PA is short for Professional Association. It’s one of the many kinds of business entities besides corporation.
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Just my 2 cents hoof treatment aside. If he’s 3 or 4/5 lame after flexions there is a very very slim chance that just adequan will treat that level of arthritis pain. I’d do the injections sooner rather then later, get the inflammation treated so he doesn’t have further compensation pain and problems or develop attitude or behavioral issues due to pain
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I appreciate your opinion. The vet suggested trying Adequan first, so I’m going to do that. It’s ordered and on the way. We’ll see if there are improvements. He has to be comfortable enough to w/t/c around in a field a couple of times a week, so maybe this will do it. If not, we’ll take it up a notch and go for the injections. I’d rather avoid that if it’s possible.
If he’s that sore you are wasting money on Adequan. No harm I suppose, but I’d budget for joint injections. BTDT!
You may wish to avoid this can of worms, but I’d love to see a profile full body photo of the horse. I bet he’s on small hoove for his size, straight behind, and tight over his loins.
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Well, the Adequan is here and the first shot has been given, so there’s not much I can do about it now. The vet actually saw the horse and evaluated him and her suggestion was Adequan.
Here’s Milton. He’s certainly not perfect, but he’s my boy.
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I have a Appy shaped stamp on my heart. I had a few and ride a slew…good horses.
He is heavier built, and downhill, on smaller feet. He is better behind than I expected…but I can see how his build could contribute to sore fores and creaky hocks. A lot of pokey pines are this horse 
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My first horse was an Appy, so I’ve always had a soft spot (ha) for them. That horse loved to jump and we evented Novice and Training.
30+ years and a few wonderful horses later, and what will probably be my last horse is this fella. I’ve known him since he was a day old. Actually, I knew him before he was born, LOL. I knew his sire and dam and grandsire and granddam on his dam’s side. I bought him when he was a neglected yearling colt. He’d been pretty much tossed out in the field and ignored. He was malnourished and didn’t even know how to lead.
He’s the sweetest boy. I raised, broke, and trained him myself. We’ve only shown lightly at some big open shows (hunter flat classes) and Training Level dressage. When he’s sound, he has a nice little trot and canter. He’s very comfy to ride and will try his heart out.
He will have a home with me until it’s time for him to cross the rainbow bridge. And he’ll get everything I can afford to give him. I’m a single public high school teacher, so I’m not exactly rolling in dough, but he’s a priority. His conformation may not be perfect, but his disposition is. He’s one of the three heart horses I’ve had the privilege to share my life with. 
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He’s a beautiful boy. You can see that he knows how much he is loved.
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Aww, that’s a sweet thing to say. Thank you!
I was actually taking the picture of him and my 78-year old mother was holding him. He loves his granny!
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He looks well cared for! He’s cute too!
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Just a little update. He got his second Adequan injection today. He takes it like a champ (thank goodness as giving shots isn’t my favorite). It’s probably my imagination, but he seems maybe just a little bit more comfortable since his first shot. I know that’s unlikely, but I’m trying to wish it into reality! LOL.
Also spoke with the farrier and we’re going to do regular glue-on EasyShoes for him when she returns on Nov. 5th. We’ll see what he thinks of those. He’ll be getting his 5th Adequan shot that day too, so fingers crossed that he’ll be on track to being a sound and comfy boy by then.
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Sorry to keep reviving, I’m just using this as a sort of journal now I guess.
Yesterday I was so happy because when I got on (bareback), Milton was so keen to go on our excursion out around the field. Ears up, marching along, enjoying the sights (even wanting to be a bit looky). We jog/trotted (jogged…honestly) a bit and he felt more definite with a two-beat rhythm instead of that horrible gaited horse shuffle he’d had. I got greedy and asked for canter. He picked it up but then felt pretty horrid, so we stopped. I asked again just to see…no dice. He was done with it.
Today the jog was pretty terrible feeling again. I could tell even at the walk he wasn’t feeling as good. Stumbling a LOT at the walk (front end) and just kind of “meh.” They had to stay inside last night due to some strong t-storms (no shelter in the pastures) and a cold front that blew in. The stalls are very lightly bedded at the barn where I board, so I’m sure he didn’t lay down all night. To be honest, even with deep bedding I’m not sure he would have. He likes laying down outside much better and lately I’m not sure he’s even doing that much. (I do see dirt sometimes, so that’s encouraging.)
Anyway, I tried to “push through” thinking if I could just insist he TROT. ON. he’d finally work out of it. It wasn’t happening. And so we walked back to the barn and I’ve felt rotten all evening/night because I pushed him when he was obviously not able to give me what I was asking for. And bless him, he’s such a good boy. He hobbled along trying to trot but just couldn’t.
