spavins

[intouch]

I have just been given a super 16.2hh coloured gelding, around 12 years old, he was heading for the meat waggon because he has a spavin. He has been rested for six months and doesn't seem lame to me at present, I will put him on Zerobute and give him some Bowen treatment and Bioflow boots, but I heard of an operation on the tendon, I think, which has had good results, anyone come across it? Or any other advice? I would not want to do more than hacking and perhaps the occasional unambitious Trec or rural riders outing. Any advice welcome.

[summer]

bone spavin or bog spavin? They are different afflictions and require different treatment...let us know and we might be able to help

[intouch]

This is something I haven't come across before so I can't tell you what sort of spavin it is - the front of his hock is puffy and when looked at from behind it is slightly enlarged on the inside. The vet is coming to see him so I will know more then.

[summer]

good luck with your vet! Bog spavin is a generalbut persistent inflammation of the hock joint, and is usually not a problem once it settles, although it sometimes goes along with stiffness and soreness, and bute (or a substitute) can keep the horse comfortable. Bone spavin is more serious, and is a degenerative bone disease. Rest will ease the symptoms, but once you put the horse back nto work chances are it will recur. There are laser treatments and surgical options, but you will always need to be very patient and sympathetic to your horse, because while you may get years of good use, you must always be alert to signs of discomfort that indicate it is getting worse. I had a mare with bone spavin (an ex-steeplechaser) that appeared when she was 16, and she had a couple of years of local shows and hacking before it suddenly became much worse and she was retired. I hope the prognosis is good for your horse. Let us all know!

[intouch]

Sadly the vet was not able to offer us any hope, the spavin (bone) is too far advanced for an op so it is now a case of helping him to live with it. Has anyone any experience of natural remedies other than pain relief, what about cortaflex or similar? I'll keep in touch if I find anything that works. Thanks everyone.