Stifle arthroscopy

[Gardenn90]

It has been recommended that my horse gets a stifle arthroscopy. Knowing the risks of anaesthesia has me so worried but she is far too needle shy (to the point of being dangerous) to medicate the joint. Just looking for peoples experiences of their horses go under GA?

 

[Britestar]

One of ours had a GA for stifle in September. Very apprehensive as last horse that had GA died in recovery.
He was fine, and they have done everything they can to help the issue.
Now in 6 month rehab, and no longterm effects from GA. This lad also very needle shy, even vet school said 'oh, he didn't like the needles!'.
That said, he has had the joint medicated at home since (part of treatment), and an efficient vet meant he barely noticed the sedation injection, and there were no problems getting into the joint.

 

[TheMule]

Having one that is very needle shy I totally understand your predicamen, but being needle shy is not reason enough to skip straight to a GA in my mind, especially given the fact they will need to use a whole bunch more needles to do that than to inject the joints!
Heavy oral sedation and then IV in stocks is how we have got around our difficult one

 

[Mojo-dtxo]

My horse had a stifle arthroscopy under GA in October (due to injuring herself in field ?), I was an absolute nervous wreck due to the risk of GA. We did have the option of medicating the joint but the vet did advise that it would only be covering the problem, instead of solving it so I really didn’t want to medicate the joint. The surgery went great and she is now rehabbing, I think it would depend on what is wrong with your horse in regards to choosing what route to go down. She did loose a fair amount of weight but she is the fussiest eater and I did warn them that she may not eat whatever hard feed they offer, which did happen. She refused any hard feed after the surgery and would only eat her hay, but after coming home her appetite slowly came back and she is absolutely fine now.