Hock Injections

Here goes...

One of my BOs is a vet assistant, and she's been giving me lessons to polish Twende for the last few months. She's mentioned things about getting his hocks injected a few times because one of them makes a sort of clicky-cracky sound. It didn't use to be all the time, but I can hear it constantly while riding, now. When I asked about the price, she said it would be $400 to $600 to do it where she works. I hardly make enough to help my parents with board and still buy gas, and I was, needless to say, sticker shocked.

What I'm wondering is if that's grossly expensive? This place does my vaccinations and such, and those are reasonable priced, so is this so far out? I can't afford to do $600 injections twice a year.

So my questions are these...

If I get his hocks injected once a year, is that enough? I ride him pretty heavily through the summer and early fall, but from the end of September through February, he pretty much has a vacation.
And...
What is the normal cost that you've paid?

If anyone has had to have hock injections, please, please let me know.

I though hock injections were as needed? I had my horse done for the first time ever and it was 530 for it (Yea really expensive, I dunno why). Maybe do hock injections but keep him on a monthly joint supplement?

First off...get a second opinion from a vet with xrays. No offense to vet assistants out there but they don't have a PhD. Get DIGITAL xrays of the hocks and go from there. Secondly...I've had a full set of digital xrays done, flexion tests, and hocks injected for under $150.

Is your horse on supplements? If he's not, then why not do that first? With all the options out there, there are a ton of things that can work, be less invasive, and more cost effective than injections. If you go right to hock injections, what will you do when he gets worse as he ages? If you need supp suggestions, I highly recommend equisupps.com as they are great with personal details and being willing to try different things as every single horse's body reacts differently to different supplements. It's also great in that it will allow you to find out what works without spending a ton of money while testing.

I'm not anti-hock injection, but let's put it this way - my late eventer passed away at 27 years old. At 26 with an old fractured and fused hip, severe arthritis, and a slew of other issues, he was still doing halt canter transitions at 4th level quality, and 3m canter circles (all of his own accord! With a non-dressage rider none the less! The show off!) and in his early-mid 20s he was still jumping over 3' with ease. I certainly didn't work him hard or put him over 3'+ regularly like in his younger days, however, he could, and would move with fluidity, and was on supplements for his issues. He never had a hock injection in his life, and if I didn't tell you about his hip, you'd never have known (and he broke it when he was 23, so it's not like it healed when in his younger days). Just some food for thought ;)

What kind of riding do you do with your horse?

Don't remember how much my vet charges for hock injections but they are pretty costly. You could call around.

I'm not anti-injections at all but there are a lot of things to consider. I think it's pretty standard to get them done every 6 mo. Which adds up quickly (I'd get a vet's opinion about only doing it once a year). There's always a risk for joint infection. And I believe they need to be on stall rest for like, 5 days after the injection? There are just so many other options out there that you can try first. Adequan is an injection (IM or IV) that is much much less expensive but effective. Legend is also pretty popular (although doesn't last as long) Some people think feed supplements like Cosequin are effective. Talk to your vet and see what your options are first. My opinion is that injections should be a last resort.

Hotreddun, let me just say that your vet gave you a GREAT deal and if he charges everything like that I don't know how he can afford to stay in business.

For the OP, $400-$500 for joint injections is about the norm. This is because they are time consuming, labor intensive, "equipment" intensive (surgical scrubbing supplies) and require sedation of the horse if done in "correctly". Meaning if done in as sterile a manner as possible. Just clicking doesn't necessarily indicate a joint that needs to be injected, though. If there is evidence of lameness then a vet exam that includes a thorough lameness workup and x-rays are the way to start. Then depending on what is found on exam you and your vet can discuss treatment options including joint injections. There are also other options that are less expensive but may serve to help with mild joint issues instead of going rigt to joint injections, such as Adequan IM.