Bone chip: Is my OTTB destined to be a pasture ornament? Talk me off the ledge, please!

[SanguinePenguin]

Thank you, EVERYONE, who has responded. We are off to the vet this fine crisp Oregon morning and, of course, his leg is less puffy and less warm. I feared that would happen by bringing him in to stall rest, but I know what I saw/felt, so I’ll leave it in the hands of my very capable vet to figure the rest out. Or, at least, the next steps. Rozlyn14, yes, Dr. Shneider has been mentioned more than once as the best surgeon in my area. Likewise, more than a few friends have recommended Dr. Revenaugh as a vet for a second opinion. So, it seems, I have more resources than I was aware of. Pity it takes an instance such as this to discover them.

Again, thanks all. I’ll update when I get home. Fingers crossed there’s a solution, even if it’s not an easy one.

[16_Hands]

Dr. Schneider or Revenaugh are both tops. Definitely worth the drive.

[SanguinePenguin]

Annnnndd… 4.5 hours in total at vet, we’re treating his hocks. Yes, plural. Rads reveal bone changes in left and right hocks, with the right being worse. Blocking made him sound-er. Second vet feels the hocks are the root cause of the lameness, with the puffy fetlock being a nuisance at best, a slight cartilage tear at worst. Treated with OSPHOS today, will return Thursday for a round of PRP/IRAP (my vet combines the two) in both hocks and the fetlock. I guess the good news is the second vet felt there was absolutely nothing to the bone chip, it’s not in play. Soooo, no surgery, at least for now. And the little guy is out in the pasture again, which is where he is happiest. Vet does feel that with pro-active intervention, he will have every chance at a full and competitive career. Note to self: rads on every PPE.

I will continue to update this thread as I know more.

[Simkie]

That’s probably good news! Good luck!

[SanguinePenguin]

OK, so next question: how do I keep my 4yo gelding’s hocks in good shape for the next 20 years +/-? Vet says best case scenario is they fuse at some point, but I want to keep him comfortable. He already wears hock covers/guards in the stall because he has a few chronic raw areas from his prior life (he was kept in a stall that had a run–made from concrete…).

Religious icing? BOT boots? MSM? I keep him at home so I can do a lot, but I also work full-time 10 hour shifts, so icing three times a day isn’t realistic for me.

What has worked for you?

[Against_All_Odds1]

I’d think yearly injections but your vet would be the best person to ask.

[SolarFlare]

@SanguinePenguin

OK, so next question: how do I keep my 4yo gelding’s hocks in good shape for the next 20 years +/-? Vet says best case scenario is they fuse at some point, but I want to keep him comfortable. He already wears hock covers/guards in the stall because he has a few chronic raw areas from his prior life (he was kept in a stall that had a run–made from concrete…).

Religious icing? BOT boots? MSM? I keep him at home so I can do a lot, but I also work full-time 10 hour shifts, so icing three times a day isn’t realistic for me.

What has worked for you?

Mine with lower hock arthritis on both sides gets MSM daily. My vet injects (HA and a bit of steroid) once a year, top and bottom joints. He’s also on a monthly Ichon shot after doing the loading dose. I know that’s not the “official” way to do it but it works for this particular horse. He was getting injected twice a year until we started the Ichon, and it has allowed us to go longer between.

Vet is coming out next week to check hocks (we usually inject in the fall) and I’m hoping we can go to spring - we’ve been doing a lot of dressage and he’s gotten stronger and straighter. He’s having no symptoms of his hocks bothering him yet.

Also make sure you’re doing a good walk warmup - I see so many riders who get on, ride a lap at walk, then start trotting right away.

I had BOT hock boots at one point but they rubbed him badly so I had to stop using them. I’ve never iced, but I’m pretty sure newer studies have shown that icing has no effect (I think there might be a thread on the Eventing forum as many ice after XC).

I think the biggest factor is to keep on top of maintenance so he stays comfortable, otherwise you end up with compensation and other parts of the body getting sore.

[joiedevie99]

@SolarFlare

I think the biggest factor is to keep on top of maintenance so he stays comfortable, otherwise you end up with compensation and other parts of the body getting sore.

This is correct. As far as general horsekeeping, I’d go with as much turnout as possible, and a basic MSM supplement to help control inflammation.

Beyond that, work with your vet to stay on top of how he is feeling and how long treatments are lasting him.

