Ringbone/Bone Spur

[Miranda_and_Oscar]

Hi all,

After my horse was lame for almost 2 weeks with almost 0 improvement with rest and bute, the vet came out (he was scheduled to come out for another reason which is why the appointment was not made sooner). He nerve blocked my guys left front. First he did the heel and sole of the foot with minimal to no improvement. Then he blocked the whole foot from the fetlock down and he was sound after that.

I had xrays taken abour 6 months ago (by a different vet who is now out of practice) for an unrelated reason but the vet today decided he wanted to take 2 shots to see if he had ringbone. Of course, there was. He said he has ringbone as well as a spur. I believe it is high ringbone based on my research and where I remember seeing the spur on the X-ray today (I haven’t received a copy of them yet). He is sending the images to my farrier to see if he can do a special shoeing to help. He said that area really can’t be injected except for very short term relief.

My horse is already on previcoxx/equioxx as well. He is 20 years old and we event (2’3 - 2’7 levels). Does anyone have experience with this and know the typical future of it? The vet said it all depends on what we can do with shoeing and if that provides relief or not, otherwise he may not be sound to compete again. Does this sound right? I’m just trying to prepare myself. I know my horse is getting older, but I was prepared for at least 2-3 more years of him being in regular work before he had to entire retirement. Thanks!

[NancyM]

Well since no one else has responded for you, I’ll say that I think you have had adequate advice. It’s a “wait and see” situation. At 20, and with this issue, PLUS whatever issue you were already treating with the previcoxx, your horse’s days of jumping and eventing may be over. But he may still be able to do some light trail riding, or be a first horse for a beginner or child, or a babysitter or companion horse, for a few more years without pain, or without much pain.

Horses make these decisions for you, they tell you when they are “done” being a competitive mount. It may not be when YOU want it to be, but if you are a horseman, you listen when they tell you. And capitulate.

[findeight]

I did respond to this over on the other forum it’s posted on. Pretty much the same.

[joiedevie99]

Eventing may or may not be a great idea going forward, but there is a good chance your horse will still be rideable in a more limited way. There is a decent chance it has been brewing for some time, and the Previcox covered it up. I’d talk with a lameness specialist about your options for treatment if the shoeing changes don’t help. IRAP and shockwave aren’t cheap, but they can help make some of these guys more comfortable.

There are also joint fusion options to discuss with a specialist if you are looking to get him sound enough to retire comfortably without meds.

[Miranda_and_Oscar]

Thanks everyone! He’s my dream horse that I leased but he was sold a few years back and 2 years ago, I bought him from that new owner (in not so great shape). So he has a home with me regardless of his capabilities. I just know he loves his eventing job so it’ll be sad if he can’t partake, but we will make the best of what his body allows!

[vxf111]

I board a horse with ringbone. Once it started to cause lameness it degenerated and got quickly very very fast. I would say he went from 1/5 lameness to almost unable to walk over the course of 2 years. He is on bute and previcox now but it’s not giving him much relief and it’s near the end. That being said, he’s clearly has ringbone much longer and has only been retired for 2 years. So for a while he was able to continue in light work. I think it’s a case by case type thing and depends how bad the ringbone is and how he responds to NSAIDs

[stanza]

My horse was diagnosed back in 2011 with high and low Ringbone (osteoarthritis). And nothing was keeping him sound at the trot. In 2013 I started him on Pentosan and he was sound up until recently. Unfortunately, it was because of his shoeing, not the Pentosan. Osphos is another option that has worked for arthritis.

[Miranda_and_Oscar]

@stanza what kind of shoe did your farrier use? My vet has sent the images to my farrier with some suggestions (a wedge or an onion shoe) but he hasn’t gotten back to me with any ideas yet.

[Uncorked]

One of ours who is now 20 - had been having front lameness for almost a year - some days better than others. Switched farriers - horse was and is still barefoot. She (the farrier) also suggested supplementing with Corti-Flex. Within a few trimmings the horse was sound again. He stayed sound until recently when he stepped on a piece of wood and had a splinter in his navicular bursa…so lame again and may never be sound.