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[RC] 19 year old horse with arthritis - Arabs4sprtI need some encouragement and words of wisdom. I have a 19 year old Arabian mare, Cachet, a 100% CMK mare (old lines Shalimar, loads of Skowronek/*Raffles) who has just been diagnosed with arthritis in her left hock and left front pastern. We didn't do xrays because the vet was thankfully trying to save me some money and because the treatment wouldn't be any different. We're putting her on Adequan, for a month to see if that will help. He suggested MSM too. Her symptoms are very mild, she was having stifle locking problems occassionally (for which I emailed this group and someone suggested maybe a hock involvement, thanks you were right!). That problem didn't really progress, but she started getting slow going down hills, and then became somewhat short-strided. She has maybe a Grade 1 lameness, I can see a slight head-bob when she is trotting downhill that the vet couldn't really see, I could see it only because I know her so well. So she's not that bad now. She does have some obvious boney changes going on in her left front foot, boney swelling at the front of the P1-P2 junction, and she has some boney swelling lower down near the outside of the coronet band. The vet thought that latter might indicate low ringbone but I'm thinking maybe it's just a sidebone. However she has been having her joints in her neck and elsewhere go snap-crackle-pop occassionally and there is no doubt that she is shorter-strided than she should be, so definitely her miles are catching up to her. My question has to do with whether there is anything else I can do for her? Also I don't know if I should give her any bute or not, the vet suggested that as a possibility but I'm concerned. I've read that chondroitin and glucosamine may not be helpful and therefore could be a waste of good money, and I've also read that bute might degrade the joints further and therefore be counter-productive. I'm open to opinions and ideas. Also any particular exercise regimen that might be helpful? She is turned out in a 1 acre dry lot with 4 other horses for roughly 8 to 12 hours a day depending on the day, it has gentle hills. Give me some idea of what to expect as an outcome, she's my favorite trail horse, my best buddy, and the mother of my horse tribe (two purebred daughters, and two half-Arab/Oldenburgs daughter and granddaughter [both for sale]). I would like to be able to enjoy her company on the trail again, what chance do you think she has of being able to go out with me comfortably? Thanks! Tracy Scheinkman Misty Mountain Arabian Sport Horses Tucson, AZ email:arabs4sprt@xxxxxxx http://members.aol.com/arabs4sprt/ ============================================================ The whole ride experience can be very hard, and at times you question why you put yourself through such abuse. But then you remember all those moments when you pop up over a hill and are suddenly surrounded by the most stunning views. It's just you and your horse and for a moment time stops and you can hear the angels sing. Therein lies the addiction, at least for me. ~ Leslie Beyers ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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