Devastated, vibes needed please:(

mlp2

New Member
Nov 28, 2007
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Sorry i know i don't post often but could really do with some support just now. A the moment i feel devastated, terrified and confused...

My pony has been intermittantly off for a few weeks, not really really lame, but not right:confused:. Thought possibly footy with spring grass but didn't really improve so had vet back out on friday for tests and xrays.

Flexion tests and nerve blocks showed the problem to definately be foot related so xrays were done.

The vets phoned yesterday and the xrays show arthritic changes in the coffin joint and that the navicular bone is not symmetrical. Waiting for some results from blood tests and then they are coming out to give me some extra medication and inject the joints with steroids.

Right now i feel like i've been kicked in the stomach, he's only 13. I'm hoping we've caught it early and that he'll come sound again but until we go through the xrays together and i get a full explanation of how advanced it is i won't know any more.
 
Good vibes coming your way. Hope you get to the bottom of it and it isn't so bad as you thought - these things often aren't you know. Whatever it is, the steroid injections will help - our tb had joint injections a few years ago, and at the time they helped enormously.
 
(((Hugs)))

Please be careful with the steroids, make sure you talk them through thoroughly with your vet & that he makes you aware of the risks involved. Here's a sad story related to them http://www.trotonline.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?19043-Steroids-a-warning-( & I've known similar with a friend's horse.

Before going down the route of injections etc I'd be wanting to get my farrier involved, particularly if you've got x-rays he can work from. A good farrier can do wonders & may be able to delay the need for steroids & other strong drugs. Also discuss the use of controlled exercise on a good surface & maybe stabling some of the time when the ground is very hard.

At 13 many horses will be starting to show arthritic changes, it's the degree that's the issue. The navicular bone may ever have been symmetrical, without previous x-rays you don't know if that's normal for him! Before you let your vet leap into action - & some are very keen to - ask for a meeting where he can talk you through the x-rays & your options when you're a little calmer.

More (((hugs))).
 
Echo everything Carthorse has said. I would want a farriers opinion as well as a specialised vet before going down the steriod route.

There are a lot of things vets have available to them these days just sometimes they overlook the more traditional treatments in favour of immediate intervention

I am sure all will be sorted out for you.
 
If you choose to go down the steroid injection, make absolutely sure you know what you are doing. Please be very very careful. If you suspected your pony may be footy with spring grass then he sounds like he is a prime candidate to get steroid induced laminitis. It can and does kill horses.

Please dont go blindly in there - get as much information as you can and speak to your vet and farrier before you let them give injections.

This is by no means a total disaster. Your pony may well come fully sound again so please dont panic.

Hugs xxx
 
Thanks for all your input. I too am very concerned about the steroid injections and am wanting to look at the xrays with the vet (they are dedicated equine vets) and discuss fully before anything is done, hence why we are also waiting for the blood tests. They really would be a fairly last resort type of treatment in my eyes.
I have already spoken to the farrier (he had heart bar shoes put on a fortnight ago as a precaution when i thought he was footy) and he says that those will help him as they support the foot.
I guess it just felt something of a shock. He doesn't however have any laminitis signs on his xrays which was a positive.
 
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Is this the pony of your avatar? *Hugs* to you both! I hope you get answers soon, it's the not-knowing what the cause is and what to do about it that is the panicky bit. My old boy had a heart-bar shoe put on for a spell (he broke his pedal bone 8 years ago) and I am certain that without its support, he would not be totally sound today. Keep us posted :)
 
i know how you feel.....my 12 year old boy has coffin joint arthritis and uneven balance in his feet....but it can be managed!

first thing....get the shoes off, horses with arthritis in the coffin joint are much more comfortable barefoot and will use the hoof how they feel more comfortable on it, feed a good joit supplement daily (premierflex plus is v.good), turmeric is also good for arthritics and see how it goes.

i had my boy injected, but it made no differece, it doesnt always work, however he is able to carry on working and is painfree enough to do so, he will never be sound....no horse with coffin joint arthritis is and i have now accepted that he will eventually be unrideable and thats fine, but it took a while!

if you want ay info/advice feel free to pm me.
 
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Thanks vixie, would be good to hear more about your experiences of this.
Unfortunately i can't take his shoes off, he has quite flat and thin soles and just does not cope very well at all barefoot (i have tried it in the past for a good period of time to get him to adjust, but in the end had to admit defeat).
 
Lots of hugs!!!! You would be surprised at the amount of conditions that look terrible but once identified and treated can be managed very easily and the horse will end up with years left and carry on quite happily
 
If he has flat, thin soles then please be even more careful about steroids, feet like these are the worst kind if you get lami. Even dedicated equine vets make mistakes - mine wanted to use pads to lift Jim's soles off the ground after assuring me he wasn't laminitic, my farrier took one look & said lami in all four which is what I'd suspected & hence stuck him on box rest for. We think it was triggered by his flu jab & I'm now praying that he pulls through. Yet this is a very good equine vet with a lot of experience & who I have a lot of confidence in.

Some just don't cope barefoot & if he already has foot pain for some reason then this might not be the best time to try, especially if he hasn't managed in the past.

Out of interest, what are the blood tests for?
 
Echo everything Carthorse has said. I would want a farriers opinion as well as a specialised vet before going down the steriod route.

There are a lot of things vets have available to them these days just sometimes they overlook the more traditional treatments in favour of immediate intervention

I am sure all will be sorted out for you.

Definately agree with the above, get a Farrier or even two! and get additional opinions xx
 
Try not to panic. This time last year after 8 months lameness my horse was diagnosed with arthritic changes in his coffin joint and the beginnings of navicular. He is now in natural balance shoes. He had a dose of Tildren and a steroid injection (nieither of which had any side effects on him thank goodness) and has been sound since last June. He is loving being ridden and we have even done three pleasure rides this year and entered some local dressage competitions. It all seemed so doom and gloom when I got his diagnosis and I just take everyday as a bonus now and enjoy everything we achieve together.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.
 
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