gea
New User
Hello all, I am new here and looking for some advice.
Advance warning- this is quite a long post
I have a 22yr old cob gelding called Seamus, unfortunately Seamus had to be retired 5 or so years ago due to arthritis in his stifle. While he was still being diagnosed a vet carried out a flexion test on the arthritic leg, she pushed his leg until he fell over. From that day on any attempt to pick up that leg has resulted in him panicking. The movement in his stifle is now very limited, however I have seen him lift the leg enough to scratch his foot with his teeth so I knew he was capable, but due to him panicking the farriers job was made very difficult- but we managed just enough to give it a little trim.
2 winters ago when all the snow came the farrier was unable to visit for longer and as a result Seamus ended up with a nasty looking crack in the hoof of his good leg as he puts all his weight on this leg (he otherwise has very good feet). Fortunately, while it was unsightly was entirely superficial.
Since then I have been using a Cornucrescine product (i forget what it is called but it is to be applied by fingers every few days and is thick like vaseline) on the cracked foot. It has definitely made a difference. Although I stopped using it as frequently (no excuse except bad memory
) and the crack has returned a bit.
Unfortunately around 2-3 months ago Seamus started to develop arthritis in his other stifle and its effects were seen very rapidly. He was noticably stiffer, reluctant to walk (although he clearly wanted to), and the farrier was no longer able to lift his 'good' leg. As with the other leg- when you try and lift it he panics and tries to 'sit down'.
He is now back on Danilon and is a lot happier, he is walking comfortably and is back to dragging me to the tasty grass on the way to the field. The vet also gave me a sedative to give him before the farrier coming up in the hope that he would relax enough for the farrier to trim his feet.
The sedative made him drowsy enough but as soon as the farrier tried to lift his feet he was awake enough to panic and still tried to sit. I have had him sedated by the vet previously to try and allow the farrier to do his bad leg however it did not really help. Previously the farrier managed to get the 'bad' foot by having one of his assistants lean against Seamus bum to prevent him leaning back and trying to sit down. This is no longer working.
The farrier is very patient and understanding, he understands how limited his movement is and to lift his legs forward rather than up. He tries to get Seamus' feet onto the toes of his boots and trim around them that way. But it is still very difficult and as well as the farrier involves at least 2 other people. Obviously this is a very distressing experience for all involved (although Seamus seems to forget about it pretty much instantly!!). I have spoken with my vet about this, he told me he has treated one other horse with stifle arthritis (in one leg) and his solution is not to have his feet done as often. However, that doesn't help with the fact that they will still need trimmed. Nor with the 'toe dragging' associated with limited stifle mobility, as he tends to hop if his feet hit anything.
For the first time in a year he is staying out overnight tonight, the vet has said that being turned out will help as he will be using the muscles that support the joint more (he also has slight dental issue- forget what its called but a gap between the tooth and gum that is fine atm but may require drilling in the future- the vet has said that eating grass will be better for this in the meantime than hay). The main reason he has not lived out much over the last year is I was worried about the crack in his foot getting worse. Currently neither the farrier or the vet believe that being turned out will be a problem.
The only solution I can think of is to support his rear end so he can't sit down. I can only imagine this being done by using some form of sling to hold him up. But I am not sure if this is achievable.
Seamus is still happy in himself, and he is still young at heart, I desperately want to keep him as happy and as comfortable, with the farrier more than anhything else, as I can and any advice, insight or personal experiences that anyone could share would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Gayle.
Oh, and here is Seamus-
Winter 2010 playing in the snow:
And last May just before we moved yards:
Advance warning- this is quite a long post
I have a 22yr old cob gelding called Seamus, unfortunately Seamus had to be retired 5 or so years ago due to arthritis in his stifle. While he was still being diagnosed a vet carried out a flexion test on the arthritic leg, she pushed his leg until he fell over. From that day on any attempt to pick up that leg has resulted in him panicking. The movement in his stifle is now very limited, however I have seen him lift the leg enough to scratch his foot with his teeth so I knew he was capable, but due to him panicking the farriers job was made very difficult- but we managed just enough to give it a little trim.
2 winters ago when all the snow came the farrier was unable to visit for longer and as a result Seamus ended up with a nasty looking crack in the hoof of his good leg as he puts all his weight on this leg (he otherwise has very good feet). Fortunately, while it was unsightly was entirely superficial.
Since then I have been using a Cornucrescine product (i forget what it is called but it is to be applied by fingers every few days and is thick like vaseline) on the cracked foot. It has definitely made a difference. Although I stopped using it as frequently (no excuse except bad memory
) and the crack has returned a bit.Unfortunately around 2-3 months ago Seamus started to develop arthritis in his other stifle and its effects were seen very rapidly. He was noticably stiffer, reluctant to walk (although he clearly wanted to), and the farrier was no longer able to lift his 'good' leg. As with the other leg- when you try and lift it he panics and tries to 'sit down'.
He is now back on Danilon and is a lot happier, he is walking comfortably and is back to dragging me to the tasty grass on the way to the field. The vet also gave me a sedative to give him before the farrier coming up in the hope that he would relax enough for the farrier to trim his feet.
The sedative made him drowsy enough but as soon as the farrier tried to lift his feet he was awake enough to panic and still tried to sit. I have had him sedated by the vet previously to try and allow the farrier to do his bad leg however it did not really help. Previously the farrier managed to get the 'bad' foot by having one of his assistants lean against Seamus bum to prevent him leaning back and trying to sit down. This is no longer working.
The farrier is very patient and understanding, he understands how limited his movement is and to lift his legs forward rather than up. He tries to get Seamus' feet onto the toes of his boots and trim around them that way. But it is still very difficult and as well as the farrier involves at least 2 other people. Obviously this is a very distressing experience for all involved (although Seamus seems to forget about it pretty much instantly!!). I have spoken with my vet about this, he told me he has treated one other horse with stifle arthritis (in one leg) and his solution is not to have his feet done as often. However, that doesn't help with the fact that they will still need trimmed. Nor with the 'toe dragging' associated with limited stifle mobility, as he tends to hop if his feet hit anything.
For the first time in a year he is staying out overnight tonight, the vet has said that being turned out will help as he will be using the muscles that support the joint more (he also has slight dental issue- forget what its called but a gap between the tooth and gum that is fine atm but may require drilling in the future- the vet has said that eating grass will be better for this in the meantime than hay). The main reason he has not lived out much over the last year is I was worried about the crack in his foot getting worse. Currently neither the farrier or the vet believe that being turned out will be a problem.
The only solution I can think of is to support his rear end so he can't sit down. I can only imagine this being done by using some form of sling to hold him up. But I am not sure if this is achievable.
Seamus is still happy in himself, and he is still young at heart, I desperately want to keep him as happy and as comfortable, with the farrier more than anhything else, as I can and any advice, insight or personal experiences that anyone could share would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Gayle.
Oh, and here is Seamus-
Winter 2010 playing in the snow:
And last May just before we moved yards:
looks like a real character.