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Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?

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Last activity 2017-10-24 1:05 PM
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Chasingadream
Reg. Aug 2017
Posted 2017-10-23 7:46 AM
Subject: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


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So an x-ray of my 4 year old showed the growth plate has not fused together yet. Vet said it was causing a sore stifle so he injected her. He told me to keep running her that it was fine and she was just a "late" bloomer. Fast forward 45 days later, sore stifle again. He injected again and said if this injection only lasted as long as the other did that she has soft tissue damage and to give her 90 days off in the pasture. He cleared her to run for the weekend, ran her and it was a disaster. There was no improvement. My question - do I get a second opinion to make SURE that is what is going on?

He said the only way to check for the soft tissue damage is an x-ray that he does not have, he also said the cost was $1,500 and the treatment would be the same - off for 90 days. I don't have any experience with this. Anyone else??
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Meep.Meep
Reg. Jun 2017
Posted 2017-10-23 7:51 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


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I would give her the time off for sure. In the meantime shop around for a vet that has the equipment to properly diagnose her issue. Time off never hurt anybody :-)
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hotpaints
Reg. Feb 2007
Posted 2017-10-23 7:57 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


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She is only 4, give her time off. Personally, I would only be loping a 4yo on the pattern but then I like to take it slow in training.
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bbennington
Reg. Nov 2009
Posted 2017-10-23 8:14 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?



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Been there recently. Our mare is 9 years old and was told this. Gave her pretty much whole summer off and injected couple weeks again. Got on her to ride after injection and now she is still off in the back end.. grrr.. so frustrating.. We honestly don’t know what to do now.
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Liana D
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 8:24 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Defense Attorney for The Horse


1000100100
Location: Claremore, OK
Chasingadream - 2017-10-23 7:46 AM

So an x-ray of my 4 year old showed the growth plate has not fused together yet. Vet said it was causing a sore stifle so he injected her. He told me to keep running her that it was fine and she was just a "late" bloomer. Fast forward 45 days later, sore stifle again. He injected again and said if this injection only lasted as long as the other did that she has soft tissue damage and to give her 90 days off in the pasture. He cleared her to run for the weekend, ran her and it was a disaster. There was no improvement. My question - do I get a second opinion to make SURE that is what is going on?

He said the only way to check for the soft tissue damage is an x-ray that he does not have, he also said the cost was $1,500 and the treatment would be the same - off for 90 days. I don't have any experience with this. Anyone else??

Something I see a lot of.
Your horse most likely doesnt just have an open growth plate, she has epiphysitis in it. Margins of the growth plate will look rough instead of being smooth. the stifle joint soreness is due to tech Epiphysitis causing pain in the stifle area. I use a product called Rejuvinaide made by Progressive Nutrition that is a trace mineral supplement. Usually 60-90 days on the product will do the trick. Re xray to make sure it's improved.
Your mare is getting sore because the problem is not actually in the stifle, it's the growth plate on the tibial crest. An open growth plate isn't painful but epiphysitis in it is. The stifle injection is close enough to the area that it does give some temporary relief.

ETA, time off is preferred. You risk compensation injuries if you continue.

Edited by Liana D 2017-10-23 8:26 AM
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Liana D
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 8:27 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Defense Attorney for The Horse


1000100100
Location: Claremore, OK
bbennington - 2017-10-23 8:14 AM

Been there recently. Our mare is 9 years old and was told this. Gave her pretty much whole summer off and injected couple weeks again. Got on her to ride after injection and now she is still off in the back end.. grrr.. so frustrating.. We honestly don’t know what to do now.

You might investigate further. A 9 yo horse shouldn't have open growth plates, especially in their stifles.
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Chasingadream
Reg. Aug 2017
Posted 2017-10-23 9:37 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


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hotpaints - 2017-10-23 7:57 AM

She is only 4, give her time off. Personally, I would only be loping a 4yo on the pattern but then I like to take it slow in training.

Well, she ran futurities this year so she had to be past loping lol. I'm not against giving her time off, just wanted to see if I should get a second opinion before I put her out for 90 days. I've never had to deal with this issue before so I wasn't sure if there could be another possibility.
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Chasingadream
Reg. Aug 2017
Posted 2017-10-23 9:37 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Member


Posts: 11
0
Liana D - 2017-10-23 8:24 AM

Chasingadream - 2017-10-23 7:46 AM

So an x-ray of my 4 year old showed the growth plate has not fused together yet. Vet said it was causing a sore stifle so he injected her. He told me to keep running her that it was fine and she was just a "late" bloomer. Fast forward 45 days later, sore stifle again. He injected again and said if this injection only lasted as long as the other did that she has soft tissue damage and to give her 90 days off in the pasture. He cleared her to run for the weekend, ran her and it was a disaster. There was no improvement. My question - do I get a second opinion to make SURE that is what is going on?

He said the only way to check for the soft tissue damage is an x-ray that he does not have, he also said the cost was $1,500 and the treatment would be the same - off for 90 days. I don't have any experience with this. Anyone else??

Something I see a lot of.
Your horse most likely doesnt just have an open growth plate, she has epiphysitis in it. Margins of the growth plate will look rough instead of being smooth. the stifle joint soreness is due to tech Epiphysitis causing pain in the stifle area. I use a product called Rejuvinaide made by Progressive Nutrition that is a trace mineral supplement. Usually 60-90 days on the product will do the trick. Re xray to make sure it's improved.
Your mare is getting sore because the problem is not actually in the stifle, it's the growth plate on the tibial crest. An open growth plate isn't painful but epiphysitis in it is. The stifle injection is close enough to the area that it does give some temporary relief.

