Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Had the vet out last night as my horse has deteriorated quite quickly in the last couple of weeks with his off hind and his bone spavin in that limb. To cut a long story short he had joint injections (HA and steroid) and then three lots of tildren about five years ago, followed by fusion with ethanol last January/Feb time. He's been getting by jumping up to 1m and dressaging to unaff elem, hacks, fun rides, etc, etc.
But in the last couple of weeks I've noticed his foot placement on this limb is abnormal, he is very stiff when first put into trot from walk for half a lap or more of the school, and is having the odd fence down (that said he got a double clear in two classes three weeks ago). I had the vet out last night and he said he felt that his arthritis had crept up his hock joint from the area that was injected with the alcohol, ie. the top parts of the hock probably now have arthitis in them. Coupled with this the horse has sacro illiac soreness which the vet detected last night.
Bailey is going in for xrays next Friday and a possible steroid injection and he is having physio this Friday. The vet said he was four tenths lame in trot and two tenths lame in walk but flexion has not shown significant change on trot up so it looks like the fusion has worked.
He said to bute him one a day, continue riding him but no jumping until xrays are done.
Anyone out there had similiar or who can share advice with me. I love the horse dearly and if this is the end of his competetive career then so be it. If we can still hack out or do the ocassional competition then it wont be the end of the world.
If I felt his pain couldn't be controlled or the injections have made no difference or he is worse and I find him struggling through the winter with the mud, etc, then a decision may have to be made, but I think we are a long, long way of this at the moment.
But in the last couple of weeks I've noticed his foot placement on this limb is abnormal, he is very stiff when first put into trot from walk for half a lap or more of the school, and is having the odd fence down (that said he got a double clear in two classes three weeks ago). I had the vet out last night and he said he felt that his arthritis had crept up his hock joint from the area that was injected with the alcohol, ie. the top parts of the hock probably now have arthitis in them. Coupled with this the horse has sacro illiac soreness which the vet detected last night.
Bailey is going in for xrays next Friday and a possible steroid injection and he is having physio this Friday. The vet said he was four tenths lame in trot and two tenths lame in walk but flexion has not shown significant change on trot up so it looks like the fusion has worked.
He said to bute him one a day, continue riding him but no jumping until xrays are done.
Anyone out there had similiar or who can share advice with me. I love the horse dearly and if this is the end of his competetive career then so be it. If we can still hack out or do the ocassional competition then it wont be the end of the world.
If I felt his pain couldn't be controlled or the injections have made no difference or he is worse and I find him struggling through the winter with the mud, etc, then a decision may have to be made, but I think we are a long, long way of this at the moment.
