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Discussion on Bone Bruise and Cartilage Degeneration in the Pastern
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New Member:
conti900
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Posted on Friday, May 1, 2009 - 12:25 am:
Dear Dr. O:
Approx 6 weeks ago, my horse fell lame after an particularly energetic turnout. After much diagnostic mucking around, we finally got an MRI that concluded her issue was due primarily to a bad bone bruise in the pastern. She also has a small bone chip in the joint as well as some degeneration in the cartilage. This is all apparently (or so I am told) a combination of trauma incurred during turnout and some progression of an arthritic condition, but I am told that the bone chip does not seem to be a problem at this point.
My vet has recommended that we keep the mare on stall rest for yet another 11 weeks, but has already administered one I-RAP treatment and is ordering Tildren for her with the expectation that it will cut down the time she will need to be off. I am supplementing her diet with Optimal Cartilage Development (OCD) pellets. What is your experience with these treatments? Have you used the Tildren or OCD, and if so, do you think they are beneficial?
Thank you - Cory Conti
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, May 1, 2009 - 9:30 am:
Hello Cory,
No I have not used Tildren in our practice and still consider its use experimental. However we are being deluged with its use recently in cases where I do not see a clear indication of its use. Cory you need to ask your vet "specifically how does a bone sparing drug shorten the healing time of my horse". I would love to know the answer. If he considers repair of the bruised bone will be accelerated I just don't buy that indication in a horse with no known osteoporosis issues. There may be areas of damaged bone that need removal to be repaired and this drug may slow that process down.
Bone chips in joints with signs of early arthritis should be considered for removal in my opinion. Can you tell me the ingredients and dosage rate of the OCD pellets?
For more on IRAP see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Treatment Methods » IRAP Therapy for Arthritis in Horses. I am completing an article on Antihistamines right now I think I will move an article on Tildren up as many requests as we are getting right now for information.
DrO
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