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  Discussion on Questions about Ringbone
Author Message
Member:
mysi

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 29, 2010 - 10:18 pm:

Dr O,
I had started my discussion under sidebone thinking my problem was that. I would love for you to move my other post here.

Those x-rays I posted for you were from 9/2007. I retired Moose after that, but his lameness at that time (he was only a class 1 lame but was tripping alot and fell twice)was his RF Elbow , determined after bone scan, then x-rays, he had severe DJD there too. He was not lame on his LH but it lit up on the scan so they x-rayed it. They noted on his paperwork that he had severe DJD in his RF elbow, LH pastern and both hocks, although his hocks were no worse than his 2005 prepurchase films. I only x-rayed his hocks with the PPE. The 6 vets at Palm Beach Equine clinic reviewed the films in 2007 and were in disbelief that Moose was a sound as he was and advised me to retire him with maybe light trail riding on good footing after a year. But their focus was on his elbow as he was only lame on his RF, they never mentioned the term ringbone but they did mention the sidebone. That doesn't really matter I guess, I was so devastated at the time they probably didn't want me to have a nervous breakdown. Nevertheless, he has never taken a lame step until he got his 2 abscesses several weeks back (on RF & RH). After that cleared up I noticed the swollen lump on his LH and thought it was the sidebone issue, and then I started my previous discussion. The swollen part went away and the hard lump remained leaving me to look into the ringbone idea. After reviewing your articles, googling x-rays regarding ringbone and looking at his x-rays I realized what it must be...and you have confirmed.

My thoughts are the extra stress from the extra weight that foot had to bear during the abscesses caused the "flare up" and that spot was hot and sensitive to the touch. He was short to step and that leg lagged a bit for a couple days after he was standing around in the barn, he is completely sound now. The bump is hard now, no heat or swelling. The joint is definitely changed a bit from before, more lumpy, larger lumps. It's significantly larger than the RH pastern joint. I imagine if I have x-rays taken now it will be more progressed. I may do that the next time the vet needs to come out just to see...but I'm not sure I want to know...

Moose was said to be 12 when I bought him, but the equine dentist said more like 15-16. Making him anywhere between 17-21. As I said, he's retired and we go on our weekly walks and he is very active in the pasture. He's a very happy horse and seems to be very comfortable, although he is a stoic horse and I believe he must have a very high pain tolerance. I will say again this horse is the love of my life, I have never loved anything or anyone as much as him, I need him to live a very long and comfortable life.

He's comfortable and sound so I assume he's not at the point of needing surgery. My farrier comes Friday so I will instruct him according to you article. But I think he's ok there.

Now after my rambling...my questions are: Can the joint fuse on it's own like hocks? I think your article said it can but I'll have to re-read. How do you know if that happens? Is his ring bone considered high? At what age is it still reasonable to have the surgery to fuse the joint?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 5:07 pm:

Taking your questions in order:
  • Natural fusion is less common here do to the larger degree of motion.
  • You know it happens when a persistently lame horse goes sound and the radiographs support fusion.
  • Yes this would be high ringbone.
  • At any age where the horse can still be useful.

DrO
New Member:
ltnrio

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 6:48 pm:

sorry - i posted in the wrong discussion
Member:
mysi

Posted on Thursday, Jul 1, 2010 - 11:30 am:

Dr O have you done these surgeries? How successful are they? Does it leave them pain free in that area?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 1, 2010 - 5:52 pm:

No Melissa, I refer these as they require specialized orthopedic tools. The success rate runs pretty high (70- 80% of the horses were completely sound by a years time post surgery in some studies) with good technique. Recently a technique that uses lasers to remove the joint cartilage rather than mechanical debridement was described as being easier and perhaps giving a bit better prognosis.
DrO
Member:
mysi

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 21, 2010 - 9:16 pm:

Since Moose's abscesses causing the flare up of his ringbone (for which he was sound with for years) it has been a slow progressing problem. He's definitely lame on that left hind now. He doesn't seem to care and seems use to it at this point. When standing it's consistently at rest or set forward. He still moves around a lot but walks mostly, rarely trots and will break out into a canter going into the pasture in the cool evenings, but that leg drags...tonight I noticed it the most. It's killing me. He has no heat or swelling but the bone calcification seems to be growing noticeably. He's retired so working him is not an issue, but keeping him comfortable is. I give him bute if I notice he's not wanting to move around a lot and it helps. I just got surpass and am going to give that a shot. I give him monthly Adequan shots. His feet are balanced and I have my farrier here every 4 weeks to shape him up and I do some filing in between because he keeps so much weight off the inside where the most significant bony changes are, so he wears unevenly now. I've read the articles over and over and over. I seem to be doing what I can...last alternative will be surgery. I am very hesitant on doing that, I can't bear putting him through that, 1800lbs, 19 yrs old, mild to moderate arthritis in almost every joint, the possible complications, rough recovery...I'm just not ready to make that decision.

