How Do You Help A Horse With Stiff Hocks?

If symptoms flare up, rest and cold hosing (or other cold therapy) can help. So can nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone. But soreness often returns when the horse goes back to work, and long-term treatment with NSAIDs may have harmful effects.

How can I improve my horse’s hocks?

Riding over raised poles (cavaletti) is helpful for developing strength in the horse that has weak stifles or hocks. The slow action of lifting the hind legs up and over the pole will strengthen the Tensor muscle as well as the Long Digital Extensor. Both muscle groups are responsible for the stability of the stifle.

Can you ride a horse with hock arthritis?

Many horses who are diagnosed with the early stages of arthritis can continue to safely carry riders on level trails and perform other low-impact activities, including some jumping.

What can you do for hock arthritis?

The most common form of treatment is the injection of steroids into the joints. This will significantly reduce the inflammation in the joint and slow the progression of the arthritis, hopefully reducing the chance of extreme changes.

Do hock injections always work?

Hock injections can be a short-term solution, but are not a cure, in cases of advanced progression of joint damage. Injections are also sometimes done to temporarily anesthetize a joint to make a definitive diagnosis in evaluating lameness.

What does hock lameness look like?

Hock lameness is characterized by shortened gait, weight shifting, stiffness when your horse picks their hind legs up, and reduced springiness off the ground when the horse picks up a canter or jumps.

How quickly do hock injections work?

It may take two weeks to see the full effects. Benefits may last anywhere from weeks to a year or more, depending on how severe the problem is and how hard your horse works. Combining injections with other steps may extend the effects.

How long do hock injections last?

Hock injections can be effective anywhere from 6-12 months. If your hock injections are only lasting 8-10 weeks, your horse may be a candidate for laser arthrodesis (surgical fusion).

What pain relief would help a horse with arthritis?

The most common drug used is phenylbutazone (bute) but there are others if bute does not agree with your horse, or he refuses to eat it. These drugs help by reducing the pain associated with arthritis, and so allowing them to move more freely.

Does Bute help arthritis in horses?

Joint medication lasts a varying length of time depending on the horse, the severity of joint disease, and drugs used. Phenylbutazone, or ‘bute’ in layman’s terms, sold as Equipalazone, is the choice of most horse owners for reducing stiffness and pain associated with arthritic changes.

What can I give my horse for stiffness?

Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a powerful substance that has been scientifically proven to have the maximum effect with horses that suffer from stiffness.

How do you keep an arthritic horse comfortable?

The more your horse can move around, the better their joints will handle the stress of aging. So, keeping them at pasture or turned out can help. For the same reason, if you can keep your senior horse doing light work it will also help slow down any damage to their joints.

How long do horses need off after hock injections?

Horses that have joints medicated with corticosteroids will often have 3 days complete rest followed by 3 days light work before returning to their normal training regime.

Why do horses need stall rest after hock injections?

Immediately after injections, your horse should be stalled overnight in order to keep the bandages dry and in place. The bandages should stay on overnight or for at least 4 hours. In the week following the injections, your horse will have gradually increased turnout and exercise.

What age do horses hocks fuse?

around nine to 11 years
Most often, bone spavin is first identified in middle-aged horses between around nine to 11 years of age.

What is the best joint injection for horses?

Joint Injection Treatment Options
The most common medications that your vet will inject into the joint are hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids. Less commonly, your vet may choose to use Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP), Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), or Autologous Protein Solution (Pro-Stride).

When is it time to put down an arthritic horse?

When is the right time to put a horse down?

1. old age, when their condition has deteriorated to such an extent they no longer have an acceptable quality of life.
2. serious injury.
3. a disease or illness that cannot be treated.

How do I know if my horse needs hocks injected?

Other general signs include sudden laziness, refusal to be tacked up, refusal to perform moves such as a flying lead change, and trouble engaging in the hind end. The horse may also suddenly display general cranky behavior when it is normally quite calm and content.

What do vets inject hocks with?

Again, different veterinarians may have different medication preferences depending on the horse’s age or amount of radiographic changes in the hock. While steroids +/- hyaluronic acid are most commonly injected into the hock joint, other options include IRAP and intra-articular adequan.

Are horses sore after hock injections?

The presence of medication in your horse’s joints can result in mild discomfort that can last for several days. Therefore, we suggest giving your horse some time off prior to resuming normal exercise. This will allow the medication to take effect as well as the secondary problems (such as back soreness) to subside.

Can hock injections cause laminitis?

Dosages above 80 mg are believed to increase the risk of laminitis and because these drugs can affect a horse for a period of time after injection, it is a concern to inject joints on horses too often.