Sore hock treatment opinions please

[Castlegate]

My mare's hock is sore....flexions are positive on the RH and we have not rules out that it might also be right stifle. Original plan was to inject hocks but her xrays are perfectly clean in both hocks and stifles...so...we opted to be conservative and do a loading dose of adequan...(even though she is on it monthly...we are doing the one shot every 4 days for 7 vials again)...rechecking her at end of shots...I can ride as normal...vet just doesnt want her pushed beyond normal...but would she be better off with some rest seeing as the weather stinks and the footing is crappy?

[JB]

Yes, if you're not going to inject, and want Adequan to get a chance to do some work, AND the hocks are actively sore, then rest would be a good thing. Not confinement, but rest.

Since you can't (or it's very difficult to) flex the hock without also flexing the stifle, are you sure it's not the stifle? Are you sure the vet didn't hike the hip up and it's a hip issue? Does the hock (leg) flex sound(er) if you block it?

Editing to add I didn't read very well the first time LOL So you haven't ruled out the stifle. But remember, soreness is not limited to joints. It can be tendons, ligaments, and muscles too.

How did the fetlock flexion go?

[Castlegate]

Hey JB- all the other joints front and back flexed fine...pretty sure its not hip...we were thinking it was hock or stifle before flexions...she is not lame just has a very subtle NQR now that she has been doing a lot more collection etc. when you see the NQR it looks to me like stifle which is another reason I wanted to go with adequan instead of hock injections...but...I could be totally wrong! We didnt do any blocking on her just because its really so very slight and more behavioral than a soundness issue at this point...and of course that could be a big mistake too! LOL...the idea at this point is just to cool off whatever is actually inflammed..which is why I was thinking maybe some rest would be good too!

[JB]

Have you ruled out a suspensory issue?

From the sound of things, some time off wouldn't hurt at all, and might help a lot :)

[QM2]

I'm not a big fan of Adequan for hocks. I like Legend better. I would try Legend especially since she is on Adequan already.

May I ask why not just go directly into the joint? If there is some swelling in the hock, the joint can only produce more fluid to make it more comfortable. The problem is that fluid is watery and does not lube as well. It's better to inject and let some of the fluid out and replace with Legend.

If it were my horse, I would inject.

Good luck.

[deltawave]

I'm not sure X-rays correlate all that well with clinical symptoms in horses. Personally I'd inject the hocks if exam really localized to the area.

[Castlegate]

hock is not swollen....plan is that if the adequan regimen doesnt work then we will inject her anyway....we were just being conservative....

JB - guess we havent really ruled out anything....

[DraperEquine]

I would look towards a possible hock sweat or other alternative. Having increased circulation to the area won't hurt it, but there are possibilities of it helping, of course that is if the hock is the culprit. Has your vet considered blocking the horse to verify where the problem actually is? Also thermography also is a great thing too.

[asterix]

My horse's hocks are gnarly on rads, positive on flexions when he needs injecting, and respond really well TO injections. They are NEVER swollen.

I don't want to be a total downer here but do not ignore the poster who mentioned suspensory.

My horse presented NQR behind and it turned out to be bilateral high hind suspensories. This is NOT something you can isolate from the hock in flexions (ask me how I know this....). My very, very good lameness vet thought it looked like suspensories from his way of going -- but these vets do nothing but watch lame sport horses every day, all day.

It can be hard to block and tough to isolate, but...

[Stacie]

You might consider getting a consult with a vet who specializes in shoeing. He/She would x-ray the feet and make sure the shoeing is correct for the way the coffin bone sits in the hoof capsule, and the anatomy of leg.
Can make a HUGE difference in horses with hock pain.

[vanillabean]

If you work her harder, can you get her lame enough to block? Otherwise it seems like you could just spend a lot of $$ without really being able to say what you are treating.