How to treat horse arthritis?
Abουt three weeks ago, mу ten year ancient horse wаѕ diagnosed wіtһ arthritis іח һіѕ front left аחԁ rear knees. Fοr һіѕ entire life, һе һаѕ һаԁ a front left pigeon toed foot tһаt һаѕ bееח over-corrected аחԁ, mοѕt ƖіkеƖу, caused tһіѕ arthritis. At tһе moment, wе аrе treating һіm wіtһ tһе cortisone shots. Bυt, I ride top speed drills οח horseback weekly аחԁ іt іѕ very hard tο miss. Hе іѕ mу οחƖу horse аחԁ һе іѕ іחсrеԁіbƖе wһаt һе саח ԁο, ѕο varying horses іѕ nearly חοt possible. Iח tһе past two weeks, һе seems tο һаνе hit a wall, һе іѕ іח ѕο much pain һе bucks аƖƖ tһе time аחԁ mу dad аחԁ I аrе completely stuck. Please һеƖр mе! Wһаt аrе ѕοmе possible treatments οr methods οr solutions I сουƖԁ try?
You may have to have another surgery to right the problem. Also, maybe some Bute would help. If not you might have to take it simple on him for a while until he improves a modest.
Why don’t you question the vet that diagnosed him with the arthritis? Did the vet inject the cortisone directly into his joint? If so, that’s a pretty powerful pain-killing drug, but it doesn’t do anything to really help the joint heal. Cortisone injections are much more powerful than Bute or joint supplements in the feed, so if he had the injections and he’s still in a lot of pain I reckon you may need to retire this horse from competition. Unfortunately rest is unlikely to help because arthritis is not something that will heal. Once you have it, you just have to learn to manage it. It never goes away.
If this horse has been such a excellent horse for you, you owe it to him to do the right thing. Talk to your vet to see if there is anything more that can be done to keep your horse comfortable. But if he’s in so much pain, you need to stop riding him. Or at least ride him lightly and don’t question him to do speed drills anymore. To question a horse who is in pain to keep working even though he’s suspicion a lot of pain is just cruel. Sorry
Bute might help but he may develop stomach problems from being on it long term. All day turnout and joint supplements can also help keep the joint as limber as possible. It sounds like you will need to consider a new horse soon. Once arthritis starts it only gets worse. Sorry…
Once a horse gets arthritis, its pretty much time to slow down!! By riding top speed you will only do more hurt.
Arthritis is a cruel thing……………………….but it happens. Maybe you should look into selling him to someone who just wants a casual ride. I know you said its not an option being paid another horse but its looking like you may have to consider it!!! Or keep him and lease another
I just establish out about 2 weeks ago that one of my horses has arthritis. He has it in his left front ankle. I trail ride him everywhere. In hard terrain and mountains, in sand and all around the locality. I have most recently run him in a Hunter Pace. He always starts out slow, but does fine once we get going but one thing that consistently happens is that he trips. Never fun at a trot. I took him to get a series of X-rays and establish that he has arthritis. He never is lame, just slow to go.
I was told I could take up again to ride him until he showed lameness but the end result if I wanted to keep riding him was to have a cortisone injection in the joint.
I couldn’t stand to know that he was in pain and that I may be making it worse so I didn’t hesitate one moment to start with cortisone. They also suggested a series of Adequan injections, 7 in total, one each 4 days IM. We ongoing that as well. I also place him on Cosequin ASU. Twice a day at least for the first two weeks. I had to wait 3 days until we could ride after the joint injection but by day three I had a whole different horse. It’s so obvious to see that he had to have been in a lot of pain. That he is not in any pain any longer. He is in succession and bucking and playing in the paddock. His gaits, especially a trot is so much better and all of the tripping has stopped and we are now in week 2. Everything I have heard from anyone regarding Adequan is that it is incredible and so far I would have to say I agree. The goal is to be able to wean him off of the Adequan by maintaing with the Cosequin ASU.