Suspecting arthritis.

[risky business]

Will try to make this as simple as possible.

A mare I sold two years ago is now coming back to me. Current owners say she has arthritis but have been told a vet has not confirmed this. Arthritis is suspected in the back and hocks, due to struggling to work in an outline or from behind. The mare is also struggling/ refusing jumps which I will say isn't like her.

As I say current owner suspect arthritis. Personally I'd like this confirmed and investigated but unsure on where to start and the costs it will entail?

Edit to add horse has never been lame, just appears to be 'stiff' when asked to work correctly.

 

[be positive]

With no diagnosis it could be anything causing the apparent stiffness, even something simple as a poorly fitting saddle could cause her to appear stiff, be reluctant to work or jump, to give up with no professional input seems rather drastic as it may well be very easy to treat and manage once some diagnostics have been done.

You are going to have to finance it without insurance so I would start with a vet coming to give a general lameness assessment with a view to xraying the hocks if there seems to be a reason to, most with arthritic changes will react to flexion tests which are a crude but effective way to identify pain in an area, if the vet finds nothing to look into further then a physio, good farrier and saddler may be the best route, dont rule out the current owners being less able riders and the horse being uncooperative because she has learnt she can be.

 

[lornahill]

I'd agree with the above, your vet should be able to diagnose if she has arthritis without having an x-ray hopefully, they then may want to x-ray to see how severe or if shes a younger horse! which will keep the costs down. Perhaps you could try her on a supplement for a week or two before you get the vet out - see if that helps?

If it was arthritis, I would have expected to see some swelling of the hocks/joints and probably lameness? Maybe that might mean it's mild and can be controlled by supplements?

Def worth getting the vet out and if they don't find anything get her back checked!

Let me know how you get on!

 

[risky business]

Thank you guys

I just wasn't sure where to start! She will be 15 this year so not young but not old either, she spent 7 years with me not doing a great deal apart from hacking and nothing really at all the last 2 years I had her with me due to my commitments.

But I certainly want it investigated, so a general lameness work up would be a good place to start with her then. Iv got some cash saved so will start simple and go from there.

 

[shergar]

I would get thermal imaging done as this is quite cheap and should show you any hot spots ,we had it done on a pony and it was very accurate .

Also have a look at THE TURMERIC USER GROUP on Facebook,we have used it for a horse that was lame with good results.