|
|
Veteran
Posts: 116
| So I have a 17 yr old mare whom I semi retired a couple of years ago. The vet figured she had arthritis, and said that we could either use her as a light riding horse or get xrays and possibly cortisone injections to get her sound.
At the time, I wasn't into the thought of injections, and thought that it would be selfish of me..
But everyone lately has been recommending injections to me. I absolutely love my mare, she was a reiner in the past and is so well broke.. Such a joy to ride. I am considering getting xrays done, abd seeing what the vet recommends.
Does anyone have experience with cortisone injections? Is it something you must commit to for the rest of your horses life (even in retirement)? Will they be worse once coming off it? (Ie just masking the pain like bute)
Also, is there the possibility she could compete? Right now, she wears BOT boots, and is on devils claw/glucosamine.. She gets around just fine in the pasture.. But is noticeably headbobbing some days, other days appears sound.
Thank you :) | |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 3514
  
| I would get X-rays and have her injected. Don't do just the cortisone. Have them use HA too. Also get her on Previcox. I would get her on a good supplement. I love Platinum CJ. | |
| | |
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | I'm not trying to be rude, so please don't take this the wrong way. But I would think it's selfish to NOT inject. She worked for you all those years so you owe her to make her comfortable from the pains that go along with it. All of my horses get injections as needed while they are competing. Even in retirement, they get them often enough so they are not in obvious pain and can enjoy the rest to their lives. IMO, they have earned a comfortable retirement. | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 116
| JLBerry - 2014-05-01 4:51 AM
I'm not trying to be rude, so please don't take this the wrong way. But I would think it's selfish to NOT inject. She worked for you all those years so you owe her to make her comfortable from the pains that go along with it. All of my horses get injections as needed while they are competing. Even in retirement, they get them often enough so they are not in obvious pain and can enjoy the rest to their lives. IMO, they have earned a comfortable retirement.
I agree! I have had her on supplements the whole time, but at first I was led to believe that if I injected her and kept riding that it would deteriorate the joint more, and make her crippled at a young age.
Or does it support the joint and not allow further deterioration?
I actually bought her when she was 13, after her reining career. Sadly, she started being off within a couple months of buying her :/ It's obvious she was worked pretty hard in the past to have gotten arthritis at such a young age! | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 5293
| You might try Legend, or Polyglycan IV first to see if you get results that way. My vet explained that once you start injecting you have to keep doing it, and the duration between injections gets less and less. SO eventually you will be injecting a joint every other month to get the same effect. First injection usually lasts 6-9 months. Just a thought. | |
| | |
 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | You don't HAVE to keep injecting once you start. You only inject when the horse TELLS you he needs it done. | |
| | |
 Veteran
Posts: 164
| Get the X-rays, at that age, the injections would really be a good idea. I don't like starting injections at a young age, because typically you will have to continue for the rest of their life. You could try Adequan as well. Obviously ask your vet first. My 9 year old barrel gelding gets Adequan once a month. If I hauled him more, he would get it more, but it really depends on the stress you are putting on the horse's joints. I think Adequan is a good place to start and then move to injections if necessary. It is less intrusive (injected IM instead of into the joint directly) and can be a life saver. My gelding was hauled a lot a couple years ago and just went dead lame in the hocks, and once I started with this, he is now bomb proof again. I know not to push it, though, because that wouldn't be fair and I want him to live a long, happy life doing what he loves, but not over doing it. I'd say competing is not out of the question, but as I said, listen to your horse and don't over do it as you don't want to make the problem worse. When you are supplementing something, it can mask symptoms of degeneration of their joints so you really have to realize just because they aren't lame, doesn't mean you're not doing harm to them. Go to the Adequan website and read on how it actually helps rebuild the bad joints. Also there's a type of cortisone injections I believe that the vet will mix with their blood that is less intrusive...a good place to start out. I'm not a big believer in oral joint supplements. Might help slightly but not significantly. 5cc's of Adequan is approx $60/month and those joint supplements can run a LOT more than that and do a lot less. All my horses are on Platinum. Not CJ, because that is just a lot of oral joint supplements that I don't see necessary when all my horses don't have joint issues, and the ones that do will get Adequan as late as possible, because I know it's a life long decision. The Platinum Performance Equine Formula helps maintain, but won't fix a problem. Hope this helps and of course always consult with your veterinarian...and listen to your horse!!
-3 barrels-2 hearts-1 passion- | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line