Fetlock injections- anybody tried them and what were your outcomes?

[ihearttbs]

Hi,

I have an older horse with arthritis in his front ankles from a long racing career. Specifically spurs in the sesamoid area. It has recently progressed to the point where he is slightly off on a circle at the trot, whereas before it never noticeably bothered him.

My current vet, after looking at x-rays, recommends injecting them. However, a previous vet told me never to inject them as he’s seen it damage the cartilage further. So, I’m a little bit torn as what to do.

If anybody has experience with this please let me know. Also any other tips would be helpful. I am interested in whether there are any shoeing remedies that could help him. Thanks!

[Angela_Freda]

Nor Spurs on sesamoid, but high ringbone, yes I injected that, and since we would be doing a 6 week rehab protocol for that, I threw in the sticky stifle.
This was on a 20 year old OTTB who went suddenly lame on the R front and had the sticky stifle since the age of 4 [which we managed to that point with exercise].
I was hesitant to inject, but it worked out really well for us.

[sassy45]

Did fetlock injections on a 14 year old gelding vet recommended it. I never saw a bit of difference from doing injections…

I give my arthritic mare Glucosamine & MSM in her feed every day, has made a huge difference for her. Was stiff and sore before i started it now she sound and runs and bucks,like a 3 year old…she’s 29.

A lot of people on here say oral joint supps don’t work…well they have worked wonders for my mare.

[joiedevie99]

Some steroids are disfavored for that reason, but an experienced vet will steer clear of them anyway.

If you don’t want to go the steroid/HA route for whatever reason, talk with your vet about other IA options - Adequan, IRAP, PRP, ProStride, etc.

[ihearttbs]

Anybody else? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[Angela_Freda]

Not re:injections, but in general…

I had a farrier, new to me, tell me my horse had White Line Dz.
He wanted to resect both front feet 75%, and this would mean stall rest and care protocol that was going to be challenging to say the least with this particular horse.
It did not sit right with my gut, so I called our former farrier [not in my local area] and he agreed that it sounded unlikely and not like something my horse, in the environment he was then being kept [compared to the ‘worse’ one where this farrier had cared for his feet and seen nothing of the kind] would develop.
I then sought another local farrier for a 2nd opinion and am so grateful I trusted my gut as he saw no WLD, and no reason to suspect it.

My point being trust your gut and seek out more info until you know what your gut is really saying.

[Obsidian_Fire]

My boy has a chip in one front fetlock from racing. It has been injected with a combination of steroid + HA. He is 21 this year. Injections are few and far between. I credit this to an excellent farrier - balanced feet are essential - and proper nutrition. As well as decent riding - keeping him off his forehand, and no jumping. I’m also careful about footing - I don’t do trails with lots of downhills and rocks.

I can’t give you a specific location of his chip, but this is what’s working for me. I would suggest a second opinion from a different vet, perhaps one who specializes in lameness, just to expand your options.

I don’t know your money situation but there’s also PRP and IRAP that might be an option, not sure.

[findeight]

When joint injections first became generally known and available, the steroid that was used could cause future problems. As the procedure evolved, less problematic steroid products were used and HA became popular combined with the newer steroids.

Because we are just talking about a 25 year period here, some vets are not aware of the long term success of the newer combinations. Particularly vets who are long away from vet school, not fans of continuing education (or can’t afford to persue it) and/or not in touch with today’s sporthorse industry practices. If their client base will not support the procedures or the diagnostics to confirm the need for them? Can’t really fault them for that.

Think OPs first vet did see damage. Twenty years ago or recently done by a vet still using the old steroid, they are out there, either way not keeping up on recent advances.

At any rate, it’s best to use a vet with a lot of experience doing injections, just like you want a surgeon who performs your procedure often and well instead of your gateway GP. Suggest a good sporthorse lameness specialist, they charge alittle more but well worth it.

[Manni01]

So how old is the horse? Is this the first time You x-rayed him?? If there are older x-Rays existent are there noticable changes to now?? Did anything change in your routine with the horse ( new trainer, new barn, Different turnout Routine??)

Probably stupid questions but if he was Sound for a Long time on it
Maybe something happened and there is something acute which hurts

I would try to check that first

[findeight]

@ihearttbs;8669979

Hi,

I have an older horse with arthritis in his front ankles from a long racing career. Specifically spurs in the sesamoid area. It has recently progressed to the point where he is slightly off on a circle at the trot, whereas before it never noticeably bothered him.

My current vet, after looking at x-rays, recommends injecting them. However, a previous vet told me never to inject them as he’s seen it damage the cartilage further. So, I’m a little bit torn as what to do.

Two different vets have evaluated the horse, including X rays. What has happened he’s gotten older and the old track damage is bothering bothering him more.

[Manni01]

Ok ok injecting it is, but still it doesnt hurt to think about it first.

