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  Discussion on Severe Osteoarthritis Recommendations
Author Message
New Member:
Lksmith

Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 12:33 pm:

I have a 9 year old AQHA gelding. He ran on the race track until he was 6, when I purchased him. I spent the next three years training and competing on him in barrelracing. After making multiple runs a weekend, he started showing occasional slight lameness on the front. X-rays diagnosed large bone chips in both front knees and ankles. All of the bone chips were removed, and the surgeon told me he has hardly no cartiledge left in these joints. In addition, he is toed out on the front, and his ankles show significant bulges over the joints. He has always shown some stiffness in his front end. I have had him on Corta-Flx for about a year, which seems to help him with the stiffness. He has a lot of heart, and was running great even with the bone chips. I am hoping to start riding him again after the first of the year. I am wondering if you think there is anything else I can do to help him or what your recommendations might be to make him as comfortable as possible. Would the Adequan IM be a better alternative than the oral supplement CortaFlx? What about injecting these joints with HA? I've read and studied all of the articles, studies, and posts and would greatly appreciate your personal opinion. Thank you.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Friday, Oct 17, 2003 - 1:43 pm:

Lisa,
Have you ever shown lameness yourself? Why?

Lameness means pain. Imagine racing with pain.

My personal recommendation is to give the fellow a break from the stress of pounding and twisting and stressing those legs and joints. How 'bout some easy trail riding? It sounds like your geldings body has been trying to tell you that the racing is too much for him to handle.
Holly
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Oct 18, 2003 - 10:49 am:

Hello Lisa,
If it is true the cartilage is gone from the knees I think this old boy should be retired from racing. Even if you patch him up to go a few more times, you will be doing extensive further damage to the joints that are in such poor shape.

Oral supplements are reasonable but I don't think the money spent on Adequan would be well spent: the prognosis remains poor for heavy riding. I would give him bute and pasture rest until he returns sound when off the bute and then consider very light trail riding to see if he will hold up to this. However most horses with severe arthritis of the knees stumble badly.
DrO
Member:
Lksmith

Posted on Sunday, Oct 19, 2003 - 9:16 am:

Either this horse has INCREDIBLE heart and high pain tolerance, or the vet that did the arthroscopic surgery that said he has no cartildge was making it sound worse than he really is. This horse is out on pasture 24/7, on no pain relievers, and walks, runs and plays with my yearling. When he is on the CortaFlx he moves like a healthy horse.

Not saying I'll continue racing with him, but it seems like he is feeling really good, and wants to go. I have talked with the vet numerous times, and he mainly says it didn't look very good once he was in the joints, and the joints were pretty much trash.

Thanks for your advice.
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