RE: RE: Re: Help-Hock Joint Fusion

["Snodgrass, Bonnie" <snodgrab@ncr.disa.mil>]

Actually, it can take years for hocks to fuse, even with cortizone
injections. One vet told me that about a surgical procedure that is used to
hurry the destruction of the cartilage. Didn't sound too pleasant. I do know
that to encourage hocks to set you want to ride, ride, ride! From my
experience, using an anti-inflamnatory immediately after hard exercise to
prevent inflamation from starting kept my arthritic horse more confortable
than anything else. Of course, for a horse that you want to compete, that
opens another can of worms. DMSO does help some horses.

Bonnie Snodgrass
Southern Maryland

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Simms, Judith [SMTP:JSIMMS@unf.edu]
> Sent:	Wednesday, September 29, 1999 11:57 AM
> To:	'Joan Ruprecht'; guest@endurance.net
> Cc:	ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject:	RC:  RE: Re: Help-Hock Joint Fusion
> 
> Anyone(vets maybe) have any ideas for a horse that has had the cortizone
> injections 4 times and there is STILL cartilage in part of the hock so it
> can't fuse solidly?If there are answers or suggestions out there I'd
> really
> appreciate it!
> Judy and Shadow (me too mom!)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joan Ruprecht [mailto:ruprecht@tidepool.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 2:28 AM
> To: guest@endurance.net
> Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: RC: Re: Help-Hock Joint Fusion
> 
> 
> My horse has been diagnosed with bone spavin as shown by xrays. The lower
> two of the four hock bones hardly move and, therefore, their fussing makes
> no  real difference.  These bone can not fuse  as long as cartalage is
> present between them. cortizone shots into the joint should desolve any
> remaining cartalage  and allow the bones to fuse  rather quickly  (two to
> three weeks)  after fusing the horse is sound and can be worked normally.
> With luck its endurance career can continue.
> 
> Ted Ruprecht in Northern California
> -----Original Message-----
> From: guest@endurance.net <guest@endurance.net>
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> Date: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 6:28 PM
> Subject: RC: Help-Hock Joint Fusion
> 
> 
> >Carol Willcocks Carolwillcocks@hotmail.com
> >Hi all
> >I was hoping someone out there may have some information or experience
> with
> the problem my mare has. She's 18yo and has had some recurring lameness in
> her hind leg, which has been diagnosed as caused by a bone spur and hock
> joint (spavin) damage/wear and tear. The vet suggested cortisone may help,
> but obviously this is swabbable, and the lesser dose given 3 days before
> competition is not going to be effective at this late stage. My vet says a
> long rest until the joint actually fuses may help, and that she could go
> on
> to compete later. (I only wish to complete one more 80km ride on her to
> get
> her scroll, it's not a case of "flogging a tired horse" and she's an
> extremely fit, young and competitive 18yo!)So please don't flame me for
> not
> wanting to retire her! Does anyone have any experience as to whether a vet
> at a preride would allow a horse with a fused joint to compete? According
> to
> my vet, it is quite common in trotting/pacing circles, but how would an
> endurance horse manage, and would her uneven-looking, but actually pain
> >free and "regular" gait be acceptable? Any and all advice would be
> appreciated and taken to heart.
> >Thanks in advance
> >Carol and Poppett(Tipperary Pandora) from Down Under
> >
> >
> >Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> >Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp
> >
> 
> 
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> Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=