[alibi_18]

[QUOTE=ihearttbs;8669979]
Hi,

I have an older horse with arthritis in his front ankles from a long racing career. Specifically spurs in the sesamoid area. It has recently progressed to the point where he is slightly off on a circle at the trot, whereas before it never noticeably bothered him.

My current vet, after looking at x-rays, recommends injecting them. However, a previous vet told me never to inject them as he’s seen it damage the cartilage further.So, I’m a little bit torn as what to do.

If anybody has experience with this please let me know. Also any other tips would be helpful. I am interested in whether there are any shoeing remedies that could help him. Thanks![/QUOTE]

Like Findeight said, injections before and now are 2 different things. In the past you could only inject like 3-4 times and then, the horse would be done.
Now, it is much more refine, less concentrate and different products are used that do not damage the cartilage as much.

Injections are no majik. What is damaged is damaged. That is why, now, preventative medecine is useful to help slow down the degeneration.

You know your older horse had arthritis for a long time. The horse is not getting younger and his condition is now bothering him to the point of being lame. Something must be done to ease his pain. I would do the injections in his ankles and probably his hocks too (have Xrays taken) because it often goes hand in hand : horse trying to alleviate pain in front will put excessive weight in the back.

I would also consider starting him on Previcox.

See how he does and adjust your training accordingly.

[ihearttbs]

Hi all, I really appreciate the responses they were very helpful. I think I will go ahead with the injections. The first vet who had looked at him and recommended against injections is a really old school vet, so that makes sense with what everybody is saying. I keep him on previcox (1/4 tab per day) whenever he is in work. He also has been getting his hocks injected 2x a year for the past 4-5 years.

I did consider the fact that something acute might have happened, in fact I was even thinking maybe suspensory damage, but the vet came out and did a full flexion/blocking test on him and it was definitely in his ankle. Just 6 months ago he was sound enough that in the Fall of 2015 he was competing at Novice level eventing (but jumped pretty much only in competition).

The only differences in routine have been that from Feb-April he did not get ridden, but he had 24/7 turnout so I didn’t think it would be a problem, but maybe it could have caused the arthritis to get worse? And the other big change is that I have a different farrier from 6 months ago (we moved across the country). His feet however, have looked the same to me, but I’m not an expert, so I could be missing something. He is on a 5 week schedule. He eats the same food, and he pretty much always has had a ton of turnout no matter where I board him.

[ihearttbs]

I have x-rays from 6 months ago and x-rays from 2 years ago of his ankles, and they actually show very little progression at all. So it is extremely surprising to me that all of a sudden it would start noticeably bothering him doing very light work, when he’s done much more rigorous stuff before and it never bothered him then. I did not, however, take x-rays this month, but maybe I should have?

[Angela_Freda]

Has the farrier seen him go and consulted re the recent issues on the trot circles?

[Simkie]

I’ll echo what others have said regarding injections, and I think you’re making a good choice to move forward with them.

I’ve also had VERY nice results using Surpass on ankles, and it might be a great option to back up your joint injection.

If he’s not responsive to the steroid/HA, IRAP could be a good next step as well.

[mswillie]

If you want to start more conservatively maybe try a course of Adequan first? It won’t hurt and might help delay the use of IA injections for a while.

My horse came up lame a few years ago and Adequan was the first thing we tried. He became more comfortable literally overnight. Turns out he had a chip that I did have surgically removed but he got a lot of relief and was comfortable being turned out while we were waiting for his surgery.

FTR I have no qualms about injecting a joint if it’s needed. Just offering up something more conservative if you wanted to go that route first.

[Angela_Freda]

Agree about Adequan. I used that and later when it didn’t have the same benefits, we tried Legend and it did… so just because one doesn’t help doesn’t mean another will also fail to help.

[ihearttbs]

Hey, I just wanted to give an update that I got his fetlocks injected a few days ago, and the vet said I could ride him today and he felt 100% sound after the injections. I’m really excited and grateful for everybody’s input. I wish I had known more about fetlock injections before and done them a couple years ago, since I know his arthritis has been bothering him for a while despite trying to manage it in other ways. So for anybody else lurking out there, it has seemed to work for my guy, although I don’t know how long it will last.

[Doctor_sOrders]

Hi, sorry to bump old thread but I am recently entering this same issue with my 15 yo TB. Outside of injecting fetlocks as needed (looking at starting yearly), Adequan, Legend Previcox, Surpass, is there anything I can do exercise-wise to keep him comfy and in work?

I’ve started icing area after jumping and Previcox after jumping. He isn’t lame but when flexed, show discomfort.
Do you find polo wraps or boots help? Avoid hard or deep footing?
Obviously jumping as little as possible. Any exercises to stay away from, like working on tight circles. This horse is never lunged.

Thanks for all advice!