Bone Spurs - NOT bone spurs -Navicular. Update.

[surprisewind]

Does anyone have any experience with bone spurs in an older ex-performance horse? My "grand old man" has a couple in his left hock diagnosed with radiographs. I haven't viewed the films and the vet didn't discuss the severity except to say he was expecting much worse given my boy's age and past career.

He's exhibiting some hind end lameness and it's causing him muscle pain in the rest of his body. I've got a chiropracter coming out for him - vet said it couldn't hurt.

At the time of diagnosis, the vet gave him bute, E/Selenium for the muscle pain and dexamethasone. He sent us home with bute for pre-ride administration and told us to come back in 4-8 weeks if he's experiencing no improvement.

I hardly ever ride the guy, and we are now restricted to 2-5 mile rides on groomed trails. At this point, he is not sound in the pasture and I cannot fathom giving him a couple grams of bute and climbing aboard.

I'm very much inclined to seek a second opinion... I feel like we're getting shined on and given palliative measures due to his age.

Thoughts?

[oldchicago]

Hi
I have a WB/TB cross 15 year old gelding who has bone spurs in a front coffin. I have had him for 2 years and he is sound most days. His previous owner who is not the brightest gave up on him and turned him to pasture after she got the news. I give him ground work in a round pen 2 times a week, horse play in a big turnout pen 2 days a week (running, bucking etc.) and we have an easy ride 1 to 2 days a week. All of this is on soft sand as the vet and I agree that is the best surface. So there is hope for your horse. I let my guy tell me how good he feels that day and we go from there. None of the work is hard or on hard ground. Easy to moderate work and rest days when he is sore has worked for us.
Good luck
Steve

[surprisewind]

A bit of an update for anyone interested...

My horse's intital vet visit was because I suspected lameness in the front left, specifically the front left hoof. He was reluctant to bear all his weight on it with the farrier, I felt it was growing slightly abnormally (we've known him since 1994, so we know what normal is for him) and he was slightly off at the trot. His stride was shortened and his attitude was changing.

Took him to the local vet, who shushed my "left front, please" and told me the lameness was stemming from the hocks and causing full body pain. Suggested chiropractric work, vit e/selenium shots every four-eight weeks, bute before riding. Said the bone spurs weren't too bad given his age and career. As mentioned in the first post...

I requested an exam of the front left... I freakin' KNOW my horse. But the dr. convinced me I didn't know front end lameness from hind end lameness and sent us on our way.

Over the next three months I had lingering doubts, especially when his lameness increased, his mood soured and hoof got smaller. The stride got shorter, I noticed more and more the toe first landing I'd tried to point out.

So I took my horse for a second opinion a few hours away. That vet - Sturgis Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Ismay, incredibly competent and kind - took my words at face value, LOOKED at the front left hoof, looked me in the eye and started the exam. I think he knew before he watched the horse move what the outcome would be.

Grade 3/5 lameness in front. Still a 1/5 after nerve blocking. Radiographs, etc. showed changes to the navicular bone and possible adhesion of the deep digital flexor tendon to the navicular bone.

That explained why the bute didn't cut his pain. Dr. Ismay said if he hadn't changed his gait in the back, "his ass would outrun his head" so of course he appeared lame back there....

Now I'm devastated because my beloved horse is no longer with me and I'm ANGRY because he was in such excruciating pain for so long .... had the first vet listened to me, or had I listened to myself and pushed harder he wouldn't have suffered so.

I guess the moral of the story is to NOT discount your own knowledge, experience and gut feelings when dealing with your horses...