Arc Equine Advice please.

I never had a problem with it. Indeed, it is currently being used on a horse with cushings that sliced the inside of his hock through on electric fencing wire. Horse is stuffing his face like no tomorrow, having looked not far off an RSPCA case as it had stopped eating and wound is healing nicely with next to no granulation. The trick is to ensure that you rotate the legs you use, always wash off the gel afterwards and don't make your bandage too tight. If you are worried about issues, apply the machine when you are around and let it run its programme (older type is 3 hours) and take it straight off again. Maintenance programme can be found on the arc blog posts.
 
Sags_Deer said:
Hi
I purchased mine well over a year ago, not used it - having read lots on here about the side effects I am now very reluctant to use it.

Thoughts please as I don't want to mess my horses legs up but like this idea to use it for maintenance reasons.
Click to expand...

May I ask what side effects you refer to? I have searched and can find nothing on here about adverse side effects.
 
Sags_Deer said:
Sores when the pads go and swelling and white hair growing back where the sores leave the skin bald
Click to expand...

I used mine all last summer in very hot conditions on a box rest horse with a surgical site healing. He was light grey, so pink legged. I didn't have a problem, although I used ultra sound gel, as I couldn't get on with the stuff provided.
 
Oh dear has any cause been offered such as whether it is the gel or physical pads causing the problem? I can't believe the micro current would do so. I have used a more basic micro therapy unit and my mare has never had any such side effects. I just use conductive gel with a sticky pad and usually vet wrap to hold them in place.
 
I have used on about 6 different horses with no side effects. There was talk that some horses had a reaction to the leg gel but they changed the formula for this.
 
There are a handful of people who have reported quite severe reactions (big swelling to the leg, as in systemic swelling not skin reaction) and a larger group who get some skin reaction / scabbing from the pads after a certain amount of time. That latter's not denied by AE, it's why they advise moving it around all four legs. Some have found that alleviates it, others haven't. My own experience is that first time I used it we eventually got scabby skin where the pads sit, but it cleared up when we stopped using it. The second time, shortly into use my horse had some kind of lymphatic reaction ie lymphangitis. This may or may not have been connected as it may have been a reaction to a new sunscreen, we'll never know, they were just the two known variables. It (and talking to some of the people who had experienced big reactions) put me off using it for a while. Then a couple of months back my mare had a recurrence of gastric ulcers and I did feel it helped support the healing during treatment the time before. So I dared myself to use it again as she was quite uncomfortable and the response to the meds seemed slower than previously. We had no issues and while it's impossible to tell if it's causal, the couple of weeks we used it did coincide with a significant improvement in her response to the ulcer meds. That may have happened anyway as it was towards the end of the course of meds, and we did also introduce a new gastric supplement at the same time, so it's impossible to tell. But it did reassure me about our particular instance of reaction.

I've used it on myself with a couple of injuries with inconclusive results, but can see how the pads can irritate as eventually they irritate me even with new gel / aloe gel / IPL gel (so it's not the gel).

Hope that helps!
 
I got a little swelling and some white hairs where the pads went. It seemed to be when I started using the new gel as I ran out of the stuff that came with it but could have been coincidence and just the point where it built up to a reaction. I switched legs but he didn't like it on the hinds for some reason so could only use it on the front. They are still there now I just use it weekly as maintenance.
 
I don't see how they would work at all to be honest. The current is so tiny and with all the hair and the structures targeted being fairly deep....there is very little science behind the whole concept. To achieve more proven results you would need something like electro needling. At least then you are reaching the structures with a current for sure. And even that has very little proven benefit. I think you are probably best off not using it.
 
I used mine in my horse, he had a whacking great swelling on his check ligament, diagnosed by scanning. After just two days of using the arc the swelling was almost gone. He was also never lame with the injury so I believe it does work.
 
My horse has been using one for the last 3 weeks. I had heard about the reactions, but the company said it was rare, and to do with the gel. He said I could use Aloe Vera gel instead, so that is what we are using. He rotates legs. Both my husband and I are also using the device. It can sting a bit when first on, and although I could wear it for 2 treatments overnight I tend to wake up in the night, and it is irritating, so I take it off.

TBH I think it is irritating as much because it is wet and sweaty under the pads as much as from any mysterious cause. It is also really easy to over tighten with the elastic strap, and the pads are where the pressure concentrates. My horse only has it on for the 3 hours, but as it costs around £500 I would not leave it on overnight anyway.

Not sure if it is benefiting the horse, he was sound anyway, but just not "right" and has had a strain to his suspensory diagnosed on ultrasound. I am hoping in 2 months the next ultrasound will show monumental improvement, but if not I know that with ice, ArcEquine, pulsed magnotherapy and love, we have done our best.

As for me, yes I do think it has helped. I was cynical of buying the machine with flashy lights, but did it for my horse. Since then my energy levels have raised, hip is stronger, back is less painful. OH's knee and ankle are also showing improvement.

Oh, and my rather senior vet said he could not comment on the effectiveness of this device, but he has read the research and theory is sound. I thought he was just going to laugh at my purchase, but no.

Also, I don't know about the electric charge being minute, I can certainly feel it.
 
Been using one on my horse for 4 weeks with no reaction what so ever to the pads or gel and my horses legs react to the slightest thing normally!!

Have had to give it back to the friend who lent it to me now otherwise would still be using it.
 
Its been interesting reading this thread as I'm seriously thinking of buying a unit. I was also very sceptical about it but have read some very good reviews on a few facebook pages
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top