Spavin

[jojoebony]

As you may have already read Shadow was dianosed with Sweeney shoulder. At the time I was convinced it was a hind leg. Vet did flexion and hock blew up. At first he thought it was a kick causing tendon problems making him lame. Well he does have an injured tendon but the lameness is coming from a spavin.
Now bearing in mind this boy is only 3 it is not likely to be wear and tear.
The plan now is to nerve block and possibly xray other hock. If positive result he will be referred to Edinburgh for an op.
Again, does anyone have any experience of this?
I know it's not common in such young horses but wondered if anyone had an experience?
Jo

[harleydales]

YES!!! My friend's young horse was diagnosed with spavin 2 years ago, he was 5. He's a big, big horse and was lame on his off hind, very obvious on a circle. He went to Edinburgh and was nerve blocked and that's how it was found. Classed as 6 out of 10 lame, the spavin was classed as mild to moderate. Ops were suggested, or adequan and time off. Not box rest, to let him move naturally in the field.

He had adequan injections and has basically had 2 years off. No ops, no nothing, just time off to rest and grow into his body and mature.

He is now 7 and 16.3hh, much more mature, his muscles and bones have strengthened and matured too.
He is still slightly unlevel, but NOT lame, just doesn't look 100% level. 99% I would say, and most people wouldn't spot it. My friend is bringing him back into work now, lots of walk and trot on the flat, and is aiming for a pleasure ride in 2 weeks.

I would be tempted to say don't go down the op route yet, it might come right given time. As you say, he is still very young and will still be growing and maturing. Operating on young bones could cause problems later in life - check that aspect out. I had my feet operated on as a teenager and they are full of arthritis now.

Best of luck with your boy.

[shaklana]

My 3 year old Welsh D developed DJD in his hocks. This is the condition which causes spavins to form as the cartiliage tries desperately to repair itself. Xrays are important to see which of the many hock joints are involved. Once a spavin is formed it may restrict movement of the affected joint which is desirable because this in turn removes the pain (lameness). Various methods can be used to speed up this "fusion" of the joint(s). Unfortunately DJD has both hereditary & environmental components, my horsey was grown too quickly :-( The good news is that once fusion occurs the horse can have a long & useful life, though he may not have the elastic paces required for higher level dressage & showing.

[zeldalithgow]

Prince was 7 when he was diagnosed in both hocks he was 2/3 tenths lame, put on bute and kept out (he lived out anyway) we were todl to exercise him in straight lines at first, we took him off the bute after a few months it doesn't seem to bother him much but you can see that he is stiff, he isn't in work now not really due to his spavin though more to do with no rider and his liking for rodeo acts ;D. Though I think his arthritis is spreading(he is 15 now) as he is lame on and off on his fronts now

[mickey]

Mickey has a spavin in his near hind along with high ringbone in his near fore. The spavin seems to have settled down. I dont know if you go on saddle up but there are quite a few threads recently in the vet forum about spavin.