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Elite Veteran
Posts: 621
 
Location: Arkansas | Ok so i took my 16 yr. old mare who has only been running barrels for 7 yrs. to the Vet. because she has a bump present on her dorsomedial joint (knee). Vet said 3/5 lameness apparent with flexion of the carpus making it worse, she set back when he picked her foot up towards her belly so he said she only has 50% range of motion, but when i pick up her foot at home she has about 80% flexion. Xrays revealed arthritis of the radiocarpal joint so i had him inject with Depo Medrol & Polyglycan, he also suggested a joint supplement so i have her on Lubrigen by Uckele. He said he doesn't think i should be competeing on her but can trail ride her. Is there anything else i can do for her?? Would you try her and see how she does??? Help!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
 
| If she were mine I would be using Polyglycan IV every 2 weeks to monthly depending on what vet recommends. At this point oral joint supplement may not be enough. I would go IV route. Maybe consider pentosan???? THat works great for horses that ALREADY have issues. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 621
Location: Arkansas | Since she had the shot from the Vet on 10/6/17 when would you start the Pentosan and is there more than one brand? |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
 
| You can start the Pentosen immediately. I get mine from Race Horse Meds. Also look Into Herbal Respond and Optimum Flex Plus. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I wouldn't compete on one that a vet has said not to. Now you could get a second opinion about the matter and see if a different vet approaches the situation differently. Horses can be excellent at hiding their pain and some would run 3 legged if we asked. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | moorehorses - 2017-10-31 12:43 PM Since she had the shot from the Vet on 10/6/17 when would you start the Pentosan and is there more than one brand?
Pentosan is pentosan, I believe. I give it to my mare as a preventative. I inject monthly for her. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I would get a second opinion. I am not saying you're outcome will be different or that your current vet is wrong; but there are some many new/different therapies available today that could help or make her more comfortable. It'd be worth a shot to me! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 621
Location: Arkansas | I am going to try the Pentosan and see how she rides, i won't run her unless she is riding great! Thanks everyone! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| depo is not supposed to go in high motion joints such as the knee as it has been proven to reduce the cartilage in the joint.
I would be taking her somewhere else and having the joint flushed, then reinjected with HA trimsclione, and an antibiotic.
I would also take the xrays to a different vet and get their experience, I would not hesitate to retire.
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | We will use depo in high motion joints that are "end stage" arthritic because the pain is bad enough the lesser potent steroids like triamcinolone won't cut it for very long. Unfortunately, that's not a good joint to have OA in and be competitive. If your vet thinks she should retire, she probably should.
I have a horse who chipped her knee in an accident recovering from anesthesia. I put straight depo into her knee because its so trashed it gives her some comfort. Your horse's knee probably isn't anywhere near where hers is because my horse is unridable. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | cheryl makofka - 2017-11-02 7:15 PM
depo is not supposed to go in high motion joints such as the knee as it has been proven to reduce the cartilage in the joint.
I would be taking her somewhere else and having the joint flushed, then reinjected with HA trimsclione, and an antibiotic.
I would also take the xrays to a different vet and get their experience, I would not hesitate to retire.
it isn't ideal but sometimes high motion joints are so arthritic they need the big gun drugs to make them comfortable. And if that is the case, retirement is a good call. Second opinions never hurt either. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 621
Location: Arkansas | She doesn't limp or favor it at all & I have been trail riding her without any issues. I've even loped circles large & small on her & couldn't really tell if she was favoring it any. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| When you give the Pentosen make sure you do the loading dose. Which is 3 doses |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| casualdust07 - 2017-11-03 4:25 PM
cheryl makofka - 2017-11-02 7:15 PM
depo is not supposed to go in high motion joints such as the knee as it has been proven to reduce the cartilage in the joint.
I would be taking her somewhere else and having the joint flushed, then reinjected with HA trimsclione, and an antibiotic.
I would also take the xrays to a different vet and get their experience, I would not hesitate to retire.
it isn't ideal but sometimes high motion joints are so arthritic they need the big gun drugs to make them comfortable. And if that is the case, retirement is a good call. Second opinions never hurt either.
But at the stage you are talking about, depo is just masking the pain, and accelerating the remainder of cartilage degeneration, therefore just buying time possibly a few months.
At this stage where the retirement is essential, my vet will inject Adequan IA, as it does promote cartilage regeneration. I haven't spoke to him about it lately, but a few years ago the infection rate was 50 percent with Adequan, this is why it is a last resort) I do believe the rate has reduced since then.)
He done it on a few horses with success, and no infection. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | moorehorses - 2017-11-03 6:35 PM
She doesn't limp or favor it at all & I have been trail riding her without any issues. I've even loped circles large & small on her & couldn't really tell if she was favoring it any.
You need to get a second opinion before you decide what your horse can or can not handle.
In July of this year I was running my mare with what seemed to be no problems. She never refused at the gate. She would do anything I asked.
By the end of July I had a lame horse who 4 months later is still dead lame. I figured soft tissue injury right away due to how quickly it came on but in fact I found out she has severe osteoarthritis in her upper hock--I had no idea. That doesn't come on over night. I was running this horse with terrible arthritis and she showed me nothing till it was too late. Now the inflammation is so bad from running her with the arthritis that her bone is completely remodeled and the soft tissue around it is non existent.
I am trying a few things to try to bring her back but there is little to no hope she will ever even be rideable again. At this point she may not even be comfortable enough to have some babies if I can't get the inflammation under control and hope the bone stops degenerating. It is a mess. I wish I would have noticed something before it got so bad and she wouldn't be in pain everyday because of it...but horses are incredible good as masking their pain sometimes till the damage is too far gone that their quality of life is in question.
Do not count on your horse to tell you when they hurt. Look at the x rays and get a good vets opinion. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 621
Location: Arkansas | A very nice Vet. has given me her 2nd opinion on my mare and she said she needs to be retired from racing. I can trail ride her or she can be used as a broodmare. She was a solid 2D mare even placing in the 1D at a few big shows in Texarkana so i should probably breed her, but i have 5 other horses to feed, vet. etc.... so i can either just trail ride her or sell her as a broodmare to someone looking for her bloodlines. Thanks for all the responses that led to the 2nd & 3rd opinion :((  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | moorehorses - 2017-11-08 3:37 PM
A very nice Vet. has given me her 2nd opinion on my mare and she said she needs to be retired from racing. I can trail ride her or she can be used as a broodmare. She was a solid 2D mare even placing in the 1D at a few big shows in Texarkana so i should probably breed her, but i have 5 other horses to feed, vet. etc.... so i can either just trail ride her or sell her as a broodmare to someone looking for her bloodlines. Thanks for all the responses that led to the 2nd & 3rd opinion : ( (
I am sorry to hear this news! I was really hoping a 2nd vet would maybe have other options for you. It is a tough place to be in. |
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