Archive for the ‘Lameness’ Category

I have a 3 yr old mare that has developed a swollen hock on the right back leg. She is not lame, there is no heat, and there is swelling in the hock. The swelling is soft and feels like there is fluid. It seems to me that if it were bone or tendon issues [...]

Is there any evidence that hyluronic acid is effective orally.  I presently have my horses on legend.  FYI I’m a medical doctor. EC, Vermont
Dear EC,
The short answer is “yes.”  The paper entitled “Serum Hyaluronic Acid Levels in the Horse after Oral and Intravenous Administration” by Scott W. Pierce, DVM, that demonstrates this.  Here’s a summary [...]

Is ringbone the same thing as arthritis? MS, Florida
I have a 16 year old TB mare with ringbone. She has been used as a broodmare ever since she has retired from the racetrack. She has a mild lameness due to the ringbone. I would like to put her on a joint supplement to help relieve [...]

Ok, I realize this is not the most exciting question, but it does “haunt” me at times. My 18 hh Hanoverian has windpuffs on his hind fetlocks, quite large ones. So far they have not caused any issues other than getting bigger when humidity increases, at which time he also “stocks-up” more on [...]

I have a 26-year-old warmblood who is 17 hands. He is looking good and feeling great except his sidebone on his right front is starting to bother him. He limps quite a bit when it is cold but still jumps up and down playing. He is retired and is on Trifecta plus [...]

I am about to lease a 15 year old quarter horse who was diagnosed with navicular a year and a half ago. This great horse was a real ranch hand and then came to the East Coast to be the horse of a whipper-in for a hunt club. So he was probably jumped and [...]

My 15 yr. old mare has been diagnosed with tendinitis. She has been lame about 2 yrs. I have had her x-rayed, the vet says there are no signs of arthritis. She gets better then she gets worse. I have tried some lite riding. I have put her on SmartFlex Repair. She has [...]

I have 3 young horses (3 yo Irish Sport, 5 yo TB and 7 yo Appendix) that I use for hunter / jumper showing. Although there are no indications of joint problems now, I am concerned about the long term impact of jumping on their joints. Is it advisable to provide a joint supplement as [...]