Suspected Arthritis in neck

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George123

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Hi,

My 12YO ISH is suspected of having arthritis in his neck and is booked in for X-rays next week.

Has anyone had experience of this and have any idea of the symptoms displayed?

Many thanks
George123
 
Hi George!

My mare (now 23) displayed some quite unusual symptoms about 3.5 years ago. I thought she had shoulder lameness as she was 'swinging' her near fore and had a problem going up (a very small) step into her stable and ditto coming out.

I called the vet, who told me it was very rare for a horse to have a shoulder problem but recommended an equine physio. She then thought there was a problem further up and told my vet. We then went to Rossdales for a thorough examination (vast expense of course!). Long story (more if you PM me!!) she was diagnosed with arthritis in her caudal cervical facets.

Again, long story but, having been given a steroid injection (lasted precisely 30 days) I was then advised to give her a sachet of Danilon each day. I also do daily neck stretching exercises (from horse physio) and she has not displayed a single symptom since!

I will be happy to give you a more detailed (ha! as if I haven't already) story if you wish.
 
Hi,
Thanks for replying!

My horses symptoms are quite different - only showing when ridden.....If he is ridden long and low he will happily sit there all day, but we put him up in his frame he is pretty resistant, swing and snaking his head, shaking his head, laying his ears to the side and back and twisting away with his body...

He is much worse after a day off and on the 3rd consistent day of riding will not disply any syptoms, so it is very intermittent but there is a real pattern showing with when he is behavin strangely...

!!
 
I wonder if the day off means that he is then getting stiffer in his neck - dunno? But I recall that my mare did not exhibit any particular signs when being ridden, but please bear in mind that she was quite "elderly" when I noticed these initial symptoms and consequently would not have been as supple and agile as your 12 yo. Also we didn't do a lot of serious stuff (schooling-wise) and no jumping. This was on my part, as I had had a very serious riding accident a few years previously.

By the way, my mare is ID x TB. Bred a foal at age 12.
 
Yes, thats what I think too, re the day off...

He is also worse when ridden in the morning, which would also make sense regarding stiffness

He is an ISH....
 
Please don't despair - with the right treatment and a good (chartered!) equine physio, wonders can be worked.

By the way, my mare's shoulder was quite "wasted" at the on-set of the condition and now you would never know that she had a problem.

Please let me know how you get on and good luck!
 
My tb was diagnosed with this about 5 years ago now. He developed ataxia in his hind legs and an intermittent front limb lameness.

Interestingly he also prefers long and low now as the boney growths make lifting his poll difficult/painful. He has become more flexible over time though as his muscles have improved.

The important thing is to keep them as fit as possible as they need muscles to support the painful vertibrae. you also need to accept that some things just aren't possible and modify his work load appropriately.

I do lots of carrot stretches as well as lots of gentle suppling exercises when ridden. He tells me what he is comfortable with and generally we do very well. He has extra layers in the neck covers of his rugs and I've found magnetic therapy works very well. he is also on a variety of suppliments, Buteless and this year 1 bute a day. When he was first diagnosed he had cortizone injections into the affected vertibrae which helped a lot.

Good luck, i hope this warbling post helps!
 
I have a horse with 2 arthritic vertebrae. His symptoms were slightly different, a little resistent to coming on the bit, but mainly stumbling and not happy to go forward. He has had a steroid injection into the spinal cord and has been fine ever since. He is now out on loan 2 years later doing all pony club activities with great success!
I dont know who your vet is, but I used Richard Hepburn at Willesley in Gloucestershire. I believe he is a specialist.
Best of luck
 
Hello, I saw your post from September last year and wondered how your mare was getting on? (My horse is going in for an injection in his neck on Tuesday.)

Sharon
 
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