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Common causes of lameness
in the older horse or pony
08
...Best Friends
Swelling around the pastern joint.
Osteoarthritis of the pastern joint.
X-ray
showing the new bone formation and
collapse of joint space due to loss of cartilage.
Management
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A regular amount of low-level exercise can help
joints to keep their flexibility - ask your vet for
advice on what workload may be appropriate.
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Feed supplements containing some of the
'building blocks' of cartilage and joint fluid, such
as chondroitin and glucosamine, may help to
preserve the health of the joint structures.
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Anti-inflammatories can be given in feed on a
short or longer term basis.
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Medication can be injected either directly into
a single joint or into a vein or muscle.
There are also a number of new treatments being
developed which your vet can discuss with you
if appropriate.
Osteoarthritis
The cartilage, bone and joint fluid can decrease in
quality with advancing age, especially if there has
been a previous injury to a joint. Swelling may or
may not be present, depending on which joint is
affected. Often, multiple joints develop osteoarthritis.
X-rays are usually helpful for diagnosis.