Exercising a lame horse

[Karie]

Ok, she is not really lame, no limp or pain but she has a hock problem. She is on glucosomine, condratin and MSM supplements and a special shot for joints as well. Its seems to be getting better but I'm worried that since i cant ride her she is loosing condition and maybe gaining weight. Ive already lowered her food amount to a resting horse stage and she has full turnout but i was wondering if there was anything else i could do. I'm going to call up my vet and see what she has to say about this but i wanted some different opinions as well. Would full turn out be enough or could I hand walk her once a day and see how that goes???

oh and we are not to sure what she did to her hock, i think it has some symptoms of Bog spavin but the vet didn't say anything about it so it probably is not that. She probably strained it and its just healing.

Thanks

Karie

[kirstie]

Well Bog Spavin is a symptom, and does not directly create lameness, i would ask to get the vet out to definately make sure its not Bog Spavin, if it is then the cause will need to be treated. Treatment may involve injection of corticosteroids or hyaluronan into the joint. But hopefully it isn't that.

Your concern about the weight, i'd keep her out and the feed intake low, if she gains weight quite easily (good doer), and wait until the vet suggest otherwise for exercise wise. Usually in the case of bog spavin rest or controlled exercise is often indicated.

Keep us updated and good luck!! :)

[Karie]

Yes, i know its a symptom... but a symptom of what kind of diseases?

Also, what else do you know about bog spavin? Most of what ive found only talks about it in young horses, I know the symptoms but never really found any info about treatment or the procedures. Do you know anything about that? All ive found is that you should blister it but after reading about blistering i really dont want to do that.

I had another vet come out and look at her when she first got swollen. He said the following
swelling of the hock joint. Inflamation of the articular capsule and excesssimovial fluid production. Probably secondary to trauma.
Forces Flexion test (+++) MPD. Not lame.

[kirstie]

Right a bit of info

Bog spavin
A soft distension on the inside front portion of the hock joint caused by an inflammation of the synovial membrane of the hock is known as a bog spavin. Faulty conformation (such as straight hocks), strain (resulting from quick stops), and rickets (caused by a nutritional deficiency) may be predisposing causes that result in inflammation of the bursa and an increased production of synovial fluid. It rarely interferes with the usefulness of the horse.

What is causes not a disease
Causes include synovitis, (inflammation of the lining of the joint capsule), degenerative joint disease, or excessive strain of the joint capsule.

All i've found is from sites not from experience, i've never dealt with bog spavin before

Treatments
From one source it suggests that bog spavin occurs from a fracture but most cases have an underlying OCD, which i do know quite a bit of info on, although i dont know whether thats true :confused: Anti-inflammatory drugs may help bog spavin caused by nutritional deficiencies or injury.

Inflamation of the articular capsule - joint capsule; the saclike envelope enclosing the cavity of a synovial joint.

[Karie]

That last bit is what the vet said... I guess that is what she has... She was a rescue horse, before me she was severly starved and negleted so I guess it could have been caused by malnurishment.

Im sure joint supplement will help, she is on them right now pl;su she will be getting a weekly dose of a chondratic, glocosomine shot prescribed by the vet...

I still cant get ahold of the vet... but when i do ill be sure to ask her straight out what she thinks it is. Im tired of being given symptoms but not actual names for them...

I know in young horses it tends to go away... too bad magic is not young... Where did you get the information? Could you give me the url??

Thanks a ton, this has been so helpfull cause you actually told me what happens when a horse starts getting bog spavin, thats info i have not bee able to find.

Thank you so much

[kirstie]

The chondratic and glucosomine will definately help with any joint problems she has, so its good shes on them :)

The links

Common Joint Diseases of horses (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/76-071.htm)

Bog Spavin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_spavin)

Articular Capsule (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/articular+capsule)

[Karie]

thank you