Stifle Surgery Question

[StarRidgeAcres]

I sold a gelding last year and along with him I rehomed a mare that had a stifle problem. I personally don't need a known defect in my breeding program (lord knows it's hard enough to get correct babies without knowingly perpetuating conformation issues IMO) so I sent this mare to a pet only, non-breeding home. I discussed the stifle issue with Sue (the new owner, not a forum member to my knowledge) and she talked to her vet about it and decided to go ahead and give Missy a home! A GREAT home I might add!

Both Missy and Echo (the gelding) are doing great and they are totally loved. Echo is in driving training and will be going to some shows this year!

We decided together that surgery wasn't needed for Missy at this time and we'd discuss it again in the future if it seemed necessary. (Forgot to mention that we have a contract that Missy comes back to me if/when Sue can no longer take care of her or no longer wants her for some reason, so we talk regularly and discuss their progress). So, now Sue's vet is saying it's time for surgery on BOTH legs. Currently Missy gets around just fine and the stifle issue is only noticable when she's been stalled for an extended period of time (bad weather for instance), then she locks up and it takes her about 24 hours to get back to normal. I'm under the impression this problem isn't a painful one, is that right? So if it's not painful and the horse is in a happy pet home, only going to nursing homes, local parades (on lead, not driving), then why do it? I'm not against it, just want some pros and cons to consider. And I know there are lots of folks on here who have had it done.

Thanks!!

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I'm under the impression this problem isn't a painful one, is that right? So if it's not painful and the horse is in a happy pet home, only going to nursing homes, local parades (on lead, not driving), then why do it? I'm not against it, just want some pros and cons to consider. And I know there are lots of folks on here who have had it done.

It's hard to say if it's painful or not, really. My guess after watching Kody deal with it for four years is that while it isn't precisely painful, it's very uncomfortable in the same way that having one of our joints stuck and then suddenly snapping into place is. It definitely made him think about whether it was worth going to get that drink of water, whether it was worth walking to the gate to see if I had a treat, etc. Having to think about every step, every day, wore on him until he was clearly depressed and tired of it.

On the one hand if your mare only locks up now and then, it might not be that big of a deal. On the other hand, being stalled is a fact of life for most horses and it's no fun locking up as soon as you're confined. Kody got to the point where he'd stop on the threshold of his stall at shows and practically beg me not to put him in there. It was so sad!

I put off the surgery until last year because I was worried about the longterm repercussions of something that seemed pretty drastic to me. The short version is that I worried for no reason- Kody has not taken a locking step since the day of his desmotomy and he is SO much happier!!

Even if it does cause early-onset arthritis or some sort of other problem, the painfree years in between will have been worth it for us. It was a very short procedure under local anesthetic and the recovery involved only some time off. I would not hesitate to do this procedure again for any horse locking more than a step or two a year.

It really comes down to a quality of life issue. If your mare is not having a problem with locking regularly you could certainly let it go. But if her vet is seeing something that makes him think it's time to have the procedure done, maybe you should go ahead and consider it. It's easy, fast, and really seems to make life much easier for the horse. I think that's even more important for a pet than a show horse! The show horse is getting worked enough that maybe they won't lock as easily.

I applaud you, by the way, for placing this mare in a non-breeding situation. I wish more responsible breeders would follow your example.

Leia

 

[Wee Mite Miniatures]

We have a gelding that when we bought him about 20 years ago seemed fine, other then skinny and covered in lice. He was given the name Bugs since the lice were so bad and the name stuck. The next morning Bugs was locked up on both back legs and every day after that he started his mornings locked up. We had him checked out by the vet and had the surgery a few days later.

Twenty years later he is still doing fine. Since the surgery he has done some showing - driving, trail, jumping and lead line. The first year or so he did lay down to sleep but now he can sleep standing. Bugs is now an extremely active 20+ year old.

 

[MyBarakah]

Has she been given Red Cell? For some reason talking to a person I know that has had stifle issues with different horses, but by giving them Red Cell that has really helped them reduce the stiffness & locking.... I would deffinately try that. I also once had a quater gelding that his stiffle would lock up if he wasn't being worked and of course would lock up being stalled now & again..... He had his stifle Iodined....... and not needed the surgery.....but after he had the stifle Iodined he told me to put him to work the VERY next day....

And to lunge him on a hill and over cavelleties to build that up...... I only ever had problems with him in the cold winter months when he was not being used....... So I don't know if any these things would help????

 

[Kawgirl]

For those of you who have had the surgery done, what is the cost in your area?

 

[hobbyhorse23]

My local vet hospital wanted $1,000 for it with an inpatient stay. I knew from reading on here that that was ridiculously expensive so I kept looking. Most local clinics wanted about $500 but I finally found one a couple of hours away (and on my way home from an event) that charged me $238 for both legs and that's where I eventually went. Keep in mind, a normal gelding operation in my area is about $250 so that was a good deal.

The average I hear quoted on the forum is about $150.

Leia

 

[Keri]

I paid $180 to have both legs done (medial patellar destonomy). I called several vets. Some refused to work on my guy becuase he was a mini, others wanted to do blistering first and some just wanted upwards to $400. It may take a bit of phone work and travel to find the right vet.