Stifle problems, don't know what to do.

[Boxers]

HELP!
My horse has just been diagnosed with OCD in his stifles, one is worse than the other. Vet recommended an operation but at £5,000 it's way out of our budget.

He mentioned yearly steroid injections at a cost of £500 per year. But seemed to say that he thought they may not work for our horse and an op is the way to go.

The horse will turn 5 later this month. We bought him 2 yrs ago for daughter to bring on with the intention of selling him summer 2014.

I have a huge dilemma. Financially he is not worth a lot. Daughter cannot ride him now. If he had the op by the time he finished rehab it would be time to sell him. If we don't have the op and go for the steroid injections, chances are, if he's sound, he will be hard to sell next year having to tell a buyer he needs injections every year.

I don't have my own land and can't pay for him to stand in a field for 20 years.

Is PTS an option? It seems so drastic, but what else can I do with him? There are worse things could happen to him than be PTS, but I just don't know what to do.

Any thoughts?

 

[5bs]

My six year old has been diagnosed with a really bad sacroiliac injury,which he would have done as a foul when I brought him.

He has had one lot of steroid injections which have not worked.

So I am doing my own rehab, under the supervision of a veterinary physio. Which six months in is going better than we ever expected.

If he doesn't come back into work after a year off, then PTS will be on the cards, which will be heart breaking, but I also can't afford a lawn mower, as I am spending a lot of money trying to get him right.

If he can't come right, then it is better to PTS in my opinion, as you know there end, and they only know there next feed.

I know it's not the same injury, but we have the same dilemma. Dr Green, may work for your horse, I long rein mine five days a week, plus other exercises.

 

[tikino]

sadly i lost my beloved 4 yr old 3 weeks ago to the very same problem she had bilateral ocd in both stifles anyway i was only quoted £2500 for the surgery from the wiepers center in Glasgow. we were think of her long term future however while we were there they offered to do the steroid injection. she had the steroid injection on the monday and it sadly went wrong as by the tuesday she was 5/5lame and heart rate was through the roof. she had a major infection going on within the joint and my own vet queried that the joint capual had been damaged at this stage the decision was taken out of my hands and i had to let her go. i am totally devastated that she has gone but i am also well aware of the risks involved in medicating the joints but just think long and hard and be aware of the risks involved before going ahead with the treatment. Ellie was unlucky tho and horses get there joints medicated sucsessfully every day so i dont blame the vets. good luck with what every you deciede also i have all ellies x-ray on my pc if you need to look at x-rays

 

[star]

I replied to your post yesterday with my experiences of stifle OCD. My horse had surgery and still isn't sound and am stuck with him for life now as could never sell him knowing about his injury. I love him but he's an expensive pet.

 

[Boxers]

My six year old has been diagnosed with a really bad sacroiliac injury,which he would have done as a foul when I brought him.

He has had one lot of steroid injections which have not worked.

So I am doing my own rehab, under the supervision of a veterinary physio. Which six months in is going better than we ever expected.

If he doesn't come back into work after a year off, then PTS will be on the cards, which will be heart breaking, but I also can't afford a lawn mower, as I am spending a lot of money trying to get him right.

If he can't come right, then it is better to PTS in my opinion, as you know there end, and they only know there next feed.

I know it's not the same injury, but we have the same dilemma. Dr Green, may work for your horse, I long rein mine five days a week, plus other exercises.

I'm really glad to hear your physio is going well and i hope it continues to do so.

Thank you for your reply. I am just trying to get all the options clear in my head.

 

[Boxers]

sadly i lost my beloved 4 yr old 3 weeks ago to the very same problem she had bilateral ocd in both stifles anyway i was only quoted £2500 for the surgery from the wiepers center in Glasgow. we were think of her long term future however while we were there they offered to do the steroid injection. she had the steroid injection on the monday and it sadly went wrong as by the tuesday she was 5/5lame and heart rate was through the roof. she had a major infection going on within the joint and my own vet queried that the joint capual had been damaged at this stage the decision was taken out of my hands and i had to let her go. i am totally devastated that she has gone but i am also well aware of the risks involved in medicating the joints but just think long and hard and be aware of the risks involved before going ahead with the treatment. Ellie was unlucky tho and horses get there joints medicated sucsessfully every day so i dont blame the vets. good luck with what every you deciede also i have all ellies x-ray on my pc if you need to look at x-rays

I'm so sorry to hear your horse died. Thank you for telling me your story. We are sending the x-rays to Newmarket for their opinion.

 

[Boxers]

I replied to your post yesterday with my experiences of stifle OCD. My horse had surgery and still isn't sound and am stuck with him for life now as could never sell him knowing about his injury. I love him but he's an expensive pet.

Thank you Star.

 

[debsflo]

oh dear, so sorry to hear this. As you already know our horse had stifle problems,not ocd but had poor prognosis. We spent a small fortune up and down to Newmarket and a year of rehab. Sadly she couldnt cope with the controlled exercise and small paddock turnout and it literally blew her brain. Sadly she did not come right and still had to be pts. All i can say is research your options, i think a horse at the yard were on has also been diagnosed with the same and they have a similar dilemma.