Slowing the progression of arthritis

[Keket]

RI suspects that Topaz might have a touch of arthritis as Topaz is a little stiff when you first get on her. She soon loosens up and goes just fine. She also gets some puffiness in her lower leg near her fetlocks when she hasn't been worked for a few days. She's thirteen years old, so arthritis is very possible, espeically for a horse that wasn't in consistent work her whole life. She's not stabled overnight, at least not at this time, so she can walk around all she wants to keep loose. But is there anything we can give her to stop it from getting worse and to help her?

[julia gulia]

I give Barney Equinyl liquid each day and have him out twenty four seven. The Equinyl has made a huge difference in him since I have become his caregiver..

[Keket]

*bump* Would like some other opinions before I spend serious $$ on a supplement. :)

[Jessey]

A glucosamine/MSM/chrondortin sulphate supplement seems to be the way to go now days :D Cortaflex and the like :D

You could also try Cider Apple Vinegar, it has many benificial effects and is a bit cheaper, might be worth a try before spending loads out - if it doesn't work then go for the more expensive stuff :D

For artritis keeping joints warm also seems to really help, I know she can't wear boots 24/7 but is there any chance she could just have them on overnight? some turnout socks might really help her :p

[Shadowlark]

You want to be sure to get all three. MSM Glouc and Chondroitin Someone makes a cookie now, with all three in it and flax and other things to boot to take all the guess work out of meassuring and stuff.. here is your biscuit TADA supplemented!

I kn0wo we have discussed this in the past.. but I will mention it again .. Shoes off esp in winter made a WORLD of difference on our arthritic/Ring bone horses.. It allows the leg to stay much warmer, which helps stave off the discomfort - any arthritic human will tell you heat is GOOD and any little bit of heat helps. I am sure you have seen the thermo scans of the legs with and without shoes. we have 3 here all together who have gone from completely retired to back into work, and all of them are now off supplements and drugs. it was the single most beneficial thing for the lot of them

I can't remember if Topaz wears fronts thru the winter..I know she has iffy feet but easy boots really are easy.

[Keket]

I can't remember if Topaz wears fronts thru the winter..I know she has iffy feet but easy boots really are easy.

She's in a lot of work right now, and her feet can't keep up with the work. If she was only in a little work, I'd have her barefoot with boots, but after only a few months of proper nutrition, and several assessments by our farrier, she has to have shoes on her fronts. He's a good farrier and knows what he's talking about and I trust him. Her backs are barefoot though.

[Ptaty70]

Have you tried magnetic boots, which helped with my horse's spavin. I think they are good allround healers for all ailments. They cost the same as two large tubs of cortaflex but last for a good few years. I saw a visible difference in movement. Take a look at New Equine Wear boots.

CW is on herbs for flexion, devils claw being one.. it's a mix from Hilton Herbs.

[Alfies-slave]

My friend, who is in her 80's now, bought a broken down arthritic hunt horse for 3 pounds (this is 50 plus years ago!) they were going to feed it to the hounds. In the winter she bandaged its legs up with old army putties ( the bandage type thingies that world war one officers used to have wrapped round their legs as part of their uniform) She put mustard under them. Anyway, the horse perked up and resumed hunting. My friend sold it some years later for 15 pounds... every winter the jute rug and putties went on it.

This was before the days of Bute, Magnets and Cortaflex!

[Tootsie4U]

My vet advised Cortaflx for my QH when I bought him as a precautionary for arthritis from his injury.

If you read up on the stuff, they (not just Cortaflx) say its clinically proven and I've read various places that its even 'ressurected' some older arthritic horses.

If you buy the powder, its significantly less expensive. Valleyvet.com and countrysupply.com always had it much less than other places.

[LORRI]

My lease horse (20yr old sport horse) is arthritic behind. On discovering this I started bangadging him behind at night and he is now on a powder supplement "Stride" , his owner, a vet, recommended it! Even since the puffyness in his legs have gone down, he isn't as stiff coming out and he seems much happier in himself :) He is sometimes stiff at the beginning of warming up in trot so i give him an easy canter to loosen him up. I find this really helps :)

[becs]

If you read up on the stuff, they (not just Cortaflx) say its clinically proven that's why GPs recommend it for humans too

[clipclop]

Along with a glucosamine supplement I would also suggest trying some magnetic boots. They help the circulation which is also beneficial for arthritis.

[ImaLittleBoston]

We had a horse with athritis boarded here, and I beleive they did leg streches before they brought him out and rode him lightly (but he's 25 years :p)