Update on Cleo's hock

[fantasykiger]

Some of you are aware of the surgery my daughter's half Kiger mare Cleo had on her hock back in Feb. I thought I should give an update on how she is doing and her progress. It has been 6mths and she has been back to see the vet here and get a new set of Xrays and they have also been viewed by her vet at OSU.
Sense they were un able to remove the bone chip, Cleo has been absorbing it and it has decreased in size greatly and not moved. We are very pleased. The repairs the made on the joint look real good but there is a small sign of early on set of arthiritis. Cleo is still lame as well with some swelling still present.
But the vets feel she has made great progress and for the first time she was allowed out of her paddock to share the pasture with the other horses. The first 5 min. which were running She has settled back down to the calm relaxed lazieness of the rest fo the herd now. The vets want to do another joint injection to further repair and reduce swelling in the joint but it means back to confinement in a box stall and then back to the paddock for a time. My daughter will most likely plan for that when her business slows down in fall, there is no hurry.
We have also put Cleo on joint suppliments glucosimine and MSN in 6 mths she will get more Xrays and see if the suppliments indeed either helped halt or improved the arthritis.
It is just a waiting game only time will tell if Cleo' will be OK, she is young and we are hopeful.

[heidirenee]

Good to hear! Hope everything continues to get better!

[DianneC]

How is Cleo getting on? Did the supplements and joint injection help?

[fantasykiger]

Cleo will be getting new Xray's in a few days and we will have the results on whether or not the supplements at the reccommended doses of the vet, did any good at healing and improving the joint where the arthritis was developing or if at least stopped any further developement of arthritis. It has almost been a full year sense her accident and as far as outward appearance fo her hock, it looks real well. One could hardly tell the differance in her hocks. She has been on total rest and no exercise other then that which she creates herself out in the pasture with the other horses. Her favorite activity, some thing she learned from the months of being confined, is now just the ability to buck straight up in the air and staying in one place. When she gets excited she starts springing up. It is the most silliest thing to watch this big 16 hand mare jumping up and down.
I will let you know the results of the X-ray and her soundness test.

[Leesa]

So is that how to teach a horse the "airs above the ground" Capriole! Best of luck with Cleo's continued improvement.
Leesa ;D

[angelsdream]

Glad to hear that Cleo is coming along. I hope the supplements have haulted the arthritis for her. I've heard that Glucosomine is good for joints, etc so hopefully it will help her. I can't believe it's been a year, man how time flies. Let us know how the x-ray comes out. Sometimes the best medicine is "time"

[fantasykiger]

The X-rays were taken and the results are in, she has greatly improved over the past 6 mths. What was left of the chip is now being reincorporated with the rest of the bone in her joint The arthritis that was developing and look jagged, porous and painful on her joint is not gone but is now smoothed out and less porous, therefore less irritating to the joint.
The glucosomine has made a differance as we have been very diligant about the dosage over the the past 6 mths, never missing a day of supplements. The vet was very impressed and surprised, he mentioned I need to open a rehab clinic for equine. It is rare I guess to get owners to be consistant in long term recoverys, so that the results can end happily.
We are very excited a year ago we were told Cleo' could possibly be lame for life at 6 yrs old. Now she is now doubt making enough improvements in another 6 mths she should be completely sound. The results will sent off to OS college where the vet that did the surgery can go over the results as well, our vet is interested in his comments. My daughter is very happy ;D to know she has a future riding her half Kiger.