Update on Ben

[Twigben]

Hi guys

Well its not good news, following a horrible week which started with Ben destroying the scanner at my vets by kicking, bucking etc at the scanner under heavy sedation scaring the staff and damaging himself, he has been diagnosed with spinal arthritus and bone spavins in both hocks. He is going to be treated with Tildren IV in 10 weeks (cant be treated sooner because of the radioactivity he was injected with).

We are not sure if the treatment will work but i have to give my special lad a chance - he is only 4!!

I feel very lucky to have had him. This little man has given me his all even when he has been in so much pain. I am so happy that i pestered the professionals to scan him, they kept telling me his bad behaviour was due to lack of work and not pain related. I knew that there was something else and now i am pleased i followed it through.

I am looking forward to getting him home tomorrow and will just have to wait and see what the future brings.

If anyone has had any dealings with Tildren/bone spavins/arthritus please let me know.

 

[slimdizzy]

ah sorry.goodluck

 

[dixie]

Ah, I thought it was only my horse who didn't like the scanner, they told me most horses were fine with it and then had to do him over 2 days with more dope!

Well done on you for seeing through your gut feeling. I can't help with your question though but good luck.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Well done you for pestering vets! The very best of wishes that the tildren works for Ben. He is fortunate to have you as his mummy. x

 

[BethH]

I am so sorry to hear that, what a nightmare for you, I had hoped it would be something simple, but it just goes to show that you were dead right to trust your gut instinct that he was struggling from pain not attitude, a big well done for seeing it through to this point.

I am sure there have been postings on here about Tildren so there must be other forum users that have been through this and can give you some advice and positive thoughts on the whole thing.

Can't believe such a young horse would have to deal with this, such a shame. The spavins I do have experience of and they do settle after a while, but it will probably mean a fair bit of time off and low level work until they settle but I have a 27 year old mare at my yard with spavins who was retired but has come back in to work 6 months ago as she was looking so well. Gentle long reining worked very well for her, she won't do loads because of her age but she is now hacking out and doing 20-30 mins in walk and trot in the school which isn't bad for an old girl with 2 spavins and ringbone on her fronts!

The spinal arthritus I have no knowledge of but there must be plenty of people that do so put a post out and fingers crossed the Tildren will work. If you need any moral support feel free to pm me.