What questions would you ask the vet re unsuccessful treatment??

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Kezzabell2

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Background; I've had my boy since he was 18 months old! He developed a couple of bone spavins last year (age 4), was treated with steroid injections and remedial shoeing.

He was still not 100% sound on a flexion test for the hind spavin, so he's gone in today to have his hocks fused. Vet called to say that its not been totally successful, the bottom part of the hock has fused but the next section up hasn't (as far as I'm aware, they should both fuse together to stop the spavins becoming arthritic, but I stand to be corrected)

I've been told that if he's still not 100% on his 2 week and 12 week check up then he could go back and would need to put out so that they can try again to fusing again.

so obviously I want to know what that entails?
I understand there is a treatment of drilling into the hock, to remove the cartilage, but I'm not sure if this is their idea! if so, I've read that the recovery time could be up to 12 months, so as a 5yrs old, I don't really want him to have a year off, if it can be helped. He already had 4 months off after the steroid injections.

Please could people with more lameness experience than me, give me some ideas of what other things I should be asking when I collect him tomorrow.

Oh and also my insurance claim period expires in 10 weeks, so I'm not sure if they'd cover any further treatment :(
 
I haven't had experience with spavin's or the surgery that is involved, however if it were me I would not do a second op, I would turn away.

I know this isn't what you want to hear but bearing in mind that you are at an end for insurance claims, and he is still young.

If you want to be pro active then I would hire an Arc Equine or laser and hopefully speed up recovery with this.

Time and turnout will really be the cheapest, and imho, best way, sorry. Really hope this first treatment works for you both :)
 
LJR said:
Time and turnout will really be the cheapest, and imho, best way, sorry. Really hope this first treatment works for you both :)
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Would the joint fuse with turnout though? and over what time scale considering this is a young horse? and would it be 'regular' and complete enough to cure the arthritis? I was under the impression it can take several years for the joints to fuse naturally, and now it's 1/2 fused could either take longer, or less?
 
I turned my mare away at five years old, she took three years to come sound but never had any arthritis. She stayed sound until the end of her days.
 
Hello, I don't know about your particular condition, but having had a ridiculously long mystery lameness with my horse - what I've found helpful is to write down in advance all the questions i have for the vet, it's so easy to forget when they're there - e.g. i write down
How much improvement do they expect and in what time frame
should horse be in/out in meanwhile
what is thier current opinion on prognosis etc etc etc

I've found this helpful and I make notes as soon as they've left so I don't forget anything. Hope that helps.
that said, no matter how well informed I now am, my horse is still lame ARRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH :-).
 
tallyho! said:
I thought spavin and arthritis were one and the same thing?
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Yes you are right bone spavin is osteoarthritis. I didn't make my post very clear, I was meaning she didn't develop any arthritis after she had become sound. Hopefully it won't be as long as that for the op.
 
Thanks guys. I've made a list to ask the vet and will take a pen, have a memory like a siv

Just feel gutted for the guy, and me have had my mare 14 yrs, she was a nightmare to ride, so I feel like I've finally got my dream horse and now he might never be totally sound :'(
 
Kezzabell2 3 yrs off said:
Why would he?
In the right environment he'd love it.
A proper big field with company and time to act like a wild horse!
He may not like a square flare field with little it no company but as previously stated the right conditions would be great and would give him time to heal and hopefully become sound.
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