Mark your calendar for spring/fall hock check-ups, maybe along with vaccines. Videotape the flexions so you can compare them over time. Take a new set of x-rays every 1-2 years.

Steroid/HA injections may last you a year or more at this stage. Over time, they will last a shorter period of time.

Take some time to talk with your vet about when/if you want to give loading doses of Adequan, and when/if you want to switch from steroid/HA to a biologic like IRAP, PRP, or Prostride in the joint. You may not need these now, but it’s good to understand your options.

[SanguinePenguin]

Thanks. We will do a dose of PRP/IRAP tomorrow in both hocks and fetlock. I had turned him out yesterday (this vet is famous for being strongly anti-stall rest) but he ran around like such a nut while my husband was doing yard work that when I got home last night, his fetlock was warm and swollen again. I think we’re just going to have to compromise on the stall rest and get him well before letting him be free as a bird again.

I will begin researching the Ichon and Adequan. Are they similar or not at all?

[cmdrcltr]

I know that most evidence of oral supplements working is anecdotal, so YMMV. My vet recommended I try Equithrive for my gelding. He was already on MSM. I noticed a huge difference in his comfort level using his hind end this season. Most notably, steep downhills on our trail route that used to be an issue are no longer so; he steps willingly under himself going down the slope, and I no longer feel like I have to have a death grip on his face to keep him from trying to “run” down the hill to avoid using his hind end.

[SanguinePenguin]

Thanks, cmdcltr. I looked into it, and there seems to be some amount of clinical evidence behind it, which is nice to see. I’ll start him on MSM and continue researching the reservatrol-based supps.

We spent ~3 hours at the vet today and hopefully those will be the last for at least a little while. I’ll set up a re-check in about 6 weeks. Today we injected the combined PRP and IRAP into both hocks and left fetlock. He’s now on stall rest for ~2 days (give or take–I plan to be conservative) and then I’ll start riding him at the walk. I would just turn him loose, but I think that’s too much for now. Once I think he’s really sound, I’ll start letting him out in the afternoon for a few hours. He’s just too crazy in the morning. Poor kiddo.

[Simkie]

FYI, as someone who’s done PRP in my OWN joints: it can hurt like a mofo. If he looks terrible tomorrow, don’t be afraid.

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[SanguinePenguin]

Thanks, Simkie, I’ll keep that in mind! My vet made some allusions to that effect, but I wasn’t sure how serious he was. He gave me some pain meds for him if he needs them tomorrow, but said that if he wasn’t feeling better in two days I should call the vet office. I hate to think he’s going to be so sore… he’s usually so cheerful and funny

[SanguinePenguin]

OK, I hope some of you are still reading this, because I need to ask some more questions. Perhaps I should create another thread, but I’ll try here first.

He’s had almost three solid days of stall rest in a 12x24 stall with plenty of hay, water, toys, feed, etc. (Not gonna lie, I probably should have taken him off the feed, but it’s not grain-based and I couldn’t miss the chance to fatten him up a little, so…) I thought today we could go for a little walk, grazing, and then, once he had settled, he could be turned out in the small 30x50 paddock I have. It’s either that or the big 8 acre pasture that he normally goes out in.

The vet said he could be turned out after 2 days and go back to riding, but I’m leery of just letting him out, because I know he’ll go completely bat guano crazy out there, even if it is only for 15 minutes or so. He can do a lot of damage in that time. And to be honest, I don’t want to ride him in this state when I’m the only one here (DH is away on business).

Anyway, I took him out, grazed him, quickly realized I needed the chain, and continued to have a semi-controlled walk/graze session with him. Then I brought him into the paddock, grazed him in there, let him roll to get the willies out, and then turned him loose, hoping after a few bucks he would settle. Well… he didn’t. He just worked himself up more and more until I finally put the halter back on him and brought him inside. The way he stood for the halter made me think he thought he was going to the big pasture, because he sure didn’t want to go inside again. He just really misses the big pasture, but I don’t think it’s safe right now, unless I tranquilize him. Which brings me to my next question…

What have you used to keep a horse quiet in a turnout situation? And my vet tells me he can go out two days after the PRP/IRAP injections, but what have your vets told you? Once again I’ll mention mine is famously anti stall-rest, and I don’t want to contradict him, but I wonder what he’d say if he saw my set up and how the horse acts.