Steroid injections haven't worked - just need to get it all out

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Penguin_Toes

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Hi everyone.

I'm just feeling a little down and want to get it all out of my system because I am pretending to be very optimistic in real life and it's wearing me out!

I got a lovely new horse earlier this year. He was well known in the local area as he is so honest, and was very consistent at Pony Club, BE and also on the hunt field. I was was hacking him for the owner for a few months and when I started looking for a horse of my own he was offered to me.

He was 17, but such a good boy I thought I could have some fun for a few years and then maybe retire him, which would suit me fine. I didn't get him vetted and paid quite a lot for him (over£3.5k).

I had a fun summer and got out and about. Towards the end of the summer at a dressage test I was pulled up and ticked off because he was lame. It was in front of all the other competitors and my family - I was very ashamed!

The vet diagnosed arthritis and he had corticosteroid injections six weeks ago along with a course of shark cartilage injections or something similar I think (cartrophen?)

Anyway he is being assessed on Wednesday but to be honest he feels worse than he ever did.

Has anyone else had experience of steroid injections for arthritis not working? If so, what were the next steps?

To make matters worse after a misunderstanding between myself and my insurance company they have suggested I have invalidated my insurance (I was waiting for them to confirm arthritis would be covered, while they were waiting for me to get a more concrete diagnosis via x rays. So he was in the field and no action taken for three weeks). They are now saying I have breached a clause saying I will take proper care of the animal and not put it in harms way, which I apparently have done by delaying treatment.

I've only had him eight months and it's all gone wrong. Are there any other treatment options that might be suggested next?

Thank you so much for reading x
 
Awww sorry to hear bout your situation, our old horse had arthritis, we tried Tildren given by a drip over the course of an hour, he did improve with this treatment, had to work him quite hard afterwards in order to stimulate bone fusion, I know of others who have had success with it and others not, maybe an option though? We also put him on Cortaflex daily as well. Hope your neddy improves xx
 
If steroid injections help with arthritis it is only short term! My stallion was about 17 when he first jarred/aggravated a coffin joint arthritis (with a mare being stupid and unco-operative). He had a steroid injection into the joint and then started on Danilon (bute) and a good joint supplement (Riaflex Complete). He did walking exercise every day - and overr 6 weeks we reduced the Danilon. After 5 weeks he was sound. We just kept him on the joint supplement and the first time the arthritis caused problems again was this year (at the age of 22 - again - a difficult mare!!) We've put him on the Danilon again - and the lameness has gone for now. The one thing arthritic horses DON'T need is rest - it makes them worse as they stiffen up more.
 
I have no advice re treatment options, your vet will have some further ideas but regarding the insurance I would get the vet on board to back you up that turning out would not have caused further harm to the condition, it may not have helped but certainly a short rest is often advised while tests are ongoing and I think they are being unreasonable by suggesting he was not cared for, box rest may have done harm.
The other suggestion is when they have arthritic changes they tend to compensate in other areas often the back becomes tense and sore, the saddle may require reflocking and a course of physio may be very helpful at this stage.
 
Mine has hock spavin and stifle arthritis. Plenty warm up and cool down when exercising, as above he's better when kept in work. As much turnout as possible and I have found maxavita maxaflex works well. I have also found since I have taken his shoes off he is moving much better, don't know if coincidence or not. Also would depend where the arthritis is I guess. Good luck.
 
My old boy was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in his hocks, and we tried cartrophen which made no difference whatsoever. I then had the steroid jabs direct into his joint which worked really well. One steroid jab usually lasts 6-12 months, I had them just once a year, and it was enough to free him up nicely. I also had him on a joint supplement too. I was careful with his work though, only made sure that I schooled on a surface, and didn't trot a lot on roads.

Agree with be positive, have a word with your vet about insurance. Diagnosing arthritis can be quite a lengthy procedure, having to do lameness work ups, bute trials etc. Please don't just accept that your insurance isn't going to pay, make sure you fight your corner. Hope things work themselves out for you x
 
What was your rehab protocol with him after the injections? Did you go straight back to full work or build him up? And where did the vet medicate? Did vets nerve block prior to medicating? It could be simply that the steroids helped but the arthritis was masking a different issue. Re the insurance...how did you get insurance with no vetting and for a 17 year old? I couldn't get one touched by an insurance company for vet fees at that age despite clean medical history
 
Hi everyone, thanks very much for the replies.

It's ok I know steroid injections are only short term but I had hoped they would have an effect as I could cope with a couple of hundred pounds once or twice a year to keep him comfy.

Perhaps as another poster said, there is something else the arthritis has been masking? I do hope not. It's good to know there are other options like Tilden, I'll look into that.

The vet x rayed both his hocks, he was going to do nerve blocks but he said the x rays were so clear he could see just what to do.

He is out 24/7 at the moment and is fed top spec senior balancer, he has been for years. My vet said carrying on with that would be just fine, no need for additional supplements as it has it's own built in.

