Stifle Issue.. DJD/Arthritis? Experiences welcome...

[warmbloodcrazy]

My 16 year old Warmblood has this in one of his stifles.. he is slightly lame on the right rein. I have maintained him on bute/ supplements with the suggestion that the joint could be medicated but i'd heard a couple of these going wrong in the stifle area and heard that theres a much better success rate when used in the hocks so have been really unsure. I have come to realise that he can't jump or compete any more and really just wants to have fun hacking..its a heartbreaking realisation that your best friend is getting old.. and at 16 it doesn't feel like we should be facing this just yet. He looks so well.. I've been considering getting another horse so he can enjoy having a more laid back life and i can still do a bit more. I've been so sad about this as he is the most amazing horse with so much about him. I am just wondering if anyone else has any experiences on stifle issues, i've googled and tbh most people seem to PTS at varying ages and its the road to nowhere with stifle issues.. He is great out hacking and is the most sweet natured horse you'd ever meet. I'm certain he'll be with me for a long while yet but with a quieter life. Just wanted to hear other peoples experiences really..

Thanks in advance..

 

[Bubbles]

Google is the devil when it comes to stifle issues My horse has some cartilage damage in one stifle, was operated on as a 5yo and has steroid jabs into the problem joint as and when he needs it (now 9). They do help, touch wood have never had a problem. For the sake of maintaining a much loved horse, I'd give it a go. I have to make sure that I don't work mine on hard ground, if he has a break he's brought back into work slowly and always has a joint supplement. He's also better the more he's turned out.
Don't despair just yet, I think you can manage this for a good while longer yet

 

[Pinkvboots]

My mare had djd in her stilfle she was 14 i had it medicated and she was fine for about 3 months doing only very light work, so I did it again and it only lasted about the same again and at £150 a go it didnt seem worth it so I used to give her one bute everyday and a joint supplement and found this was better, i could only lightly hack her and I did until she was 22 and then she had to be pts due to laminitis and colic.

I found even after the joint injections she was never 100% sound ever in trot, with the bute it just made her comfortable enough to do some ridden work mainly walk really but she was happy enough.

 

[warmbloodcrazy]

Thank you so much for your posts, so nice to hear a bit of reassurance..

Pinkvboots, google really is the devil, ive got myself so worked up and upset about the whole thing.. i'd love to get a few more years of happy work out of it him yet, but like Bubbles have heard tales of it not really having an effect. May get the vet in again to assess.He's on a bute a day at the moment and i'm careful with him on hard or deep ground also. Our school can be quite deep in places so isn't ideal. Hes happy as larry out hacking.