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 Living within my means
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Location: Randolph, Utah | Can a horse still be "off" after injecting the hock if it is fusing? Can the fusing process cause a horse to be visibly off?
I should know more when the vet calls me back with the results of the X-rays, but I am hoping it is as simple as fusing.
Edited by JcNhEmI 2013-11-26 7:46 PM
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Too busy outside!
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| Definitely yes- hock injections aren't a for sure remedy. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Sometimes it takes another injection about a week after, a booster dose, to get all the inflammation out of the joint.
I would also be questioning joint infection as this is a risk after every injection. Make sure there is not heat at the joint, and take the horses temp |
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My mind still works
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| ^^^^ agree on both posts above ^^^^ |
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 I don't speak Portuguese
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Location: West River - SoDak | I would call could be infection at the injection site.
You know, I had a very in depth conversation with my vet yesterday about hock fusion. He said he has so many people come in saying that their horses' hocks are "fusing", but that hock fusion is actually very, very rare and almost never happens. 99% of hock problems are in the lower joint, and have nothing to do with fusion. He wrote an article on it, I will have to see if I can get a copy when I go back in there on Monday. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Haidalittle - 2013-11-23 11:50 AM I would call could be infection at the injection site. You know, I had a very in depth conversation with my vet yesterday about hock fusion. He said he has so many people come in saying that their horses' hocks are "fusing", but that hock fusion is actually very, very rare and almost never happens. 99% of hock problems are in the lower joint, and have nothing to do with fusion. He wrote an article on it, I will have to see if I can get a copy when I go back in there on Monday.
I agree with your vet 100%! Think about how much time it takes to develop arthritis to begin with, and then think about how long it takes to wear away all of the cartilage, and then think how long the joint has to be bone on bone, and all of the extreme inflammation and pain that goes along with that- then think about how long it would take a bone to remodel to fuse itself to another one- it's alot easier said then done- |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Haidalittle - 2013-11-23 12:50 PM
I would call could be infection at the injection site.
You know, I had a very in depth conversation with my vet yesterday about hock fusion. He said he has so many people come in saying that their horses' hocks are "fusing", but that hock fusion is actually very, very rare and almost never happens. 99% of hock problems are in the lower joint, and have nothing to do with fusion. He wrote an article on it, I will have to see if I can get a copy when I go back in there on Monday.
I would like to know if the article was published in a scholarly journal. Any one can write an article.
Myself if my horses are having hock pain from arthritis, I don't inject, I surgically fuse, for me this is morse cost effective for long term |
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I don't speak Portuguese
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Location: West River - SoDak | cheryl makofka - 2013-11-23 12:01 PM
Haidalittle - 2013-11-23 12:50 PM
I would call could be infection at the injection site.
You know, I had a very in depth conversation with my vet yesterday about hock fusion. He said he has so many people come in saying that their horses' hocks are "fusing", but that hock fusion is actually very, very rare and almost never happens. 99% of hock problems are in the lower joint, and have nothing to do with fusion. He wrote an article on it, I will have to see if I can get a copy when I go back in there on Monday.
I would like to know if the article was published in a scholarly journal. Any one can write an article.
Myself if my horses are having hock pain from arthritis, I don't inject, I surgically fuse, for me this is morse cost effective for long term
I did not read the article and am unsure of where it is published, this was just part of our conversation. I would be lying if I said I completely understood everything we talked about but he did say that "hock fusion almost never happens".
I am going back on Monday and certainly if anyone has a question about this I would be happy to ask him. I want to know more too. |
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Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | We got the x-rays back and it does not look good. (the vet is emailing me them) The vet said she has severe trauma to the hock. He thinks both joins are trying to fuse. He said the one joint is fine but the other has cartilage preventing it from fusing. The vet said we can inject a dye and something else to take care of the cartilage or do a surgery to fuse the joint.
Has anyone ever had both joints fused? Or had the hock fused surgically.
I am trying to stay optimistic that she will come back, the vet said probably out another 6 months once we start her recovery.
Thanks in advance! |
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  Warmblood with Wings
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Location: Florida.. | what kind of trauma?
the hocks are fusing and or ? guess Im confused.. |
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Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | Bibliafarm - 2013-11-26 6:53 PM
what kind of trauma?
the hocks are fusing and or ? guess Im confused..
there has been trauma to the hock she was most likely kicked AND the joints are trying to fuse. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | my dressage gelding kicked a cement wall one thunderstorm and fractured both hocks..
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| How old is this horse? My trainer's horse had a problem and was told that it was from some type or trauma as a very young horse and was too deep in the joint to be from getting kicked. he was only three at the time. She took him to Dr Honnas and he said start feeding him a bone supplement and I think she uses a product from THE. He said stay off him a year which ruined his futurity year. He has since told her to start riding him like she normally would and he is fine. This horse is a son of Frenchmans Guy so she is willing to spend money on him to get him sound. Platinum makes a bone supplement also. Something you might try anyway. Discuss with your vet. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have had 2 surgically lasered. I will always fuse via laser and not do injections. If there is any cartilage damage I will opt for surgery. It costs about 5 k for both but will save you money in the long run.
I had one with bone spurs and the other had fractured joints , the lower. Both ran stronger then before the surgery both were 1d horses, one is now retired at age of 21 and the other is a junior rodeo horse |
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Fusing Hocks question- UPDATED- Severe Trauma to the hock :(