Posted 2014-08-18 10:06 PM Subject: advice for bone spavin or osteoarthritis of the hock?
Expert
Posts: 1261
My mare was diagnosed with this about a year and a half ago. Vet says as well as all research I can find that once fusion is complete she will be pain free. However getting there seems to be taking its sweet time. At vets recommendation we have done two alcohol injections and some other type of injection I can't recall the name of. She's been turned out in large pasture. I do not ever expect to even lope on her again but would like to get her pain free and maybe sound for walk trot stuff. I have already spent more than I can really afford at the vet so any advice that won't totally break the bank? Thinking about trying Contribute the omega 3 supplement.
Posted 2015-06-30 7:43 AM Subject: RE: advice for bone spavin or osteoarthritis of the hock?
I Want a "MAN"
Posts: 3610 Location: MD
I'm interested with experience on this subject too. I'm taking mine to the vet in a few weeks. His have already fused but I want to know what therapies people are doing to keep their bone spavin horses still running. From the ones I've seen my horse is pretty sound for having good sized bone spavins on both hocks. He loves liniment but I want to help him feel as comfortable as I possible can.
Posted 2015-06-30 9:49 AM Subject: RE: advice for bone spavin or osteoarthritis of the hock?
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
The research shows that alcohol is the least effective treatment to get a horse to fuse, if you didn't do radio graphic dye studies prior to injecting to rule out communication between joints you may have damaged the high motion joint and the horse would be worse off and there is no cure.
Also with alcohol there is a very strict regime of exercise for 6 months that improves the chances of fusion if your vet didn't go through post op care this could also be a reason why she is not fusing adequately.
I have fused hocks, but I have used the surgical laser, it is more money, but I only had to do it once
How long has it been?
Have you done xrays lately, this is where I would start
advice for bone spavin or osteoarthritis of the hock?