I guess Dr O and everyone, I kind of want to know what more I can do? How often can I give him bute safely? How do I judge when he should have it? He's about 1800lbs., I give him 2gms initially and a gram a day the next if I feel he's hesitant to move around. He definitely responds, I stop and within a couple days he seems uncomfortable. Is heat or cold better for something like this? I see these magnet therapy, shock wave therapy, I will do anything needed, massage for hours, hold a heating pad or ice on it for hours... anything... I just want to make him comfortable. Another concern...won't he become immune, build a tolerance to the bute after a lot of use?
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 22, 2010 - 5:39 pm:

I don't know much about helping the ringbone beyond what you have outlined.

With regard to arthritis and joint problems, some horses benefit from having their joints injected.

My daughter's jumping horses have benefited greatly from doing the Adequan injections every four days for a few injections before reverting back to the once monthly dose.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 22, 2010 - 5:52 pm:

Controlled exercise, or looked at the other way, enforced rest in a small level paddock may help with acute exacerbations Melissa. I would avoid stall rest however as many of these worsen when stalled but you can experiment.

To get answers about the use of bute read HorseAdvice.com » Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Phenylbutazone (Bute).

For more on the treatment of arthritis no matter what the cause see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Joint, Bone, Ligament Diseases » Arthritis and DJD: An Overview you will find many recommendations you list and don't list there.

I personally do not have much faith in magnets for arthritis therapy and there is little scientific evidence for there use.
DrO
Member:
mysi

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 22, 2010 - 6:13 pm:

Vicki, I did just do a cycle of Adequan a couple months back and he responded well but is back on the decline again.

Dr O, Moose is currently allowed to roam anywhere he chooses. He's always been a reasonable horse who stays within his physical abilities. He goes in and out of his stall by choice and roams around grazing as he chooses. I notice he's in under the fans a lot this summer due to the excessive heat this year in NC and the abundance of horse flies which definitely makes his arthritis worse.

Would he benefit from me getting on him and walking him daily, or hand walking him? He is very mobile in the evening through early AM which I thought would be enough.I started surpass today. I have concerns with doing a joint injection there, I'm not sure they could get in there. Will that be worth a shot?
Member:
frances

Posted on Thursday, Sep 23, 2010 - 6:33 am:

FWIW, one of the horses at our barn was lame with ever worsening ringbone a couple of years ago, and the vet suggested as a last resort putting the leg in a plaster cast and, obviously, keeping her on complete stall rest.

She stayed on stall rest for several months (vet would come to check the leg quite often, and changed the plaster cast at intervals).

I had my doubts and felt really sorry for the caged beastie, and of course she had her ups and downs once she was being rehabbed but now she's perfectly sound and moving nicely in WTC (though her jumping career is of course behind her).

Just thought I'd throw it out there.
Member:
mysi

Posted on Friday, Oct 1, 2010 - 9:57 pm:

LL,
Was the point of that to let the joint fuse?

I'm not sure that would be a great idea for my horse because he does suffer with arthritis in most of his joints and I would be afraid that would do more damage to everything else. I believe his lack of movement this hot summer while standing under the fans greatly contributed to his sudden progression with this.

Dr O,
I read the arthritis article again and again. I may try the IV legend or joint injection. As far as hot and cold therapy...which is beneficial for a chronic issue? The article states cold for the onset, but hot after so I'm assuming hot... but thought I would ask just in case I'm missing something. Would a neoprene bell boot provide warmth for the joint during the winter? Would something like that be beneficial/prolong exposure/help with absorption of a liniment/surpass/furazone????
Member:
frances

Posted on Saturday, Oct 2, 2010 - 8:57 am:

Melissa, yes that was the idea.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Oct 2, 2010 - 11:21 am:

Folks with chronic joint pain often report warmth helps relieve some of the discomfort. It may the basis of many of the topical arthritis medications.
DrO
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