Arthritic Hocks

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Arthritic Hocks

Postby **HocusPocus** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:22 pm

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT color=#57708f#ed_cl#I have a 13 yr old TB gelding who is now retired partially from the H/J way of life and I am getting him back after someone having him for 4 yrs and not treating him well at all.  He has been turned out in a field for a yr and a half now with the odd hack around the property.. he is very UNDER weight and not wormed and not shod at all and arthritic in both hocks.. I need assistance on how to bring him around so that he is not in too much discomfort and to get him comfortable and possibly a bit ridable.. Any thoughts and/or treatments??  Funds are a bit limited and my main focus is to get him comfortable... Thanks a lot!!#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Eileen » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:26 pm

#ed_op#TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"#ed_cl##ed_op#TBODY#ed_cl##ed_op#TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"#ed_cl##ed_op#TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off"#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#well if he is arthritic I would put him on glucosomine suplement...it is a personal preferance of what product and it usually takes anywhere from 2 weeks to a month before you will notice a difference in the old guy.  Glucosimine takes a while to kick in, I know from personal experience, I take it myself. #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#I would get him on a feeding program, with some good commercial feed, they have feed for Seniors, etc, you can even make an appointment to talk to the head haunco in charge of feed of your product of choice.  I really like Master Feeds Golden Glo for my Seniors and for any of the horses that need a feed besides the hay and or pasture.  #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#I would also make sure that your old guy gets out onto some pasture and get some sunshine and freshair and some grass to munch on.  #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#Worming ...I would not worm for the Bots yet this year...best to wait till after the hard frosts.  but anything else I am sure will be a benifit to his system since he has not been on a worming program of any sort for a while. #ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl#Exercise...if he is out on pasture, he will be getting exercise of some kind expecially if he has a pasture buddy.  My guys are always exercising one another at some time of the day.  Then you can start with the one on one exercises under saddle or what ever you know that his is familiar with...#ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/TD#ed_cl##ed_op#/TR#ed_cl##ed_op#TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"#ed_cl##ed_op#TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV id=hotbar_promo#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/TD#ed_cl##ed_op#/TR#ed_cl##ed_op#/TBODY#ed_cl##ed_op#/TABLE#ed_cl#
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Postby **HocusPocus** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:02 am

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=1 color=#347d7e#ed_cl#Thanks so much for your advise on this situation.. I will keep youall advised on my progress...#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Sodapoppers » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:13 am

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT color=#0060bf#ed_cl#Hi Hocus. I second the glucosamine supplement, though I can get quite expensive.  I see that you live in Aurora...there is a place in Mount Albert who sells glucosamine and other bulk types of supplements (vitamins, etc)  for extremely reasonable prices. 2lbs of glucosamine/msm costs me roughly $40, and if i were to buy that from a tack store i'd be looking at roughly $160!!! If you go to the business directory on EC and look up TRAC Equine, that is her. #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT color=#0060bf#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT color=#0060bf#ed_cl#Also I have found with arthritic horses, light exercise is better for them than not doing anything. If you plan to do *more* with him (seeing as he is quite young) you may want to look into asking your vet about some costisone/dmso or think about some legend injections.  Good luck :)  #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Patricia » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:54 am

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#While glucosamine IS good it doesn't work for every horse.  It takes a load dose and even then I found it didn't work for our mare.  Sometimes just straight MSM will help and is cheaper.  I have an older mare that has hock that sound like snapping twigs.  Regular work long and low and in a frame doing walk/trot gets them fit.  As long as they are somewhat sound we still ride and she seems very happy to go out.  Depending on how hard you plan to work you could consult the vet...I don't know if cortisone shots work for arthritis...worth checking into...#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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Postby Sodapoppers » Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:53 am

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT color=#0060bf#ed_cl#Ooops just to clarify, the cortizone / dmso i was referring to is the cortizone paint :D Not an injection. The advice from the specialist i took my horse to was to avoid injecting the joint directly for as long as you can. In the winter Dream is crabby and not happy and 'off' for the first 10 mins or so until he is really warmed up....your boy will probably be similar Hocus. Oh, and for winter see about getting him a quarter sheet for when warming up. That can really help too.  #ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
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