BACKGROUND:

7-year-old Warmblood gelding used for medium-level dressage developed mild asymmetry behind which resulted in the saddle moving towards the right and it was also noticed that the horse lost its ability to collect and became less willing to be ridden.

EXAMINATION and DIAGNOSTICS:

Examination found the horse to be 3/5 lame in the right hind limb with a mildly effused fetlock joint that was reactive to flexion. Diagnostic analgesia identified the fetlock joint as the source of pain.

Both radiological and ultrasonographic assessments did not reveal any clinically significant abnormalities, apart from mild thickening of the synovium (lining of the joint capsule) and mild effusion of the fetlock joint.

MANAGEMENT:

The horse was due to compete in ten and twenty-four days’ time so it was decided to inject 10mg of triamcinolone acetone (an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid) into the joint, with the horse rested for two days before resuming training.

The original plan was to inject 1ml of Arthramid Vet into the joint shortly after the horse’s second competition but the owner elected to post-pone this due to the initial positive response to the first injection of the corticosteroid. Unfortunately, the response was short lived, only lasting a total of ~41 days, with the horse re-presented for asymmetry and effusion of the right hind fetlock joint. At this time 1ml of Arthramid Vet was injected into the joint, the horse rested for ten days (due to the owner going on holiday), with full training resuming on day 11 post-injection.

OUTCOME:

At the time of writing this report, it has been 18 weeks since the Arthramid Vet treatment and the response has been excellent and prolonged with the horse competing normally.