ETA, time off is preferred. You risk compensation injuries if you continue.

Thank you so much!!!

That is very helpful. I will look into that!!!

ETA - I saw the x-ray and it actually looked like a crack, I had a mini hearth attack. He said it's just where it hadn't fused together? I have never dealt with it before though so I wasn't really sure what any of it meant.

Edited by Chasingadream 2017-10-23 9:42 AM
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Liana D
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 9:52 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Defense Attorney for The Horse


1000100100
Location: Claremore, OK
Yes, it looks like a crack, or a pac man face, with ragged edges (if there’s epiphysitis). If it was closed you wouldn’t see anything at all.
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Liana D
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 10:11 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Defense Attorney for The Horse


1000100100
Location: Claremore, OK
X-ray of a 3 yo gelding. Growth plate is 3/4 closed but has epiphysitis in it.



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wyoming barrel racer
Reg. Apr 2006
Posted 2017-10-23 12:54 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


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Liana D - 2017-10-23 9:11 AM X-ray of a 3 yo gelding. Growth plate is 3/4 closed but has epiphysitis in it.

I know we discussed Rejuvenaide on facebook. I was the one giving it to a weanling this summer that had a rough start. You recommend giving it to older horses too? 
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Chasingadream
Reg. Aug 2017
Posted 2017-10-23 12:58 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Member


Posts: 11
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Liana D - 2017-10-23 9:52 AM

Yes, it looks like a crack, or a pac man face, with ragged edges (if there’s epiphysitis). If it was closed you wouldn’t see anything at all.

Yes!!! That's exactly what it looked like.
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Liana D
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 3:43 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Defense Attorney for The Horse


1000100100
Location: Claremore, OK
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-10-23 12:54 PM

Liana D - 2017-10-23 9:11 AM X-ray of a 3 yo gelding. Growth plate is 3/4 closed but has epiphysitis in it.

I know we discussed Rejuvenaide on facebook. I was the one giving it to a weanling this summer that had a rough start. You recommend giving it to older horses too?Β 

The reason I recommended it on the fb post was because they were having epiphysitis problems, which is a mineral imbalance. That's what the problem is here, Epiphysitis, only its in the tibial growth plate.
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wyoming barrel racer
Reg. Apr 2006
Posted 2017-10-23 3:56 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Military family

Neat Freak


Posts: 11216
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Location: Wonderful Wyoming
Liana D - 2017-10-23 2:43 PM
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-10-23 12:54 PM
Liana D - 2017-10-23 9:11 AM X-ray of a 3 yo gelding. Growth plate is 3/4 closed but has epiphysitis in it.
I know we discussed Rejuvenaide on facebook. I was the one giving it to a weanling this summer that had a rough start. You recommend giving it to older horses too? 
The reason I recommended it on the fb post was because they were having epiphysitis problems, which is a mineral imbalance. That's what the problem is here, Epiphysitis, only its in the tibial growth plate.

is it beneficial in a 4 yr old? Or just helps pre 6 months as the tube suggests? 
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Liana D
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 4:01 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Defense Attorney for The Horse


1000100100
Location: Claremore, OK
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-10-23 3:56 PM

Liana D - 2017-10-23 2:43 PM
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-10-23 12:54 PM
Liana D - 2017-10-23 9:11 AM X-ray of a 3 yo gelding. Growth plate is 3/4 closed but has epiphysitis in it.
I know we discussed Rejuvenaide on facebook. I was the one giving it to a weanling this summer that had a rough start. You recommend giving it to older horses too?Β 
The reason I recommended it on the fb post was because they were having epiphysitis problems, which is a mineral imbalance. That's what the problem is here, Epiphysitis, only its in the tibial growth plate.

is it beneficial in a 4 yr old? Or just helps pre 6 months as the tube suggests?Β 

For treating epiphysitis, it'd beneficial for any age that has epiphysitis.
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Yakima
Reg. Mar 2008
Posted 2017-10-23 10:28 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?



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Imho?
If she belonged to me? And I wanted her to last for yrs to come?
I'd dump her n the pasture, let her heal and mature till next spring!!
The call is yours of course.
Good luck :0)

Edited by Yakima 2017-10-23 10:29 PM
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pippy
Reg. Oct 2007
Posted 2017-10-24 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Extreme Veteran


Posts: 502
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Location: United States
Why dont you plan on giving her ample time off and in the meantime have her stifle ultrasounded and do some deeper investigation, with a different vet.
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Chasingadream
Reg. Aug 2017
Posted 2017-10-24 1:05 PM
Subject: RE: Growth Plate & Stifle Issues - Do I need a second opinion?


Member


Posts: 11
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She will be getting her time off. I just wanted to see if anyone had dealt with it because it's new to me. I don't have $$$$$ of dollars to spend to get the same results I have now.

My post on here ended up very helpful coming from someone who knew what I was dealing with and was able to be give advise/insight to what the issue what. Researching what she suggested it fits perfect and I know the reason this is happening, it all makes sense. Now she will get her much deserved break and she will be brought back when she is feeling better.

Thanks for all the help!
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