Teddy traveled to UC Davis with a friend of mine the Sunday after Thanksgiving. On Monday morning he was taken for the CT scan. He came through with flying colors. There was "minimal evidence of degenerative changes to the intersesamoidean ligament, or the ....sesamoid bones of the right front." Surgery was not done. He did show some evidence of remodeling to the sesamoid bone possible associated with previous fracture at the apex, but this is not certain. He was returned to his stall after the procedure and the vet called me to tell me that generally all they saw were arthritic changes throughout the fetlock, something that is not unheard of in an athletic horse aged 12. The vet asked me if I wanted to treat him with Interleukin-1 receptor protein antagonist (IRAP).
Blood is drawn from the horse and proteins are separated out and then re-administered at the site of concern. The proteins block inflammation. It should slow arthritic changes and promote healing. (In a previous life, I worked with interferons binding to interleukin-2, so I was familiar with the process.) My vet told me had never worked with the therapy. Since he is a racing vet and would see the latest in leg treatments as a matter of course, I had a fairly good idea that the insurance would not cover the treatment. At $1,200 per treatment with the recommendation being two treatments, I cannot blame them. IRAP is not permanent, and like steroids, must be done once the positive effect is over. Apparently there are no side effects as the proteins are the horses own, albeit isolated and reintroduced to the area that needs to heal.
My home vet will probably do another shock wave therapy and then we begin the tedious process of bringing him back with a month of daily walking under saddle. Then slowly building up to trot for 10 minutes, eventually when he is trotting for 20 with no unsoundness then we will add the canter.
Teddy is back home. While he has managed to maintain his calm demeanor, occasionally he yanks me around, screams and prepares to take off. I probably will not help with his rehab unless he quiets down a bit.
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