It’s done as part of surgical arthrodesis.
Thanks for all the shared stories. Sounds like for the more major procedures (chemical and surgical arthrodesis) it’s worth taking a pause to consider if they will do more harm than good.
I did decide to go ahead with the Tildren, which he just finished getting. I wasn’t able to be there but vet said he started looking a bit uncomfortable so she gave him some banamine and 20 mins later he perked right back up.
BM is going to keep an eye on him but vet said the chances of him colicking at this point are pretty low.
I read it can take 6-8 weeks for the med to take full effect so will try to report back on how he’s doing.
I will say that since he had a chiro workup a couple weeks ago he’s actually been moving a lot better. That also coincided with the last dose of his 28-day Adequan treatment so it’s also possible that could be kicking in, too.
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When I purchased my gelding, he had no physical evidence of hock issues. However the seller did tell me he had received injections in the past so I wanted to have them xrayed.
His left hock was fully fused and right was “estimated” to be about 3/4 fused.
For two years I had zero issues, it’s just been lately that I can tell the right is bothering him slightly and equioxx has done wonders (too far fused for injections).
I’m hoping and praying this one fully fuses as well because he’s a gorgeous mover! I’d hate to have to retire him at 13 (hock issues due to conformation).
Of note the vet was absolutely shocked that his hocks looked like that after her flexion tests, watching him move etc. I think a lot more horses have fusing hocks than anyone realizes.
Old thread here but considering it’s been brought up, I ought to share my experience. I visited this thread several times when I was trying to decide a way forward.
I took on a project 4 year old a few years ago. He had been starved and neglected (and God knows what else) during his yearling, 2 yo, and part of his 3 yo years; his critical growing years. Due to lack of proper nutrition, his joints were trashed. We chased a hind end lameness for a few months until I finally convinced a vet to start pulling x rays (that’s a whole 'nother story) and found that his lower hock joints were bone on bone. My options were to let him fuse naturally, inject with steroids (no HA) to give some relief while degrading the cartilage and let him fuse, or do arthrodesis. I opted for number 2.
He got sound and looked glorious… for about 10 days when he tried to rip off a front hoof on turn out. He then went out of work for a few months. When his hoof situation was grown out enough to lightly come back to work, he was dead. ass. lame in his hocks. So much worse than he was before. And no closer to fusing naturally. So I started researching surgery. We consulted with a surgeon at Kentucky Equine, and scheduled surgery.
It was the arthrodesis where the joints were drilled, not shaved, nor was alcohol used. He was on stall rest for 2 weeks, light turn out for 4 weeks, then lightly brought back in to work. He has been great. We have injected his upper joints once since then as they got a little sticky. But he has been perfectly sound and looks great. I would not hesitate to do it again (if the horse is a candidate, per the surgeon), but I would also absolutely haul across the country to go to the same clinic. It is not something to be taken lightly. But in my case, we made the right decision on the surgeon.
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My horse was diagnosed with hock arthritis at 4 y/o, in just the right hock. Vet originally told me it was in the upper high motion joint, and pretty much said that there was not much we could do and she likely wouldn’t be rideable.
I then tried everything, tried a week of bute with no improvements in lameness. Then hock injection which yielded some improvement. Then did pentosan for several years until it became to hard and $$ to source (Canada). For many years she was pretty good, rideable just required a good warm up especially on cold days. Somewhere in there we also did Osphos, and a couple more hock injections. Did some images which showed reduced joint space and some fusing after several years. On the last injection vet had a really hard time getting anything in the joint, we assume due to fusing.
Now at 15 she is just fine and on zero maintenance for at least 5 years, I don’t remember when last treatments were given…
I wouldn’t say she is 100%, there is a very slight shortness in the right hind if you know to look for it, and she has some difficulty when its really cold, but who doesn’t…
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