Why Do Horses Need Hock Injections?

Arthritis in the hock can cause pain and inflammation. Hock injections involve injecting medication directly into the space of the hock to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

How long do hock injections last in horses?

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 causes hock problems in horses?

Hock lameness can also be caused by arthritis, injury, inflammation, developmental issues or bone problems. Arthritis or Bone Spavin: Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) involves progressive deterioration of the cartilage, bone and other components of the joint due to wear and tear.

How do I know if my horse needs his hocks injected?

To tell if your horse needs hock injections, look for changes in behavior that might indicate that your horse has pain in its hock, or hindquarters. This might include refusing to jump fences, excessive bucking, trying to bite you, or general bad temper.

When do you inject horse hocks?

The correct time to inject a horse is when they are actually showing lameness that can be localized to a joint and or have radiographic evidence of arthritis. Your veterinarian can help you to determine this by doing a lameness exam.

What is the average cost of hock injections?

How much does it cost to get a horse’s hocks injected? Hock injections can range anywhere from $65 to $250 per joint.

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.

How do you strengthen a horse’s hocks?

Riding over ground poles or raised poles: This encourages your horse to actively lift its legs and engage muscles of the hind quarters for better ground clearance and range of motion. Hills: The most challenging hind quarter strengthening is walking or trotting up hills.

How long do hock injections take to 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 after hock injections can you ride?

Your horse should be able to return to its usual routine after 24 hours. If we’ve injected medication into the joint, we recommend your horse stands on box rest for 24 hours – followed by 48 hours of controlled exercise which may include turnout in a small paddock. The horse can then be returned to a normal regime.

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.

How long should a horse be on stall rest after hock injections?

Stall rest ONLY for 24 hours after injection. After 24 hours, turnout is permitted. We recommend not exercising/ riding the horse on the day of treatment as well as one day following treatment (i.e. a total of two days).

How common is hock arthritis?

Arthritis of the small joints of the hock is a very common condition affecting all types of horses. It is not just a disease of old horses, in fact we regularly see this in horses around 7 or 8 years old.

What causes arthritis in horses hocks?

Osteoarthritis (OA)
OA arises because the inflamed bone produces additional bone and arises in the lower hock. This process of new bone formation causes restricted movement in the joint, alongside pain and lameness.

Does my horse need joint injections?

Osteoarthritis/synovitis or degenerative joint disease is very common in working horses and can cause a performance limiting lameness. Joint injections are sometimes done to help decrease the pain and inflammation of joint disease and return horses to sound work.

What causes swollen hocks in horses?

A diffusely swollen “big” hock is usually caused by traumatic injury or infection. The joint can also mysteriously fill with blood (Blood Spavin). A hard knot of swelling on the lower inside of the hock (Bone spavin) usually relates to arthritis of the lowest joint of the hock.

Does horse insurance cover injections?

Major Medical/Surgical
Unlike some human plans, however, equine policies do not pay for preventive health expenses such as vaccinations, worming, and dental work.

Can a horse recover from a hock injury?

Typically, this takes between six and nine months, although a mild mechanical lameness should be expected long term. In those horses unable to return to work, most will become pasture sound.

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.

Can you jump 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 helps 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.