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HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Spine, Back & Pelvis » Topics on Diseases of the Back Not Covered Above » Neck Pain and Injuries in Horses »
  Discussion on Arthritis in the Neck
Author Message
New Member:
ledford

Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 - 9:12 am:

Hi, I recently had a neuro exam and xrays of my 4yr old TB that would mysteriously go to his knees or have days where I couldn't ride him without having him trip multiple times. Unfortunately the falls and trips were at very sporadic intervals (instructors and vets said, he is young and disconnected, a stargazer, lazy etc)... well after 9 months of making excuses for this very sporadic behavior -- he fell to his knees three times during one ride. X-rays revealed he has very advanced arthritis in his lower neck that when inflamed pinches nerves thus causing the occasional tripping and going to his knees. The vet did not give me any hope other than saying I could potentially take him to OSU for disk replacement. She said, he is not safe to ride because of the sporadic neuro symptoms. So my question is, what do I do for this very young horse. Is he in constant pain, is there any supplement that I can give him to make him more comfortable. There doesn't seem to be much information online regarding this so any advice is greatly welcomed. Thank you. --I have retired him and he will be a pasture pet but I want to be sure that he isn't in constant pain.
Member:
dres

Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 - 10:08 am:

Can you give him bute daily for the pain and inflammation..?

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
gwen

Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 - 11:04 am:

Check the articles on this website related to wobblers. Of course, I don't know if he has that, but it might provide you with some pertinent information. So sorry about your young guy.
New Member:
ledford

Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 - 12:42 pm:

I could give him bute but the vet didn't recommend it for such a young guy and for such long term use. Thanks for the advice regarding wobblers but it is definitely not wobblers. It does appear as a similar symptom when he is having a bad days though -- in the tripping and falling to his knees.
Member:
twhgait

Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 - 1:27 pm:

I would also read Dr.O's article on DJD/Arthritis..it has tons of tips for arthritis and it's treatment. I guess it's 6 on one hand and 1/2 a dozen on the other regarding the bute. If you don't want him in pain...then you need to treat it. There's also an article on Bute, discussing dosage, side effects, etc. You can always start bute and taper according to your guys symptoms...up it if he's having a bad day and no bute if he seems fine.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Apr 8, 2007 - 5:04 pm:

Is there anyone certified to do physical therapy/massage, etc., in your area? For humans PT and muscle-strengthening exercises can do a great deal to alleviate such problems. Sometimes other techniques are also used, such as ultra-sound, electrical therapy, stretch and counter-stretch. One must also wonder what would create such a problem in a horse so young and whether there is an underlying cause.
Member:
paul303

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 1:41 am:

If you're troubled about bute, and you know the location of the affected area, DMSO could help during periods of inflammation.

I've got a mare diagnosed with navicular synDrOme at around 6 years old. She has spent most of her life off and on bute. She was retired immediately from hard work and showing and our intent was to make her as comfortable as possible for as long as we could. She will be 27 on May 2 of this year and has thus far, never had a problem with bute.

DMSO has also been a useful tool in alleviating muscular and arthritic pain. It's important to understand how and when to use it. I've been using it since the seventies.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 6:42 am:

Hello Ledford,
They have it right above, the article Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Incoordination, Weakness, Spasticity, Tremors » Wobblers or Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy pretty much covers treatment suggestions I have and you will find link to the arthritis article within it.

I would be very cautious with manipulative therapy as more damage to the spinal cord may occur, discuss this with those interpreting the radiographs. Vicki the article on Wobbler's explains possible pathogenesis of this condition.
DrO
Member:
ellab

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 8:39 am:

What about Devils Claw? It is natural and I don't think contraindicated for long term use. My cousin used it daily on her aged mare for arthritic issues and had excellent luck.

EllaB
New Member:
ledford

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 9:43 am:

Thank you everyone for the advice. At my vet's instruction I will not be using any manipulative therapy for fear of causing additional damage. I think I am going to give the devils claw a go. Unfortunately there isn't a great way of knowing when he is having a bad day -- his only symptoms (falling to his knees and refusing to take contact) only occur when under saddle. This leaves me in a "pick an option and hope for the best" type scenario. Again, I appreciate everyone's feed back.
Member:
zarr

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 11:17 am:

ledford, have an arab gelding that has arthritis in his ankles and has been using Next Level for Joints and it has devil claw and yucca. I can't say enough good things about the stuff it takes time to see results but for the first time in months by guy does not have swollen ankles and no longer bits at his feet! Cindy
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 11:55 am:

Thanks, Dr. O -- I will look forward to reading that and many other fine articles I've just discovered in the archives.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 2:30 pm:

ledford,
I have had a mare who had to be put down at 11 years old because of severe arthritis in her neck. She had been retired a few years earlier and after one foal when she was young not bred because of her condition. I don't know when the arthritis started she seemed a long time painfree and amusing herself hugely with her friends in the paddock.If you are interested I can tell you what we tried to keep her comfortable but in the end the day came she didn't want to go to her friends in the paddacks anymore. X Rays showed a devastating progress and because she was in pain we had her put down.
In my opinion if your horse gets pain he will tell you.
If you want the whole story tell me but it is long so for the moment I thought I would answer your post in this way.
Jos
Member:
zarr

Posted on Monday, Apr 9, 2007 - 7:43 pm:

ledford, I need to amend my senior moment. Devils claw and Yucca are in the B-L solution I use instead of bute. However Next Level has MSM glucosomine etc and IS really good for arthritis inflammation, sorry for my confusion !! Cindy
Member:
qh4me

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 11, 2007 - 1:59 pm:

Hi Ledford,

I recently had a 3 year old gelding diagnosed with Wobblers and he has since been retired to pasture. Like you, I don't want my guy in pain and since they can't talk, it is hard to tell when they are and when they arnen't.

Since the diagnosis, I have him on a Yucca 5-Way supplement, and have been extremely pleased with the product. You can check it out at www.feeddac.com under equine products.

Mind you, there are days when he is out ripping and tearing, and he comes in and I can tell that he is in pain by the way he holds his head, so I put him on Bute for a couple of days just when needed.

Sorry about your guys condition. I hope whatever you decide helps keep him comfortable.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 11, 2007 - 6:06 pm:

Hello Shawna,
There is no known benefit to dietary supplements for the help of horses with Wobblers unless there are specific nutritional deficiencies that the supplement fulfills.
DrO
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