01 September 2008 15:48
I have owned my 18.2hh CB x TB mare, Topaz, since she was 11 months old – she is now over six. When she was about three, she jumped out of her field and landed on concrete. She came in slightly lame (front left) but after a week she came sound. Since then she would come in stiff every now and again. The vet said it was growing pains as she was so big (16.3hh). Eventually, she was referred to Liphook Equine Hospital, Hampshire for lameness investigations and, after extensive tests, was diagnosed first with a fractured left shoulder, then with OCD (osteochondrosis, a painful disease where cartilage or bone breaks off into the joint space). She had an operation to remove a piece of bone in the shoulder joint, but has never come fully sound. She is about four tenths lame and on one bute a day but seems to be happy enough.
At the livery yard, some people say I should have her put down,but to me she seems happy enough. I have her assessed once a year by my vet and she is so happy chilling out in the field during the day and munching her hay at night.
Can you give me any advice on OCD or how I can help her more?
Answer
By Your Horse
Vet Gil Riley replies:
My goodness, you’ve been through the mill with this one!
Firstly, I can reassure you regarding the treatment you have received – your vet has referred you to one of the best equine hospitals in the country so you will have received a top level of expertise.
Since they know your case there, I would definitely go back and chat to them about where you go from here.
As long as you – and your mare – are happy, and she has quality of life, of course you do not have to consider letting her go. I would suggest perhaps increasing the bute to 1.5 or two sachets a day, which may give additional relief from discomfort.
The jury is still out on joint supplements, but the evidence at this point is that they are at the least someway helpful in decreasing discomfort from joints by improving the cartilage/lubrication fluid quality in the joints, so I would advise you try a glucosamine/chondroitin daily food supplement.