THE HORSE GAZETTE
equine health
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Coffin joint arthritis
By William Symm, DVM © 2009, Retama Equine Hospital
My horse is 19 years Most mares can be diagnosed
old with coffin joint arthritis.
I have a 14 yr old
with ultrasound and effectively
He isn’t completely lame, but
mare, and I know for sure she’s
treated. Your mare should have
starts out a little off, and never a thorough reproductive exam
50% off all vests
not pregnant. I’ve had her for
seems perfectly sound. He’s
just over a year, and no studs.
performed. Once she is treated,
been retired for the past couple
Last Friday I noticed she is
her udder should return to its
of years, but I’d love to get him
bagged up. Her breasts are full
normal state. Occasionally,
working lightly again. What
of milk. They are both the same
further treatment may become
are the best ways to treat coffin
size, they are not hot just body
necessary if the udder becomes
joint problems? We have them
temperature and are firm but not
painful, excessively swollen, or
and coats!
injected about every 6 months,
hard. If you squeeze they are
hot to the touch. – Dr. Symm
and he’s on the Shark Legs
full of milk.
supplement.
I’ve been told to not
Could this be Pseudo- Phone: 210-698-7802
Is there anything
squeeze them, to hose spray
monis? My mare has blue eyes.
Fax: 210-698-8370
else that will help his coffin
them will cold water for 5 min
I noticed her having a discharge
joints? I’ve heard a few things
twice a day, and take her off
from eyes about a month ago
about nerving- could this help
grain. She is still in the pasture
and it cleared up. Now I see she
Store Hours:
him, or is it mainly used for
so getting grass and just a hand-
has a yellow line in upper part
Monday - Friday: 10 am - 6 pm
navicular? – Leah
ful of pellets just enough to mix
of eyes. My vet came out and
Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm • Sunday: 12 Noon - 4 pm
in supplements.
checked her with a light and she
Dear Leah,
They are staying
did not seem sensitive. He said
Located at IH-10 and Boerne Stage
Many horses with
about the same, not getting hot
he had not see this before and if Road in the HEB Shopping Center
arthritis can be managed in a
or lumpy. So is this just a false
it gets worse to call him. I have
Website:
www.boernestagesaddlery.com
way that will allow them to be
pregnancy? or bad heat cycle?
searched all over internet for
lightly worked. Before return-
She does not show heat cycles,
same symptoms. Nothing. Do
ing to work, it is a good idea
I never know when she’s in heat,
you know what it is? Thanks,
to have a veterinarian perform
and I’ve never seen her breast
Lynnette Moore
a general physical exam as
swell before and I check her a
well as a lameness exam. The
lot. She has had one foal in 2001
Dear Lynnette,
lameness exam will determine
and was bred in 2005/6 but lost
I cannot say what I
if there are other achy joints,
the foal around 6 months.
think the problem is without
and/or if the coffin joint arthri-
Is this normal? Should
getting more information
tis has changed. Radiographs
I give her more exercise? Or
and performing an eye exam.
of any painful areas may be
keep doing what I’m doing?
Pseudomonas is a species
warranted. Such images may
Laurie Ramsey, Tampa, FL
of bacteria which can cause
offer helpful information that severe problems in the eye. If
can be used to get your horse
Dear Laurie,
pseudomonas were the cause
as comfortable as possible.
Presuming she is not
of what you are describing, I
There are several therapies
pregnant, it does seem as though
would expect the eye to have
that can be used to treat painful
she may be experiencing a “false
been more painful and to have
joints. Your veterinarian may
pregnancy”. If this is the case,
not resolved without treatment.
discuss proper shoeing, joint
there has been an interruption
– Dr. Symm
injections, anti-inflammatories,
in the normal hormone signal- You can contact Re-
supplements, and/or surgical
ing that brings mares in and out tama Equine Hospital at 210-
options. Getting your horse
of heat. A mare with a “false
651-6375 or visit www.retamae-
sound enough to use will likely
pregnancy” has an increased
quinehospital.com.
involve several treatments and
amount of specialized tissue
may take some time to see
which secretes the hormone
There is a significant
results. The term “nerving”
that tells the rest of her body
lapse in the time between when
refers to a surgical procedure
to prepare for pregnancy and
these questions are sent in and
to alleviate heal pain, regardless
lactation. The specialized tissue
when the answers appear in the
of the exact cause, by cutting
may be over-developed or she
Gazette newspaper and online.
the nerves that supply that part
may not be receiving the ap-
If you feel your horse needs to
of the foot. The procedure is
propriate hormone signal telling
be seen by a veterinarian do
usually reserved for horses that
her that she is not pregnant. It
not wait for a response. Call a
have been unresponsive to other
is not known why some mares
reputable equine veterinarian
treatments. – Dr. Symm
experience these abnormalities.
in your area and let him/her
examine the horse!
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