Use the navigation bar above to access articles and more discussions on this topic.
| Author |
Message |
    
Cathy Miller
Member
Username: Buddil
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 7, 2002 - 4:09 pm: |   |
Hi Dr. O, my 8 year old WB/TB gelding has had spurs on both hocks (lowest part of hock joint) since birth and xrays show that he is starting fusion. He is not lame but just sore and the vet said that he should be pretty sore due to the way the one hock is fusing with spikes to it and has a definite loss of joint space. What does that mean? Do hocks usually fuse like a zip lock closure? The other hock is just beginning, has just a little starting. Thanks so much for your response in advance. I did look at all of the diagrams in your site and I really didn't see anything that had spiking to them.
Cathy |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7073
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 7, 2002 - 6:46 pm: | |
Cathy, I have never understood the difference between lame and sore, so perhaps more information on what you are seeing would help.
For interpretation of the significance of the radiograph lesions you describe both these articles have sections on radiographs and there interpretation:
1) Equine Diseases » Lameness » The Diagnosis of Lameness in the Horse
2) Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of Joints » Arthritis and DJD: An Overview
For more on fusion see » Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of Joints » Arthrodesis and Joint Fusion for Arthritis. I think all of these will greatly help your understanding of the process.
DrO |
Cathy Miller
Member
Username: Buddil
Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 7, 2002 - 7:38 pm: | |
Thanks for your quick response, my horse is sound on the lunge and while riding but after work he holds the worst leg (left hind) to the side but will walk off sound on it. He tracks up at the trot and there is no head bobbing or unevenness. When flexed he is off for the first 5 steps or so, then he recovers. We have been injecting him every 4-6 months to encourage him to use it for further fusion. He went 9 months without being injected and was mildly lame at the trot but when flexed he was a grade 3. He is also on a gram of bute when being worked, which is 5 days per week.
Thanks for your response again!
Cathy |
