Hock Injections - Differing Opinions

[MysticOakRanch]

My mare has been getting hock injections for a few years now, and just added my Pony to the routine. Both have some hock arthritis, and thinning joint fluid. Prior to that, my middle aged stallion had them. All work hard, all felt much better after the procedure - I am NOT questioning whether or not to do them. Over all these years, I’ve only had two vets doing these injections, and both had very similar protocol. Now, I have a friend who says their protocol is SO different from her vets’ protocols. Specifically:

She is annoyed that my vets shave the injection site, and says the hair can grow back white, plus it announces to the world (aka show world) that the horse has been injected.

She doesn’t understand why they need 3 days off, then 3 days of light work. Her vets have all said 2 to 3 days off, then back to regular work.

So I’m curious, how many here have issues with shaving the injection site?

How many here give their horse 2 to 3 days off and then go back to hard work? How many give 3 days off, then 3 days of light work before going back to full workload?

Any other differing protocols?

[2tempe]

When my horse gets done, 1 day stall rest. Two days pasture, then back to work with the understanding that first ride is easier and full work by 3rd day. Vet has never shaved the area, but I wouldn’t care if he did. On the other hand, both times were in the winter when the horse is aleady clipped.

[theresak]

The recovery protocol differs per veterinarian. My vet says 3 days off and back to regular work and another vet in the area does 1 day off and a gradual return to work over 2 weeks.

Injections take 14 days to reach their maximum effectiveness and I’ve felt the different at that point, so I do a fairly gradual return to regular schooling.

Clipping (and scrubbing) is dependent on the vet too. They usually have their preferred routine. My vet does not clip but has a 2-solution scrubbing technique for a specific amount of time.

[one1horse]

My vet clips, but it is such a small area that you’d have to really look to find it. They scrub pretty thoroughly prior to injection though. Afterwards it’s one day stall rest, then 2 days turnout before returning to work. I usually do 2 days of a lighter workload before returning to regular work. Usually about a week from injection to returning to normal.

[JB]

@MysticOakRanch

She is annoyed that my vets shave the injection site, and says the hair can grow back white,

I have never seen a horse grow hair back white just because it was shaved. Horses are surgically clipped all the time for actual surgeries, and for IV catheters - where are all the new “pinto” horses?

plus it announces to the world (aka show world) that the horse has been injected.

My vet does tell me that for a show horse, in show season, she tries to make the shaved site as small as possible. But she won’t not shave simply because she wants to mitigate risks every way possible.

She doesn’t understand why they need 3 days off, then 3 days of light work. Her vets have all said 2 to 3 days off, then back to regular work.

One goal of injections when the horse is having some discomfort, is to relieve that discomfort - that’s why the steroid is used. The optimal way to let that do its job is for the horse to be rested - normal turnout, but no forced work. Let the steroid get the inflammation under control without stresses being applied at the same time. Then, a few days light work allows the joints to get more movement, without the rider asking too much work of a horse who now (hopefully) feels better, which could result in soreness from suddenly moving a bit differently and/or with more oomph.

Of course, people still go right back to hard work the next day.

I’ve had injections done probably 5 times, never a single white hair. I have always followed the rest/light work protocol. But then again I was not doing this in the middle of show season, and was not showing every weekend even then.

[Princess_Sparkles]

My vet clips and scrubs thoroughly. My mare got done about three weeks ago and as she still has a bit of winter coat (horrible “spring” we are having in Southern Ontario this year) it is visible in certain light but I couldn’t care less. My vet apologized for the clipping and I told her to do what she thinks is best to make sure the injections go as smoothly as possible.

I have never seen hair grow back white, and that doesn’t make sense–vets use regular clippers and why would hair they clip grow back white when people clip hair all over horse’s bodies all the time and THAT doesn’t grow back white? Unless your friend thinks the injection affects the hair–well the actual injection spot is minuscule and is the size of the needle used. The drug does not touch the hair or the skin as it is being put directly into the joint. And if she thinks the drug is affecting the hair, then it would whether you clipped or not. Methinks the friend has not thought this through with any kind of logic. . .

My vet orders stall rest for three days, then three days quiet turnout, a light hack on day 6, and a return to work after that if the horse is fine on the day 6 ride. I admit I modify the stall rest part as my horse would go NUTS in a stall for three days and is actually much quieter outside, so I do one day of stall rest and monitor turnout after that to make sure she isn’t jogging around. The point of injections, as others have said, is to reduce inflammation, so you have to give the drugs time to work and the inflammation to go down. They tell humans the same thing if you were to get joint injections–you have to be off your feet for 24-48 hours and build your exercise level back up.

[Nestor]

I wouldn’t have an issue with them being shaved, and have seen my vet do it for a heavier-coated horse (either naturally heavier coated or hairier for wintertime). Clipped hair doesn’t grow in white. :lol:

As for the protocol after injections, it depends. I’ve used the two lameness experts in the area, and one says 3 days stall rest and hand walking, banamine paste 500lbs 2x/day for 3 days, cold-hosing twice a day for 3 days, then bring back to work. The other says 3 days no riding, turnout fine if the horse is well-behaved, cold-hose once later the day of and once the following day, banamine 500lbs on day 2 (they give banamine at time of injections), bring back to work after the 3 days. I prefer the turnout, less banamine, less cold-hosing approach because my horse doesn’t need to be cooped up in a stall when all he does outside is meander around, I don’t have to upset his stomach with more meds, and cold-hosing is pretty silly to me (even the first vet listed doesn’t have a set recommendation for how long to cold-hose - I swear it’s a big mystery to the vets too).

