update on Finnegan
Sue Rogers
over past two years which is now constant. Finnegan lives out in summer
and is stabled all winter (the yard has no winter turnout). He's a 16.2
hunter in his late teens. The farrier and vet variously tried rest,
exercise, shoes, no shoes, different shoes, bute, no bute. Footsoreness,
bruised soles and arthritis were all suggested. At the last vet's visit,
Finnegan broke away and cantered round the concrete yard so the vet told
his mum there was nothing wrong with him except a "little non-specific
lameness".
Annoyed at the latest diagnosis and feeling very frustrated (frustrated
enough not to pay that particular vet's callout charge), his owner took
him to the local equine hospital where extensive tests and xrays were done
yesterday.
Results aren't good but as his owner says, at least she now knows what she
is dealing with - ringbone, a type of DJD, in various places on both front
feet - high and low pasterns, coffin bones and further DJD in pastern
joints too. Vet said it's very common in horses of Finnegan's build (ie
heavy body and feet too small for his build) and in competition horses
subjected to wear and tear (and Finnegan did lots of jumping and
cross-country in his younger days).
He's been given an intravenous injection of hyaluronic acid, which has a
molecular structure which mimics the structure of healthy joint fluid.
Part of the pain of DJD can be caused by lower-than-normal viscocity
joint fluid (not always though) so if that's the case for Finnegan, the
injection should provide some relief. Apparently the joints take what they
want from bloodstream. 150 pounds per shot. Ouch.
I read up a bit on it last night and apparently injecting healthy joint
fluid from another joint of same horse directly into bad joint also works
(except Finnegan's joints are suspect). And DJD isn't just an old horse
ailment but can be found in young horses too.
Fingers crossed, it will alleviate some of Finnegan's pain. He's also
back on bute and the vet congratulated the farrier for his work on
Finnegan's awful (cracked) feet. Vet said to give him till May and see
what improvement (if any) is made. If none, then his retirement/age/lack
of winter turnout must be considered...
S Macran
On Thu, 1 Feb 2001, Sue Rogers wrote:
> You may remember my friend's horse Finnegan, with intermittent lameness
> over past two years which is now constant. Finnegan lives out in summer
> and is stabled all winter (the yard has no winter turnout). He's a 16.2
> hunter in his late teens. The farrier and vet variously tried rest,
> exercise, shoes, no shoes, different shoes, bute, no bute. Footsoreness,
> bruised soles and arthritis were all suggested. At the last vet's visit,
> Finnegan broke away and cantered round the concrete yard so the vet told
> his mum there was nothing wrong with him except a "little non-specific
> lameness".
>
> Annoyed at the latest diagnosis and feeling very frustrated (frustrated
> enough not to pay that particular vet's callout charge), his owner took
> him to the local equine hospital where extensive tests and xrays were done
> yesterday.
Was this vet a proper horse vet? I wonder why he didn't suggest further
investigations to try and find the root of the lameness. I must admit
that I'm quite astonished when people seem to accept a diagnosis of
lameness of unknown origin and that the vets is happy to offer one. Our
vets will always suggest getting in
there with the xrays, nerve blocks, ultrasounds, scintigraphy (bone
scans) if clinical examination doesn't reveal the answer. They don't like
not knowing why one of their patients is lame. But then they only do
horses.
Lets hope Finnegan shows some recovery.
Sue
Sue Rogers
S Macran <sm...@york.ac.uk> wrote:
> Was this vet a proper horse vet? I wonder why he didn't suggest further
> investigations to try and find the root of the lameness.
Presumably "yes" as the vet was from the same equine clinic as Finnegan
eventually went to for his xrays. Still, that's all done, main thing is
his Mum now knows what's wrong so she, the vet and farrier can address the
problem in his best interests.
Melanie Weaver-Thorpe
>
> Results aren't good but as his owner says, at least she now knows what she
> is dealing with - ringbone, a type of DJD, in various places on both front
> feet - high and low pasterns, coffin bones and further DJD in pastern
> joints too.
Oh dear.... I am sorry to hear that :(
> Vet said it's very common in horses of Finnegan's build (ie
> heavy body and feet too small for his build)
What's very common?
> And DJD isn't just an old horse
> ailment but can be found in young horses too.
It certainly isn't. I know of a quite young horse who's got it big
time....the poor thing. He was a competition horse and was fairly soundly
trashed during his brief career.
> If none, then his retirement/age/lack of winter turnout must be considered...
My fingers are crossed for your poor friend and for Finnegan...
Melanie
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Sue Rogers
<mel...@world.co.uk> wrote:
> What's very common?
DJD and ringbone in horses of Finnegan's build (ie heavy body with dainty
legs/feet) or competition horses (which Finnegan was).
I shall pass your best wishes onto Finn's mum. thanks,
MandieandPEE
>Sue Rogers wrote:
>>
>> Results aren't good but as his owner says, at least she now knows what she
>> is dealing with
Hope all goes okay, it does help to know what you are dealing with. pass on
our best wishes to them both
Mandie & Pee