I gave him some bute and treats and hugs and kisses and put him back outside. I hope he’s feeling better about now. I haven’t really given him much bute through all of this, but I’m so sad seeing him in pain. He’s really fine just walking around (leading or ridden). Seems happy enough. But it’s so frustrating for him to be SO lame still. 13 years and he’s been basically sound as a pound (minus the odd abscess or foot soreness from thin soles). And for the past month he’s been so lame he can’t even trot around in a field without feeling like his legs are all falling off.
I’m praying the Adequan kicks in after a couple more shots. I’m also thinking he might just need total rest for now. Just turn-out and lots of grooming and treats and love…maybe some hand-walking/grazing. It sucks because this is our best weather! He hates hot weather and always does better when it cools off. Today was cool with a brisk wind, his favorite kind of day, but the hitch in his get-a-long is just not cooperating.
I have to remind myself that he’s only had two shots so far. Five more to go. And he gets his feet redone and different shoes. If he walks off the cross-ties footsore next Friday, I’m going to insist that my farrier address it immediately. Pull the shoes…something.
I’m paying a small fortune for specialized shoeing. I don’t see the point if the horse is going to continue to be as lame as he was without the shoes. Gah.
Okay…pity party over. 
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If you decide not to continue the glue on shoes, please consider one cycle of plastic shoes before you give up. My mare was just as lame as Milton….couldn’t carry a rider more than 3 walk strides in a row without tripping. In two weeks she was jumping cross-rails. The farrier says her first cycle in the plastic shoes gave him more healthy hoof growth then he has ever gotten from her.
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Thank you for the encouragement. I’m hopeful that getting him out of the boots and into normal glue-on shoes that don’t require hoof packing and don’t restrict his hoof/sole/heel as much will help with his front feet woes.
My farrier only does glue-ons. She’s actually a barefoot advocate, so hopefully we can get back to that one day.
I understand, I kept my mare barefoot for a long time too, to long, but at the end of the day, if he is uncomfortable barefoot then he really needs some kind of shoe so that he can heal from the inside out.
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I also would not expect Adequan to make a noticeable difference with lameness of that degree behind. It can be helpful in conjunction with joint injections, though. It’s definitely not a bad product, but 3-4/5 lame probably needs steroids or a biologic directly into the joints. Downside to steroids is that you may not want to do that for all 4 joints as that’s a lot of steroids (and there can be multiple injection sites for hocks and stifles). IRAP, ProStride, etc are expensive, but Adequan is not cheap either.
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“Barefoot advocate” as not “horse shoe advocate”, if it were such a thing?
I don’t know anyone that only wants all horses shod or else.
“Barefoot advocate” sounds like someone that rejects shoeing up front.
“Barefoot advocate” takes a management practice that is proven time and again, trimming horses to go barefoot AND using shoes properly, to help care for horse’s feet as indicated, and make an ideological stand out of it.
At any cost to the horse, he has to go barefoot.
Too much misery of horses by those that insist horses go barefoot, when some horses are clearly in need of the support shoes offer.
When we already have a horse with lameness problems, the least I would do is go with someone that restricts your options to managing feet only one way.
I would get a good lameness vet and use whatever farrier that vet uses to manage horse’s feet however it may need, which may not necessarily involve, but may, regular shoeing.
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First I have to commend you on your concern for your sweet boy.
Milton looks like an absolute dollbaby. And he’s beautiful too.
Here’s my take: Sometimes at this age you have to just accept that he may never be fully sound due to his large body, small feet. He’s at the age when these problems crop up even in low mileage horses.
There’s nothing wrong with having a “walk only horse”. Walking is great exercise for the horse
and you get some exercise too along with your horsey fix in caretaking him.
I’d prepare myself that this may be Milton’s future. Don’t push him. If he feels great watch him in turnout and see how ambitious he is.
Sounds like you have a decent farrier and a decent vet so I’d be listening to them for now.
Continued best wishes for you and Milton and remember this is supposed to be fun for both of you.
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Hey, first off I want to commend you on taking awesome care of your boy. It’s so clear that you love him.
I wanted to share that with my Old Man horse, he flexed a lot better than your guy and I held off for awhile on injecting him per the vets advice, trying various other things (adequan, therapeutic boots, etc). By the time I finally decided injecting was the way to go, it was too late. We couldn’t get in with a needle, not even with guidance. I ended up having to do a way more invasive surgery, which still didn’t totally work.
That anecdote to say - don’t wait. Your vet is trying to be conservative, which is fine. But there can be consequences to that. I’ll live my whole life wondering if my Old Man would be sound today if I would have treated him more aggressively from the start instead of dinking around with other useless stuff.
One more thing - I apologize if it’s already mentioned - is your guy on Equioxx? I’d give that a try, too.
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This is literally exactly what I did, as I chronicled in this thread. My lameness vet uses my farrier and vice-versa. And my farrier is the one who has suggested putting my thin-soled horse in shoes. She just prefers glue-ons and doesn’t do traditional metal/nail-on shoes. I’m fine with this. The horse has been barefoot for 13 years and ridden for 10 of those years without much trouble. His lameness right now is from his hind end.