After the injections he had two days box rest, 7 days field rest, I walked him on the roads for three weeks and in the last three weeks I've been told to take him in the soft fields and introduce uphill trotting and lots of walk. He's always dying to canter on the left lead, it must be much more comfortable for him (his right hind is by far the worst of the two).

I was quite surprised I got insurance too, and it isn't with you-know-who or a subsidiary of theirs. I went through the horse and hound compare website and it is with a big agricultural insurer with good reviews. My vet was amazed too. Perhaps it was all too good to be true! My husband says not to worry about the insurance and they are just being over zealous. They haven't actually said no, but when I press them they are still 'considering the situation'.
 
I bought my 15 yr old mare last yr knowing she had arthritis and she had already had the steroid injection but it didn't work, I took her on and started working her more regularly than her previous owner, she also has tumeric in her feed and magnetic boots on at night and she is now sound and happy, and looking the best she has for years. (according to people who have known her all that time)

Try not to be too disheartened, I'm sure you will find what works best for your horse, its just a case of trying different treatments and suppliments and exercise.

I am a little precious about the ground we work on, i.e no trotting on road or on hard ground but do try to exercise her 6 days a week and at least 12 hours turnout.
I am sure you will be back having fun on your horse soon as once the bone fuses then they should improve again.
 
swampdonkey said:
I bought my 15 yr old mare last yr knowing she had arthritis and she had already had the steroid injection but it didn't work, I took her on and started working her more regularly than her previous owner, she also has tumeric in her feed and magnetic boots on at night and she is now sound and happy, and looking the best she has for years. (according to people who have known her all that time)

Try not to be too disheartened, I'm sure you will find what works best for your horse, its just a case of trying different treatments and suppliments and exercise.

I am a little precious about the ground we work on, i.e no trotting on road or on hard ground but do try to exercise her 6 days a week and at least 12 hours turnout.
I am sure you will be back having fun on your horse soon as once the bone fuses then they should improve again.
Click to expand...

Thank you that's a lovely story, and thanks to everyone else as well. I am just being so positive in real life and don't actually feel it at all. It feels good to moan/fret in a way!

I'm going to look into those magnetic boots - could you maybe tell me more?
 
Hi, I really do sympathise as my favourite polo pony has arthritis and it really kicked in this spring after the cold winter we had.

We had his fetlocks injected in the spring and he has cartrophen monthly ( which did take some time to kick in but really does seem to help, although it was weeks before it started to limber him up). We also used a magnetic rug pre-work ( I appreciate there is no scientific evidence of magnets working but it seemed to help him) - and I'd recommend trying one out. We also used a magnetic boot on his hocks, which seemed to help too although I'm sure he felt ridiculous in all-magnet outfit!

We gave him Arthi-Aid in his feed, which is a Glucosamine supplement and when he was playing he also had 1/2 sachet of Danilon morning and evening when we felt he needed it - and the result was a sound pony, who played wonderfully and was still bucking by his last game. He is currently in the field getting fat over the winter and he'll come back into work in the spring but only as a hack. He is currently sound and happy!

I really hope you can get over this bump with your horse, it might be worth looking into some homeopathic remedies too? Good luck :)
 
Penguin_Toes said:
Hi everyone, thanks very much for the replies.

It's ok I know steroid injections are only short term but I had hoped they would have an effect as I could cope with a couple of hundred pounds once or twice a year to keep him comfy.

Perhaps as another poster said, there is something else the arthritis has been masking? I do hope not. It's good to know there are other options like Tilden, I'll look into that.

The vet x rayed both his hocks, he was going to do nerve blocks but he said the x rays were so clear he could see just what to do.

He is out 24/7 at the moment and is fed top spec senior balancer, he has been for years. My vet said carrying on with that would be just fine, no need for additional supplements as it has it's own built in.

After the injections he had two days box rest, 7 days field rest, I walked him on the roads for three weeks and in the last three weeks I've been told to take him in the soft fields and introduce uphill trotting and lots of walk. He's always dying to canter on the left lead, it must be much more comfortable for him (his right hind is by far the worst of the two).

I was quite surprised I got insurance too, and it isn't with you-know-who or a subsidiary of theirs. I went through the horse and hound compare website and it is with a big agricultural insurer with good reviews. My vet was amazed too. Perhaps it was all too good to be true! My husband says not to worry about the insurance and they are just being over zealous. They haven't actually said no, but when I press them they are still 'considering the situation'.
Click to expand...

Who advised uphill trotting? I would be wary of too much of that particularly in a soft field as that would be exerting a lot of pressure on his hind end. Was his trot initially improved on the flat? If he were mine I would be looking to nerve block just to establish is there any other areas of concern.
 
amage said:
Who advised uphill trotting? I would be wary of too much of that particularly in a soft field as that would be exerting a lot of pressure on his hind end. Was his trot initially improved on the flat? If he were mine I would be looking to nerve block just to establish is there any other areas of concern.
Click to expand...

