Update on steroid inj tonight...

C

Charlie007

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Brief history: Horse had first steroid inj back in January for synovitis in his fetlock. Has been fine but rode last night and didn't seem quite right. Thought that as insurance for this ailment runs out end of October that would be best to just get vet to check.

To Tonight:
Trotted him up - sound
flexion test - sound, vet said he would pass vetting.

Vet said as insurance was coming to an end that he would inject again incase anything was brewing. So 2 days in (walk out in hand) 2 weeks field rest with a bit of hacking, then crack on, so really good news!! Phew!!

Next question (sorry!)

Have you decreased your horses work load because of steriod injections (into joint)? I am thinking of decreasing his work load a bit in the hope that he will stay more sound for longer. Any opinions on this? He currently gets schooled 3-4 times a week and hacked twice. Although we only walk on hacks, he is worked hard in the school. I was having a lesson once a week and competing fairly regularly. I was thinking perhaps still hack twice a week in walk and perhaps just once a week a good schooling session and one easy session. Also thinking lesson perhaps once a month, but i would like to keep competing a little, we just do a bit of dressage. He is 15 so is it time to slow down a bit?
 
I have had my horses joints medicated recently and vet said basically the harder you work them the shorter time the injections last. Would make sense to drop workload. I am cutting down schooling and cutting out jumping with my boy.
 
I haven't decreased work at all no. But you haee to remember that they are not around forever and sooner or later the steroid injections will start to not have the same effect, so I do as much as I can now and try not to put things off. I'm sensible and never gallop on hard ground, or trot for long on roads (if at all) but I do all the things I do before. As long as Bailey is happy that is my main concern. If he's not he has bute. I have been advised to do that by my vet for whenever. If I compete at certain venues and feel he may feel the ground/surface I will bute. Vet is happy and Bails is happy. End of. Don't care what anyone else thinks.
 
Applecart I totally agree. As long as they are comfortable and enjoying life, carry on.

Unfortunatley he took a turn for the worse this morn. I tried to walk him out in hand first thing as per vets advice and he couldn't walk. Rang vet a 6.00am this morn and he told me to get him straight there. They took a sample of the fluid in his fetlock. It showed infection. He will have his joint flushed etc later today. He is in horsepital for 7 days. Vet gutted as this is the first time in 5 years he has had this happened to him. So just crossing everything that he comes through op ok xx
 
Charlie007 said:
Applecart I totally agree. As long as they are comfortable and enjoying life, carry on.

Unfortunatley he took a turn for the worse this morn. I tried to walk him out in hand first thing as per vets advice and he couldn't walk. Rang vet a 6.00am this morn and he told me to get him straight there. They took a sample of the fluid in his fetlock. It showed infection. He will have his joint flushed etc later today. He is in horsepital for 7 days. Vet gutted as this is the first time in 5 years he has had this happened to him. So just crossing everything that he comes through op ok xx
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Sorry to hear your news, Charlie 007 - I have pm'd you. There was a post recently on having horses joints medicated on the stable yard v veterinary hospital and a lot of us agreed that we had had our horses joints medicated numerous times on the yard without incident although there was a slightly greater risk of doing this due to possible infection. It's just one of those unfortunate things, and the odds of infection occurring is probably something stupid like 1 in every 10,000 or something. But sadly in your boys case it didn't work out. I am so sorry and hope your boy is allright. At least he is the best place and they will do all they can for him. My horse had his joint flushed three times under general in three weeks at the age of rising 15. I am sure your boy will be okay but understand your worry nevertheless. xxx
 
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