I’ve never had a vet say that on day 4, the horse should suddenly go back to full work. They have said it takes about a week to really see the impact of the injections, longer for the full effect, and to keep that in mind as you get back to work.

[MysticOakRanch]

Thanks everyone, you are confirming my own thoughts on the matter(s)!

Oh, yes, I also have always done a few days of Bute (NSAID) after the injections.

I was just really surprised to hear that some vets have a different protocol. And thought the clipping = white hairs was kind of unusual. I just needed a reality check…

[_eventer]

I’ve never had a vet clip the site, and I’ve used a few for injections. I just had my OTTB done last month and my vet ordered 24 hours of stall rest, followed by 48 hours of small paddock rest, then full turnout. After the first week I could lunge and after two weeks back to full work. I also gave bute for two days post injection.

[C-dog]

hi all, I have a rescue TWH who is a mess. we (manage therapist and vet) have prescribed previcox and pentosan for him. he’s responding well to both so here’s my question; does anyone else use pentosan and if so do you know if it really does time out by the use-by date? it’s expensive stuff and there’s always a shot or two left over. the compounding place says they haven’t tested past the use-by date so can’t answer my question. anyone? thanks in advance for any info!

[findeight]

Friend didn’t go to vet school, give hundreds of joint injections a year and keep track of any complications. I didn’t either so followed my vets recommendations.

In my case, the hair was so thin on the hocks, there was no need to shave, it was 1 day rest then 2 of light work then back to work if no problems…but vet had no problem if owner or trainer thought a few more days off might be in order. Depended on the horse. And we tried to schedule when they weren’t right up against a show. These were Hunter/ Jumpers too, working at 3’ to 3’6" with a few up to 4’6". Can’t speak to details on anything I didn’t own…because I didn’t own them and it was NOMB. Just tended to my 3’ers.

IMO if I had a Western rail horse or lower level Dressage where it’s simple flatwork, they probably could go back in a day or so with no risk or issues.

Theres a ton of other factors in deciding how long or if a horse needs more time just to be safe. Think it’s arrogant to generalize because you do it one way, it’s the only way. Think OPs friend needs to keep her veterinary advice to herself, it’s a MYOB other then stating what you do. If asked.

[IPEsq]

My vets will clip depending on what the coat is like at the time. I did have one patch not grow back at all last year–did them in late winter/early spring, and the patch stayed bald all summer. The other leg grew in fine.

We also do 3 days off then 3 days light work, back to full work after a week. One vet likes the horse stall rested with hand walking during the first 3 days, but others allow turnout. Given my horse does too much spinning around on stall rest, he gets turned out in a small paddock regardless of the recommendation. I don’t recall having stall rested past horses either. My vets are also hit or miss as to whether or not to do any NSAID with the injection or following days.

[crthunder]

My horse hasn’t had to be shaved but he also has very little coat. It wouldn’t bother me if she wanted to clip him. He gets ulcergard (1/4 tube dose) on day of injections and for the following three days. Banamine paste the following three days. Small paddock turn-out for about five days following injections. I walk undersaddle on day four, a little trot on day five, and canter day six. Then he goes back to work slowly. He is now going I-2 dressage so I gave myself a rule of thumb as work days are first-third (he loves changes)-PSG-full work about ten days after injections. When he did lower level full work came in at one week. This year we have added an Adequan series when he gets hocks done so he is ready to roll through show season

[OneTwoMany]

@MysticOakRanch

My mare has been getting hock injections for a few years now, and just added my Pony to the routine. Both have some hock arthritis, and thinning joint fluid. Prior to that, my middle aged stallion had them. All work hard, all felt much better after the procedure - I am NOT questioning whether or not to do them. Over all these years, I’ve only had two vets doing these injections, and both had very similar protocol. Now, I have a friend who says their protocol is SO different from her vets’ protocols. Specifically:

She is annoyed that my vets shave the injection site, and says the hair can grow back white, plus it announces to the world (aka show world) that the horse has been injected.

She doesn’t understand why they need 3 days off, then 3 days of light work. Her vets have all said 2 to 3 days off, then back to regular work.

So I’m curious, how many here have issues with shaving the injection site?

How many here give their horse 2 to 3 days off and then go back to hard work? How many give 3 days off, then 3 days of light work before going back to full workload?

Any other differing protocols?

I’m sorry but your friend is “out to lunch”. Shaving does not cause hairs to grow back white. You may find it helpful to do a brief google search and educate yourself on why hairs turn white i.e. lose their pigment. It has nothing to do with being shaved. I would just ignore your friend as she is clearly misinformed.

Shaving a surgical site is one of the steps taken to help ensure the injection site is sterile. A needle is being passed into a joint capsule to deliver medicine. You don’t want to risk any contaminates entering the joint and causing an infection. An infected joint is a very serious malady and one to be avoided at all costs.

Regarding recovery times and resting periods, different vets have different protocols and sometimes it will vary by horse. If you trust your vet, follow his protocol. An earlier poster correctly mentioned that steroids can take 14 days to have their maximum impact on reducing inflammation. The main goal with injections is to treat and protect the joint so the useful life of the joint is extended. Easing a horse back into work over six days certainly seems kinder than shoving him back into hard work after 2-3 days.

I’m sure your friend means well, but I would be very cautious about taking her advice