After the three weeks road work in walk I tried a few strides of trot on the road every now and then but he felt unhappy, so vet said introduce trotting gradually on the soft ground of the fields, uphill if possible, never downhill.

I will mention nerve blocks at his six week assessment, thank you for your advice, it is much appreciated :)
 
Mariposa said:
Hi, I really do sympathise as my favourite polo pony has arthritis and it really kicked in this spring after the cold winter we had.

We had his fetlocks injected in the spring and he has cartrophen monthly ( which did take some time to kick in but really does seem to help, although it was weeks before it started to limber him up). We also used a magnetic rug pre-work ( I appreciate there is no scientific evidence of magnets working but it seemed to help him) - and I'd recommend trying one out. We also used a magnetic boot on his hocks, which seemed to help too although I'm sure he felt ridiculous in all-magnet outfit!

We gave him Arthi-Aid in his feed, which is a Glucosamine supplement and when he was playing he also had 1/2 sachet of Danilon morning and evening when we felt he needed it - and the result was a sound pony, who played wonderfully and was still bucking by his last game. He is currently in the field getting fat over the winter and he'll come back into work in the spring but only as a hack. He is currently sound and happy!

I really hope you can get over this bump with your horse, it might be worth looking into some homeopathic remedies too? Good luck :)
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, that is great to hear!
 
Think of all the things that can effect human arthritis

The cold....it's got cold suddenly and that will affect mobility. Keep joints warm, use bandages or wraps and if in the stable make sure it is warm and dry with a good bed.

Possibly feed an oil supplement....they are good for mobility and helping keep everything loose and supple
Have a look at specific supplements for joints/arthritis for horses.......expencive but may make your horse comfortable

Make sure the rest of your horse is healthy so no unnecessary stress is put on these effect joints

Remember arthritis does 'blow up' and will take a while to settle back down.....don't expect quick reactions....even steroid injections take some time for the full effect to kick in

Don't give up, just try many routes and see which works for your horse!
 
My horse has hock athritis and stifle joint issues - complicated by suspensory desmitis. I would recommend that you get the suspensory branches scanned to rule out a problem there. My boy was much sounder when his hocks were nerve blocked, and if it wasnt for a very suspicious vet, we would have assumed hocks were responsible for his lameness, and not investigated further. She insisted on a second session, looking only at the suspensories - it has to be done on a different day to hock blocks, as the nerve block in the hocks can leach over the suspensory branches, and give a false positive result. He came completely sound when his suspensories were blocked, and scans revealed the extent of the damage. A year on, and much treatment later, he is pretty sound, and back in gentle work. He takes a good half hour to warm up and loosen up - I have to remind myself not to get aggravated by him plodding along at glacial speed, and to let him pick up the pace when he's ready to.
 
My sisters horse was diagnosed with stifle arthritis last year after us only having her for 1 year. She was only 7 at the time so it was a bit of a shock. She was given steroid injections which worked for a month or so but then she went lame again. She has basically had nearly a year off and is given a joint supplement but is now the best she has been in a while and has been brought back into work slowly but seems to be a lot better although this might not be the same in an older horse
 
My 20 year old gelding was recently diagnosed with bilateral hock arthritis. He had the corticosteroid injections in August, which thankfully worked. He is insured with Petplan for full vets fees so while the insurance is paying for treatment he will have the injections every 3 months. He is also on a 'veterinary' joint supplement (£80 every 8 weeks) which the insurance will cover but I will think about an 'over the counter' joint supplement after the insurance has ran out. I also give him herbs4movement from Progressive Earth which costs around £25 per month. All these things together has given him a new lease of life :)
 
My horse has just had steriod injections for an arthritic hock having cost 700 i was hoping for him to be perfect again! Hes 100 times better as no longer stiff out the stable and more like himself to ride again just he still stuggles to bring is one hock under him. BUT i need to get his back checked it could be out from having an uneven gait. So id make sure theres no other problems
 
My mare didn't respond to steroid injections in one of her fetlocks, so we tried an anabolic steroid which again didn't work. I don't have any other drug options as one of her fetlocks is too far advanced for drugs to slow it down and manage her daily with magnets, keeping joints warm at all times, boswellia, bute which is being reduced and contrary to belief, rest when needed.

Not all arthritic horses are made worse by rest, I was advised by a top surgeon to try resting her and have increased her turnout and riding and she seems happier. I now don't worry if she stays in when the weather gets bad as it really doesn't make her worse.
It is trial and error with supplements etc but i'm pretty sure the boswellia has made a difference. Unfortunately you can't reverse the progress and I know that days will become numbered and that she will never be fully sound but keeping her happy and doing things that she loves is my priority even though at 10 we will never school again. But she is here to stay with me no matter what happens.
 
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