Arthritic Changes in Coffin Joint

[VAlocalhunter]

I bought my TB gelding last yearat age 9. Around May we started to notice he was NQR. Not entirely lame, but off enough that my trainer could see it. We went off to the vet and they did a thorough exam, nerve blocked, and determined it was FR. Took x-rays, he had mild athritis in both coffins, but more progressed in right than left. Got coffins and hocks injected. He was great for a few months and then come August, he seemed slightly off again. We were back at the vet for other issues and so the lameness vet looked at him again. He didn’t feel any of the heat or swelling that had been there when he examined him the first time, but we blocked and it was his FR again. Vet told me to give him a week of rest then a week of walking and then back to work. For those two weeks he also got 1/2 tab of 57mg Previcox. Vet’s theory was that he had just aggravated it too much while playing in the field. We followed that plan and brought him back to work and he was fine for a bit, then was slightly off. Right now he is on 1/2 tab of 57mg of Previcox 1x a day. This certainly seems to help but some days he is ouchier than others. We just got adequan and started him on that, once a month.

So I guess my question is, what would you do to keep him happy and competeing? Right now we only do 2’6" but I hope to move up to the 3’. He is an absolutely fabulous horse who has done so much for me, but I am also not made of money and have already spent a lot in vet bills. The vet mentioned IRAp, but I have no experience with it. Does anyone here? Good or bad? Any ideas would be welcome! Thanks!

[Ashleyw]

How often are you riding? My guy has ringbone which was just diagnosed earlier this year. He’s only 11 so I made the decision to stop jumping him. However I have noticed if he gets more than a week off from work he comes up just a little off. As long as he’s ridden consistently he stays sound.

[runNjump86]

OP I’ve had a very similar pattern with my guy for the last year and half. I was fortunate enough to have my horse insured so we were able to do an MRI and a bone scan, both of which didn’t find anything outstanding other than “chronic inflammation”.

Did the vet say anything about his feet? How is he shod? Does your farrier use hoof testers before shoeing him? First advice is to get a DAMN GOOD farrier. If his toes are long then the farrier needs to be able to look at the Xrays and know how much toe can come off to back up the breakover point.

Regular HA/steroid injections worked the best for my guy. We’ve done 2 sets of IRAP, one in February and one just two weeks ago. We’ve had some shoeing issues but he was super sound a week after. However, vet was out yesterday and his coffin joints are still inflamed. We are looking at Shockwave or another IRAP injection in a week.

Also pay attention to footing. Stay away from hard, rocky ground. Was he lame jogging on a straight line or just on the lunge? Either way, make it a habit to either jog or lunge, depending on how the lameness presents, every few weeks. I have a lot of hindsight “what if’s” going through my head with my guy right now. If you keep having problems talk with your vet about what diagnostic they believe will give you the most information and save up for it. Or treat it like a soft tissue injury, lots of stall rest and hand walking. Just keep talking to your vet. IMHO if you truly do not have money for diagnostics it’s best to treat it as worst case scenario, just in case.

Best of luck. “Mystery lameness” is the worst.

[scottk]

I believe the standard dosage of previcox is 57 mg per day. Looks like you are at half of that rate. I had all 3 of my ottb’s on the 57 mg per day for awhile. Was able to cut 2 of them back to 57mg every 36 hours. Buy the 227mg ones and cut them in quarters. It will save you a bunch.

[supernatural]

I am going to agree that with his issue it is critical to have a very good farrier that understands making sure horse is balanced and shoes with enough support…no longy toes. Sometimes with these horses that carry inflammation in the coffin joints they might look off right after they are shod for a couple days or they start to look a little off if they are at the end of the shoeing cycle. I note that u r in Va. I would want to have the feet rexrayed with good farrier there to see if any changes are needed. If this is the problem with the right farrier and open lines of communication, a little Previcoxx…you might just solve this problem. New x rays critical, good farrier critical.

[runNjump86]

[QUOTE=supernatural;8392296]
I am going to agree that with his issue it is critical to have a very good farrier that understands making sure horse is balanced and shoes with enough support…no longy toes. Sometimes with these horses that carry inflammation in the coffin joints they might look off right after they are shod for a couple days or they start to look a little off if they are at the end of the shoeing cycle. I note that u r in Va. I would want to have the feet rexrayed with good farrier there to see if any changes are needed. If this is the problem with the right farrier and open lines of communication, a little Previcoxx…you might just solve this problem. New x rays critical, good farrier critical.[/QUOTE]

My vet is adamant that my guy gets Bute the day before, day of, and day after he is shod.

He also tends to be NQR towards the end of a shoeing cycle, so we are on a super strict schedule. Or at least trying to be…new farrier is trying new shoes and so far it’s not been successful.