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Discussion on Caudal heel pain, juvenile arthritis and kissing spines
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Member:
astrea
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 10:05 am:
Dr. O,
I have a 5 1/2 year old unraced thoroughbred gelding who is a walking text-book for things that can go wrong. I am unsure about what he is still capable of doing. Here is his bio: He fractured a splint bone, broke his left coffin bone (non joint), and recovered. Through two and half years of training, he showed weakness in his back end and was treated by a chiropractor for multiple "off" areas. He was in training as a hunter, but was switched to dressage. Throughout this he would come up lame or be not quite right. After frustrating months of vet exams, chiro work and more extensive vet exams, he has been diagnosed with Bi-Lateral Caudal Heel Pain (navicular series with in normal limits), Juvenile Arthritis in both fetlocks with significant degenerative changes and bone spurs in right (3 and 4 degree lameness when blocking, but not visibly lame on lunge line), as well as three trouble spots in his spine under his saddle area which includes an area of possible vertebrae actually touching. The vet said that he is good for light work for years if he is maintained with injetions. Do you agree? I am very interested in selling this horse or even giving him away to a good home, just to get him safely situated, but want to protect him from harm. Should he be retired as a companion only or could he still do light work? Normally, I would just keep him , but I already have my other gelding who is described under the posts on "Septic Arthritis from Injection". I have not had good luck with horses recently. Any advice or guidance? He is currently for sale, but the only people who want him, are interested in using him in riding programs. He is not suitable for trail riding or beginners. Thanks.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 9:12 pm:
Astrea I wish I could make such a judgement over the internet but without examining the horse I cannot. The prognosis for any horse with degenerative joint disease of the fetlocks with radiographically significant changes is guarded for short term work and poor for long term work. For more on this see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Overview of Fetlock (Ankle) Lameness.
If you are uncertain about your veterinarians diagnosis/prognosis you should seek a second opinion.
DrO
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