Tell me about bone spavin please!

noblesteed

noblesteed

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My 14yo iberian x has always had an unusual hind leg action. He walks very wide (like a kids who's pooed their pants!) but good farriery has prevented this from being an issue and we have had 5 years of soundness. I mainly hack but his sharer schools and jumps him at home. Recently after working a bit more in the school we've noticed he has worn one of his hind shoes right down with a little shuffle when he steps. He also occasionally changes leg in canter from right to left at random times, sometimes its a full flying change others just half.
Farrier suggested bone spavin in left hock so I got the vet out yesterday who did a lameness work-up and agrees with the farrier. The vet would like to xray horse's feet and also his hocks. She then said farrier can make remedial shoes for horse. And we can possibly treat the spavin. Though she said steriods may not be wise as horse has had laminitis twice in the past. I am wondering whether to wait and see how the remedial shoes go before having the hock treated.
Just wondered what people's opinions/experiences are regarding spavin. Horse is insured however these particular vets tend to rub their hands and suggest all manner of expensive treatments... Stem cells was one idea! I am not keen on being too invasive in treatment as he's not a competition horse, he wouldn't cope well with much box rest etc and if he can never jump again it wouldn't bother me! So if treatment can be avoided it will be...
 
I would speak with your farrier again and tell him what your vet has said and go from there. As he was the one suggesting this and not going to make a fortune from this, I would go with his opinion.
 
So the farrier says he isn't bothered about seeing foot xrays as he's been shoeing the horse for long enough and knows his feet really well. He said to speak to the vet about having the hock treated, partly because as bone spavin is on his medical records now the insurance will need to know and it will have to be treated or I won't be able to claim for it in future. He recommended tildren injections rather than going for the steroids. And he assured me he will be able to keep a close eye on the horse regarding any risks of lami and shoe accordingly. He's happy to talk to the vet - he's a good farrier and I trust him, I've known him for 10 years and he's helped a lot of horses I know.
 
My 18yo gelding was diagnosed with bone spavin a year ago. My farrier had already been doing remedial shoeing for his cow hocks.

We just hack out so my vet suggested IRAP therapy (my horse is insured). He was treated last January and he is only just starting to show stiffness now. I've been very impressed.

If your insurance will cover it I'd get it treated. I've had 12 months of riding that I didn't expect. We're off to the vets tomorrow to see what the next plan is.
 
What is IRAP therapy?
What did the vet say Joanne?

I spoke to the vet again and we are going to go for x rays once I have sorted transport. I rode horse today, just a nice hack at walk and after about 40 mins he started to slow down and ask for his head- he then walked the rest of the hack on a loose rein with his head right down like he was stretching his back out. He was swinging his hind legs I think. He seemed a lot more comfy like this. He's definitely not 'right'.
What is the prognosis for bone spavin? Will it always get worse?
 
noblesteed said:
What is IRAP therapy?
What did the vet say Joanne?

I spoke to the vet again and we are going to go for x rays once I have sorted transport. I rode horse today, just a nice hack at walk and after about 40 mins he started to slow down and ask for his head- he then walked the rest of the hack on a loose rein with his head right down like he was stretching his back out. He was swinging his hind legs I think. He seemed a lot more comfy like this. He's definitely not 'right'.
What is the prognosis for bone spavin? Will it always get worse?
Click to expand...

I am terrible at trying to explain things so, to save embarrassment, Google IRAP therapy and it will come straight up :)

The vet is going to do x-rays tomorrow so check his hocks. He is now lame in front so we are also having x-rays to see what the problem is there.
 
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