| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 10:47:37 AM
All my girls have been living out since the weather turned nice last week or so, but they were all at the gate last night shivering, so I bought them into their stables tucked them up with warm rugs and hay, they didn't want to go out this morning but rugged them and they went, my little welshie A who is 26years young struggled though, she was very stiff and sore, but once we were walking to field she nimbled up, my question is, should I be giving her bute as I feel it might been arthritis kicking in and is it better for her to stay out walking around? |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 13 May 2013 : 6:29:11 PM
I won't be here so you will have to use the mobile or wait till the following weekend. I am taking Princess back to Malthouse as she reabsorbed last year, naughty girl. I am soooooo disappointed, can't wait for a Muhaned foal! I was so excited, that'll teach me to count my foalies before they arrive.
Barbara |
| gossy |
Posted - 13 May 2013 : 1:41:19 PM
thanks all, and thanks Barbara I will give you a ring at the weekend to catch up so much to talk to you about.x
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| garnet |
Posted - 12 May 2013 : 5:10:32 PM
Garnet was also on Cortaflex for quite a few years after her big knee started, on vet's recommendation, and the vet commented after several years that he was surprised I was still riding her - she was hacking at top speed and competing successfully in ridden classes! |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 12 May 2013 : 10:29:53 AM
Hi Paula
Sorry to hear your little one is suffering a bit. Have yoiu tried Cortaflex? My friend's two ancient ponies were getting very arthritic and she was very upset and considering having them pts so I suggested she tried Cortaflex (takes a few months to really see a difference) and now, six years on, they are even more ancient and racing around the field still; they live out all the time but have a field shelter which they rarely use.
I would give her half a bute every day while the weather is bad (and cold) and bring her in, then leave her out when it warms up; you could even try stopping the bute when she is out all the time and see how she goes. By the end of autumn you should know if the Cortaflex is working or not by whether she stiffens up etc. It doesn't work for every horse but is a miracle for some. It was originally only made for horses and then because people were asking for it for their dogs they made it for dogs as well and, yes, you've guessed it, people wanted it for themselves so they now do it for humans as well.
Hope she is OK as I know how much you love your horses.
Barbara |
| Goldenmane |
Posted - 12 May 2013 : 09:57:53 AM
Just been able to reply to this (mad internet for me at the moment). I would say out, with company, danilon (your're not worrying about long term damage, as Judith said) and if she shivers a waterproof light rug if no shelter....and a long hot summer. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 11 May 2013 : 12:52:33 AM
Our 24 year old girl is arthritic, so on the vet's advice we don't shut her in at night in the winter - we are lucky that we have an enclosed yard outside the stables, and so she wanders in and out of her box at night (annoying the others), to stop her stiffening up. She is rugged and turned out in the day in the winter, and is out 24/7 in the summer. We feed devils claw, and it certainly seems to help. I would also try natural before going down the drugs route. The feedmark joint supplement with Rosehips worked well for my Mum's gelding when he got arthitcky in his hind leg, and we were able to stop dosing him with bute. Can also recommend Feedmark's zerobute. |
| Pasch |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 11:10:49 PM
Another one for keeping her outside with a rug if needed,Pasch has arthritis in his fetlocks and vets advised never to stable him.
Would also try natural supplements before giving drugs.Danilon better than Bute anyway,kinder on stomach and they usually like it! |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 11:00:36 PM
Thanks judith, sparky has it in jer right back leg, she's a lovely pony and lives with her heart murmur she was born with, I will do everything to keep her going, she's irreplaceable! |
| Judith S |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 8:51:20 PM
At her age.... if you give her bute for a while maybe better than crippled horse....
& yes... keep her out & running free as much as you are able!
I lost my ancient Arab mare Fly at about 30 something.... she was riddled with arthritis in her front leg joints, but thrived living out where she could move freely.....
Judith  |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 7:51:39 PM
Vet has been she's definitely not laminitic and was completely normal infact running around the field like a 2yr old, vet even did flex test and she trotted off completely normal,I think she must of been led on it awkward in the night or the cold seized her up, I have some danilon on standby and vet thinks she's better off out for the summer, thanks for all the advice. :) |
| TC |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 3:56:01 PM
My old mare was retired at 26 because she had arthritis. She was a TBxConny. She was always stabled at night before she was retired but I found she used to seize up in the stable overnight so she lived out from then until she died at the ripe old age of 32. She was a bugger for ripping rugs off so most of the time she was naked. I never used any medication, just codlivine supplement. Hope this helps.
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| carole ferguson |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 3:32:27 PM
I have my Larissa - who has rather messed up her hind joints by kicking the odd gate etc - on Global herbs Alphabute - and the difference is amazing. Also can be used long term - which I wouldn't want to do with Bute.
We had our old Lucy Locket on Alphabute - which really helped her in her final months. |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 3:31:05 PM
thanks Garnet, vet coming at 4.30 I am a great believer in getting things checked by vet as he's amazing and doesn't do things for doing them sake. better to be safe than sorry. |
| garnet |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 3:09:08 PM
I always think they are better out and moving, rugged if necessary, and Garnet refused to be stabled anyway for her last few years. She used to have Danilon sometimes when she was a bit stiff, but you are wise to have vet to check for lami - I dread this time of year as both Jim and Red succumbed on 19th May but several years apart. Thought I was on the case after Jim but still got caught out! |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 2:05:16 PM
im going to get the vet out tonight I think, just to check its not the start of laminitis :( |
| heathermcbreen |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 1:38:16 PM
When in doubt I always try to think "if I were her what would i want" .... I cant necessarily say that is always the right way to go about things because sometimes the "cruel to be kind" action needs to apply. Difficult to say in this instance... sorry not much help am I ...... I think I'm a bit too soft and I'd probably go down the give in to pony route. Perhaps give warm rug and bit of bute and see how she goes... If mine really want to come in ie: by gate looking hopeful ... then i bring them in... but I am soft. I just thought... how is she walking... look out for lami in the little ones... I have mini ponies too and always alert when the grass is coming through, the few days of sun has brought the grass on a bit. |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 1:24:07 PM
thanks heather I will try all that, do you think she's better out walking around she does hate the cold and wet :( |
| heathermcbreen |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 1:20:47 PM
I'd give half a bute til the weather warms up again... then stop and see if she is better.... Also I take devils claw and rosehip capsules as i have arthritic shoulders and back .. and they really help loads.. i think the devils claw works for joint stiffness in some horses. You could try that. |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 12:24:10 PM
thanks Judith. |
| Judith S |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 12:19:08 PM
Being able to move round would be of benefit to your pony IMOP & if it was one of mine, would probably bute....
Judith |
| gossy |
Posted - 10 May 2013 : 12:11:41 PM
any advice greatly appreciated. |
