Bone On Bone In Fetlock - Treatments

[LockeMeadows]

I got terrible news today on my heart horse. She is a 6yo TWH that came from a hack string last year. I bought her sight unseen. She was supposed to be 10 years old. She was 4, coming 5. She had windpuffs on her hind left fetlock, but was completely sound. We rode her all year with no issues. This winter, she was fine. We got heavy rain over the last month and she got sore. It got progressively worse and we finally got in to see a surgeon today. Her xrays were terrible. Some of the worst he’s seen in a young horse (and he’s located at a racetrack). That joint is literally bone on bone and she has two large spurs. I had a feeling going into this that she may need to be retired. We have 80 acres, so keeping her is not a huge issue. I was not prepared for him to tell me there was nothing that could be done and that I needed to consider euthanizing her. She is SIX years old. SIX. I can not wrap my head about this.

This mare is my baby. She self loaded on the trailer to go to the Vet, fell asleep during the xrays, and didn’t even need to be twitched for the joint injection. I held a hoof up on the same side. She didn’t move a muscle. I have owned countless horses. I like most of them. Very few I love. This horse is literally at the top when it comes to horses I have bonded with. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make her comfortable. For now, she had a Cort and HA injection. We started her on Prevacox. She is going to live in a small paddock and the farrier is squaring her hind toes to help with breakover. I’m not emotionally ready to let her go, but I’m also not going to let her live in pain. She is a 3.5 on the lameness scale - lame at the trot and a good eye can detect a lameness at the walk. At the canter in the field when she is running with the other horses, she is now holding that leg up and canters on 3 legs. I’m not going to make her live like that.

Has anyone had anything help their horse with this diagnosis? If she was a human, we would do a joint replacement and she would go on her merry way. However, the best we could do is fuse the joint to the tune of 10k, and the surgeon did not think this was a reasonable procedure. He said there is a strong likelihood of founder in the opposite hoof. I was basically told nothing would help her and I needed to start thinking about what is best for her (he was very nice about it, but the end result is still the same).

[stb]

I have nothing constructive to add but I am very sorry to hear this. I’m sure you were shocked to get a diagnosis like that on such a young horse. Hugs to you.

[Highflyer]

Unfortunately there isn’t much that can be done beyond managing pain, and the stress on the other leg is a huge issue.

[scrbear11]

I have a retirement farm for high maintenance retirees. I had a younger horse come in February, 2016. He suddenly became lame after having an upper level performance career. X-rays showed basically bone on bone within the fetlock. We managed pain for as long as we could. He was euthanized in May after we felt we could no longer effectively manage his pain.

Catching the problem early, like you have done, is good. Get the pain under control. Sometimes early joint injections can help while the fetlock is in the process of reforming. The horse needs to be out moving, but be sure he’s not in a herd that will chase him around or cause him to move more than necessary. My vet informed me that fetlocks undergoing a remodeling process are very delicate.

Fetlocks just do not fuse well like many other joints do.

[Simkie]

She sounds like a very stoic horse, so do consider that she’s probably in more pain than she “lets on” I’m so sorry you’re facing this–what a shame to lose such a good horse at such a young age. Unfortunately, once the cartilage is gone, it’s gone. It doesn’t come back and there’s just not really anything that can be done.

[IPEsq]

I think the product is a bit controversial, but maybe this would be a case to try polyacrylamide hydrogel following the steroid injection. It doesn’t sound like anything is going to be all that promising, though. I’m sorry for the sad news.

[LockeMeadows]

I had an Osteo out today to perform maintenance work on one of our other horses. Missy was still in her stall due to the joint injection yesterday. I was telling the Vet/Osteo about the Dx and asked if this was her horse, would she be doing anything differently. When my first horse was finished, she began working on Missy. She ended up doing a full body adjustment to get her comfortable. The Vet spent a great deal of time on that leg. I described the best I could what the xrays showed. She said she could feel the crepitus (the grinding of the bones on one another) when she moved Missy’s fetlock. I walked Missy down the aisle and she was not obviously sore walking or turning. She also had zero hesitation when the Vet picked up the opposite leg in the rear. So she suggested Osphos. We started her on it today and will hopefully see results within the next month. Of course, Missy could also improve with the injection, plus the Previcox. She said with Missy’s age, we may be able to get the joint to remodel and her be pasture sound. I agree, this horse is VERY stoic and I will pay close attention to how she is feeling during this entire process. I’m sure she was in pain when we rode, but her ears were always forward, eyes were always soft, and she walked with a spring in her step. She has never given the farrier problems picking up either of her hind feet to trim (horses with hind leg pain are often difficult clients for farriers). The Vet today said Missy seems quite content and that right now, what she is seeing, does not need a rushed decision.

Thank you so much for your kind words. I went to sleep believing there was no hope. Tonight, I’m praying for a miracle.

[Gatt_Eno]

LM, what happened with your horse?

[LockeMeadows]

Unfortunately, we euthanized her. We had an Osteopath working on her and then did a chemical fusion of the fetlock as an experimental treatment. She showed an increase in discomfort as time went on and I had to make the decision. Thank you for asking. It was a very tough decision and I miss her terribly.

[asterix]

I’m so sorry to read this.