Joint Injections at Hambleton Equine
A joint injection is a routine procedure that we use to diagnose and treat problems in horses. Although common, joint injections can carry some risks so it is important to discuss these with your vet and closely monitor your horse afterwards.
Why we inject into joints
- To anaesthetise a joint when investigating lameness
- To treat a joint with medication
- To take a sample of fluid from a joint for diagnosis
What’s involved?
To prepare your horse, we may clip the hair around the injection site and gently scrub the skin to ensure a sterile environment. Then, under aseptic conditions, we carefully inject into the joint.
It is likely that we will need to use sedation but will only do so if necessary.
How to manage your horse after its joint injection
Your horse should be able to return to its usual routine after 24 hours.
If we’ve injected medication into the joint, we recommend your horse stands on box rest for 24 hours – followed by 48 hours of controlled exercise which may include turnout in a small paddock. The horse can then be returned to a normal regime.
Sometimes we recommend a slightly different exercise programme, depending on the problem being treated.
What are the risks?
As with any invasive procedure, joint injections can carry some risks. Your vet will discuss these risks with you, before any treatment:
- Infection
- Laminitis (after a corticosteroid injection)
- Flare reaction
When to call your vet:
It’s really important to monitor your horse carefully after its procedure. If you notice any of the following symptoms, please call your vet.
- Lameness
- Unwillingness to move
- Heat in the feet
- Heat or swelling around the joint
- Increased digital pulse
Our leaflet about this service can be found here : JOINT INJECTIONS LEAFLET