Injections to do with cartelidge?

[Trewsers]

Our vet mentioned briefly on his last visit some kind of injection that had been a success when used on dogs - I cannot remember the name of the drug involved - but it had something to do with cartelidge:confused: He's suggesting (we're going to discuss more next week) that it may be of benefit to Joe (he has joint degeneration disease). Has anybody heard of this new treatment? Apparently there is a slight risk of blood clotting as a side effect - I'm just trying to weigh things up. Any info much appreciated. Thanks.

[jenren!!]

steroid injections? Maybe? I know they are used to ease pain and speed up fusion.

[Trewsers]

No, JOe's had the steroid injections - and they've worked quite well, tho he's not completely sound yet. I think these were in addition to the steroid ones.

[star]

suspect it's Cartrophen. my horse had a course of injections earlier this year. We use it in dogs with arthritis mainly, but it has had some good reports in horses. It did nothing for my horse, but he had a ligament problem, not arthritis. It's about £50 a bottle and they need a whole bottle each injection.

[Jessey]

Bo damaged the cartilage in his stifle earlier this year and he was given 2 injections of Hyonate (hyloronic acid) which basically helps with regeneration and improves the synovial fluid in the joint.
Its not cheap I think it was about £180 for 2ml (one injection) but I think it made a really big difference to Bo. It was injected directly into his joint.
Out of interest, I have also found a oral version of this which has some good reviews in the states which I think I might get for Bo just to give him every couple of months or something to give him a boost, in addition to his normal glucosamine joint supplement.

J x

[Trewsers]

Yes, I think it was Cartrophen - sounds familiar. Only thing is, there is a risk of blood clotting - I don't know how big a risk, its something I need to discuss with our vet. It may be that it won't make that big a difference to Joe - I'm not sure. He's responded to the steroid injection, tho he's not completely sound yet - I don't think we'll ever be able to do much on him now - just light hacking, but as long as he's comfortable thats all I'm bothered about!
Jessey, sounds expensive, does your insurance pay? I think I may be lucky with Joe, and it might be classed as part of the on-going claim.

[Jessey]

Yep my insurance covered it, he only needed 2 injections and since seems *touches wood and crosses everything* to be fine, the claim is now closed and they have excluded his stifle so I hope he won't need more. It is only meant to help it mend/stabalise so hopefully thats it.

[cvb]

Fi just had Adequan. Its intra-muscular rather than into the joint - so the vey came out and showed me how, and I did the rest (it is a series of 7 injections of 5ml each)

The leaflet says its for ligament as well as joint (Fi has DJD).

[Jessey]

I had a quick read about that while at the reining in vegas, how do you think it has effected Fi? I expect Bo's stife won't hold out forever so would appriciate any feed back you have.

J x

[Trewsers]

Fi just had Adequan. Its intra-muscular rather than into the joint - so the vey came out and showed me how, and I did the rest (it is a series of 7 injections of 5ml each)

The leaflet says its for ligament as well as joint (Fi has DJD).


So this is a similar drug then? Do you think it has helped Fi? Vet said it was intra muscular and not into the joint. I'm just worried about any potential side effects.

[star]

my horse had no side-effects from Cartrophen.

Cartrophen and Adequan are very similar and both equally pricey. They both go into the muscle. My horse had 2 jabs of cartrophen 2weeks apart. adequan is normally 7 jabs 4 days apart.

[cvb]

Fi has been leaping about ever since she had the x-rays :rolleyes:

I would struggle to believe the DJD if I hadn't seen the x-rays myself !

So I believe it has helped, and she seems to be holding up with work better - but she wasn't really sore before that.

No side effects other than my eyes watering the first time I jagged her :o

You swap sides of the neck each jab to spread the impact of the injecting. But she didn't have any side effects.

[Trewsers]

Fi has been leaping about ever since she had the x-rays :rolleyes:

.

Thats great isn't it?:)

[Trewsers]

my horse had no side-effects from Cartrophen.

.

Thats good to hear - I like to weigh things up tho - no matter how small the risk.

[Mehitabel]

one of our elderly ones is on either cartrophen or adequan - i think it's cartrophen but i won't swear to it. it has made a huge difference to her (arthritis in her pelvis/hips).

[Trewsers]

I know I posted this thread a while ago but I'm still pondering over it - this drug Cartrophen - am I right in believing its not actually licensed for horses in the uk? If so, how come I'm being offered it by our vet? They seem pretty keen - I'm just weighing it up still. They seem to think it will help in the long term but I'm wondering whether I should leave it for a bit as Joe isn't suffering at the moment - he's 1/10 lame - but they were a bit nebulous when I asked if it would bring him sound. Don't just want to go ahead if its not going to make a great deal of difference. Would really appreciate any input - I'm struggling to decide - even after discussing it with both vets involved. Thanks.

[cvb]

trying to find info on cartrophen
http://www.recoveryeq.com/osteochondrosis_horses.htm

someone has done a paper comparing adequan, cartrophen, and something else (?) but I can't view the full paper unless I am a vet :rolleyes:

I think I'd want to check my insurance would cover an unlicensed drug. But I suspect it would as the girl I talked to on the customer call centre at PetPlan said her horse had cartrophen ! (But at the time I was trying to google it spelt wrong as I only had what she said to go on - DOH !)

EDIT to add: there seem to be different versions of Cartrophen - canine does seem to be licensed. And then for equine there is both joint injections and intra-muscular....

[Trewsers]

Thanks CVB - much appreciated info. Thanks for the link. Thats a good point about the insurance - I never thought about that aspect, I was just concerned that it wasn't licensed for horses but I guess the insurance will want to know also.

[Jessey]

Often drugs are licenced for dogs or humans and have been thoroughly tested on horses and found to be fine but as yet have not got certification for use or perhaps have part certification for short term but not long term use.

You would need to ask the vet exactly what stage it is at or perhaps even contact the manufacturer and ask them.

J x

[star]

my horse had cartrophen and the insurance paid up no probs. you're right that it isn't licensed for horses but neither are many other drugs - drug companies often dont want to pay out to go through all the licensing procedure. we use it in dogs all the time, but there is less call for it in horses as we already have Adequan which is licensed - i would talk to your vet about what advantages giving cartrophen has over giving adequan as they are quite similar drugs.

[Trewsers]

You would need to ask the vet exactly what stage it is at or perhaps even contact the manufacturer and ask them.

J x

Yes, thats a good idea.

[Trewsers]

- i would talk to your vet about what advantages giving cartrophen has over giving adequan as they are quite similar drugs.

Will do, they haven't mentioned adequan, they seem quite keen to push the Cartrophen tho.