Will taking shoes off and turning away help a young arhritic?

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ChestnutConvert

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Have posted before on here about getting my mare sound, she was diagnosed last year with osteo arthritis predominately in 2 opposite fetlocks. She i now sound on the front leg but not on the hind and vet will be out to find out what is wrong with it as it hasn't responded well enough to injections unlike the front.
He did mention the possibility of it being something to do with a ligament and will block to say yes or no.

Would it be one plan to maybe get her shoes off and turn her away for a period of time to let things settle and have some r&r?
I have heard stories of this working for arthritics and I'm just getting ideas to be ready for the vet as she is only coming up for 10 and i'd love to get her comfy enough to get back to what she enjoys.
She is happy in herself but obviously something is nagging in that fetlock.
If i was to consider this does anyone have any tips on turning away?

I'm not just going to go ahead and do it, it will be on advice but after reading a current post i would like a different opinion as i'm also finding that vets seem to brush off the feet being a problem.
 
Helped alot with an older arthritic shire I took on, I had his shoes removed imediatly and turned him away for a good 7mnths, hes not bin lame since and is now out on loan, back in work as a very happy hacker! I dont think he was quite as severe as yours though but I would definatly recomend you give it a try
 
rowan666 said:
Helped alot with an older arthritic shire I took on, I had his shoes removed imediatly and turned him away for a good 7mnths, hes not bin lame since and is now out on loan, back in work as a very happy hacker! I dont think he was quite as severe as yours though but I would definatly recomend you give it a try
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Thanks i was thinking of giving her the summer off, a bummer i know but anything to get her sound.
Might be a daft question but was it just a case of shoes off and put him in a field with others?
I'd still give hr a feed so she gets her supplements etc and of course checks, fuss, love but anything else to consider?
 
Im sorry but to put it bluntly arthritis is degenerative and the long term prognosis is always gradually getting more unsound. Shoes or no shoes, this will not change. Get him on a good joint supplement, and plenty of oil as well as keeping his weight down and personally stay in light work. Best of luck
 
I well know that it will never go away and putting things in place for the day that she has to retire which will unfortunately probably be too early, but there have been many stories from various people that given a bit of time things can be a bit better, not cured just manageable.
 
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