly fused. So after 3 months work on the road he was sound as a pound and proceeded to give OH 5 happy years hunting/show jumping (easily 4 foot) with never a day off until sadly we had to say good bye due to a totally unrelated injury.

didn't try steroids as had nearly fused.

Good luck

 

[emma_lg]

I had my tb's hocks injected 2 years ago. She has arthritis and went very lame very quickly. After x-rays etc we decided on steroid injections in to the affected area - lower hock joint - and then remedial shoeing and glucosamine supplement after bring back to work. It worked brilliantly with her but I do know people have their doubts about it.
I think I read that MSM supplement can be more appropriate for horses that have received injuries.
I wish you luck...

 

[aran]

If you can get the bones to fuse (if they are the lower hock joints) you get the best results. Some fuse by themselves with time others do not.
With spavin - I'd try all the options you have available.
My horse has bi-lateral juevinial osteoarthritis (OA) in his hocks (tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints). the right one is fused and so is non-problematic however the left one started to trouble him. We had steroid injections - some horses are non-responders and it only lasts a couple of weeks - others it works for months. we then only had the options of retirement, exercise off bute in the hope that the joint would fuse, or surgical/chemical bone fusion (arthrodesis). I opted of surgery and we are 9 months in to his 12 month recovery! He has rolled toe hind shoes on and is doing well at the moment - we will have to wait and see if he comes fully sound!
Good luck whatever you decide. There are no magical cures for OA - I'd try and see!

 

[lizzie_liz]

my mare had one injection of steriods when she was first diagnosed with bone spavin, 5 years ago and she has not had any problems, she had her first full summer competing this year and is going better than ever.

 

[loopylucifer]

my friends pony has had steroid injections once a year for around 7years now they work wounders for him has one bute every other day and does go some periods without. no problems getting neddles in. athough surely if spavin was deterioating then the sapce which the neddle goes into is getting smaller? also know quite a few others which have had steroids injected with no problems. however having said that my mare was diagnosised with spavin in her right hind (bad conformation and poss acclerated by an injury last year) injury last year also caued some bony growth to form over ligiment one or both of these caused her to go quite lame behind she had injections in to both areas of steriod and hyonate (lubrication stuff) that was about 8wks ago. is currently on senequin and one danilon and went quite lame saturday rested two days now seems better (slight lamness still). not sure if she needs stronger does or just havent worked for her! talk to ur vet it might be worth trying i could work for you

 

[monstermunch]

I would look at all your options. Whilst steroid injections can and do help some horses it is not a long term solution. The effects do wear off and because you have injected a foreign substace directly into a joint the area will form scar tissue as your body does fight it at some level as an abnormal substance. The more injections you have the less of an effect they have and the more scar tissue build up there is. You should remember that steroids are a very strong drug and as much as they can do good they will often also have a harmful effect on your horses joint. A similar treatment for humans involving steroids has been proven to cause more aggressive arthritis in the future, within the treated joint.
That is not to say it should be dismissed. Research it a little and make an educated decision. At the end of the day everyone has different opinions so just look at the facts.
I personally believe, through research, that a good high strength joint supplement, and exercise regime are the best forms of managing a condition like this. Arthritis is after all uncurable. If you have to find a way to manage it you may as well do it now rather than using a quick fix injection that may very well put you in an even worse position in the future

 

[lornaA]

thanks for everyone's views. At the moment i am keeping my fingers crossed that the injection has positive results.

 

[vicijp]

If it doesnt, please dont be tempted to try again. It is a downward spiral from then on.