Who's had experience of....?

[Charlie007]

having a joint medicated? (horse not human!)

My horse had a scan on his near hind fetlock area a few weeks ago. The scan showed nothing horrible just some inflammation. Horse had bute for 6 days and was ridden lightly, then no bute and carried on riding, he seemed fine. He has always had a swelling on this joint and it has never caused a problem, until now. Called vet to say that the swelling was still there but it was as it always was, the new swelling seemed to have gone. He said 5 more days of bute and go from there (still waiting for bute!!)

Anyway tonight this joint is warm and looks swollen again. Throughout this time he has not been lame, but with the weather what it is I can't trot him up to check. Vet did mention that if we could not control it with these courses of bute then he will need to medicate the joint. Has anyone had this done to their horse? (vet reckons he medicates several joints a day!!) Any information would be grately received! Thank you.

 

[spacefaer]

We have had several joints medicated with varying degrees of success

One old boy with arthritis in his RF fetlock, pastern and coffin joint - he had all 3 medicated last summer, came sound and hunted last season

We had a stifle joint medicated this summer (on vet advice) on a different horse - didn't work at all.

It's risky in terms of anything invading a joint is risky for infection but if a competent vet does it, in a suitably sterile environment (I would recommend taking him to the surgery to have it done, rather than have it done at home)

It can be hugely successful and give horses a much longer working life

 

[Charlie007]

Yes vet did mention there was a risk of infection. Horse ran through the electric fence yesterday morning so i'm wondering if this may have anything to do with it?/!! He is also only out for half a day at the moment which could be contributing to the situation. Not sure if I should give him the bute (when it arrives) As I assumed it was for when he was working? I suppose as it stands at the moment this batch of bute (5 days, twice a day) may sort this current problem out then order some more for when I can finally ride? Thanks for your reply x

 

[Regan]

The bute will take the inflammation down and obv offer relief from any discomfort. It seems slightly odd to me that the joints inflamed but with no underlying cause- or at least that's what I've understood from OP- sorry if that's not the case! Personaly I would worry about riding until I knew the reason as wouldn't want to make anything worse- but I'm a real worrier

As for having joints medicated- my boy had both his hocks injected over the summer with really good results. Yes there is risk of infection but my vet was very particular about sterilising the area etc- and with common sense on looking after the injection site afterwards I'm sure you'd be fine!

Let us know how you get on!!

 

[K27]

Mine have....lots!- they get their hocks medicated with Cortisone.....

Always absolutely fine! (touch wood as I'm typing!)

Has the Vet scanned and Xrayed?- and in the past my horse had a similar sort of thing with a hind Fetlock as you've described- he had a subchondral bone cyst- probably as a result of hooning around his paddock, or could have been from when he was growing as a Foal, who knows!-took loads of Xrays and the problem was found-he had the joint medicated twice with Adequan, box rest with very controlled and restricted exercise for about 2 months and after that we gradually were able to put him in to full work/turn out.

He had the area bandaged after his injection to reduce swelling and they always always get antibiotic injection after too, to reduce infection risk.

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.

 

[Charlie007]

Thanks again for your replies. Vet scanned the leg and couldn't find anything and as he wasn't lame, suggested I ride him lightly. When I was riding him before the snow, the fetlock was looking good. We were walking out on hacks and walk trot and canter in school but with no collected work. I was to give him bute then up his work gradually. I had a look tonight and the swelling is looking alot better. I think I will ask the vet to come and have another look once the snow has gone and I have had chance to do a little bit in the school. Glad the injections worked for your horses x