Arthritis help please

Gilbey

Gilbey

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My Welsh coblet (15.2hh) is 16 this year and has arthritis in his hind legs in and above the hocks. I turn out for 2 hours daily (as he is a piggy and needs weight management) and ride 5 times a week (hacking). He is on 2 sachets a day of Danilon.

My questions: are there any reliable supplements out there that work?

Has anyone elso got the same problem and what do they do to manage it?

He is a lovely man and want the best for him. He had a show career before I bought him.
 
Mine has arthritis in both hocks and had them medicated with steroids which has worked really well. The best thing though is LOADS of turnout, as much as you can manage. I'm sorry to say (and I please don't think I'm getting at you, because I'm not) that my horse would be as stiff as a board if he only went out for 2 hours per day. I appreciate you are having problems with his weight but he needs to be able to move around gently as much as possible. Mine is also a piggy yet he's moving to grass livery soon because it's better for his joints. Even while stabled, he still goes out from 8am to between 3 and 4pm every day currently (he will be out later as the days get longer). I will just muzzle him when he's out 24/7 if need be. Hacking in straight lines is best for them along with as much turnout as possible to prevent them from getting stiff.

Can you muzzle your horse and put him out for longer?

Did the vet tell you to give the Danilon? What other treatments has your vet suggested? Adequan is very good and really helps to loosen my horse up. I feed a good joint supplement and have also just started feeding rosehips as they are meant to have anti-inflammatory properties.
 
Yes the vet gave him Danilon. He is also very prone to laminitis hence not much turnout. He does have a HUGE stable, 24' x15' so he can move around.

I would be worried about steroids becasue of the laminitis. I will ask my vet about the Adequan next visit though.

He doesn't do any schooling, and lots of tracks to ride on so straight lines!!

I really think if he was muzzled he would bash it to bits....I really don't like buckets on heads, sorry!
 
Adding things like oil, cider vinegar and root ginger are good for arthritis and worked wonders for my old mare.

She ended up buted but on the above we went to devils claw at a low dose instead and she was sound til 34.
 
I agree with ChestnutCob 100%. I had an old ex-showjumping mare who was arthritic. She was hopeless when kept in, but turned out 24/7 she did very very well. She would stiffen up within hours of being stabled.

Eventually we got to the point when she did have to have bute(Danilon) daily, but for 2-3 years I kept her going, with my vet's blessing, on Rhus Tox, the homeopathic remedy. I also rode her in tendon boots not only for the support but because warmth seemed to help her.

Don't despair, there are several things you can do to help your coblet, but I really would recommend keeping him out (could he not wear a muzzle in summer?)
 
Thanks everybody. I will take on board all your advice....maybe try a bucket on his nose! I always ride him in boots, tend to ride all my horses with them on, as you never can tell what may happen. How much Rhus Tox did you give Rose Folly please?
 
My horse is also 16 and has arthritis in his knee (caused by bad conformation - his leg bows outwards!).

He has been retired for 4 years now on up to 1 Danilon a day and NAF Superflex and has been fine. However, during the really bad snowy weather when the ground was persistently as hard as rock he started to struggle and had a relapse (was lame, even at walk). I started to use his hoof boots in the field so that he could get around more comfortably, but was lame without them in the stable.

So the vet was called and the Danilon has been upped to 1.5 sachets per day (he's a chunky 15.3) and I have reintroduced Super Solvitax Double Strength R&A formula, and all I can say is "Oh my God". I previously only used the SS for a while in previous years as it started to send him loopy as it's oil based, but this time he has stayed sane-ish but is absolutely fine and able to trot, canter and gallop around the field.

It comes in a yellow can and is made by Seven Seas. I used to be able to get it in the tack shop but wasn't able to this time, but it is available online. It may be worth a try.
 
Feeding micronised linseed and turmeric is supposed to be very good for their joints. Plenty of omega 3 and anti inflammatory. Boswellia and Devils claw are both natural pain relievers.

Magnetic boots are also supposed to be good, I found they helped with a tendon injury.

I'd honestly try a muzzle to allow more turnout, I used one for the first time last year instead of using a track sysetem and starvation paddock and my mare actually came over every morning to get her muzzle on, it was me that had the hang ups about it!

I did have to modify it a bit by cutting the metal ring off the back and I cut the webbing straps over her nostrils to make it a bit less claustraphobic. I also made the grazing hole slightly larger as she just got very frustrated if she could hardly get anything through the hole, but it still restricts her enough. (I use Shires.)
 
Gentle movement is the key. I used to have one oldie yarded in a cattle barn when he couldn't be turned out; water in one corner, hay in another and hard feed in the third - meant he had to keep ambling around. Alternatively, an indoor school?
 
Hiya,

I am doing a survey on equine joint supplementation and the public's experience with using them for my dissertation. I think this is a very important area in need of research. There are hundreds of products currently in the market and I want to highlight the products that do work from the products that don't. Then try to isolate the specific ingredients from your results, to work out why the products that do work do!

You guys all seem to have experience with joint supplements.I would be super greatful, if you could complete my quick survey, you will be helping to remove products that don't work from the market.

To complete my Survey please go to the following website:
http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/renders...x7m9nttt860195

Thankyou,

Emily Johnson Bsc(hons) Equine Scienc
 
Hiya,

I am doing a survey on equine joint supplementation and the public's experience with using them for my dissertation. I think this is a very important area in need of research. There are hundreds of products currently in the market and I want to highlight the products that do work from the products that don't. Then try to isolate the specific ingredients from your results, to work out why the products that do work do!

If guys have any experiences at all with joint supplements, I would be super greatful, if you could complete my quick survey. You will be helping to remove products that don't work from the market.

To complete my Survey please go to the following website:
http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/renders...x7m9nttt860195

Thankyou,

Emily Johnson Bsc(hons) Equine Science
 
em_johners said:
Hiya,

I am doing a survey on equine joint supplementation and the public's experience with using them for my dissertation. I think this is a very important area in need of research. There are hundreds of products currently in the market and I want to highlight the products that do work from the products that don't. Then try to isolate the specific ingredients from your results, to work out why the products that do work do!

If guys have any experiences at all with joint supplements, I would be super greatful, if you could complete my quick survey. You will be helping to remove products that don't work from the market.

To complete my Survey please go to the following website:
http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/renders...x7m9nttt860195

Thankyou,

Emily Johnson Bsc(hons) Equine Science
Click to expand...

URRGG! Sorry! that link doesn't work,

try this one:
http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=76g0ei0x7m9nttt860195

Thankyou
 
Candida - just looked at your thread again. How much Rhus Tox did I give my old mare? Can't remember, but my vet told me how much - I think it may have been 3-4 tablets a day, but you'd need to check. Have you seen the size of the 'tablets'? They're minute!!
 
14.2 pony had artheritus in both rear hocks after bineg ja pony, we brought her when she was 16 and she failed the vet on the artheritus. We left it to it competed her pony club and 1.15 classes showjumped her eventer her hunted her and now at 19 shes still going on strong with no prolems !
 
My pony was showing signs of arthritis in both hocks last summer. We got the vet and it has been treated medically. She is on a prescription supplement called Synequin which according to the vet is the best going. She also had both hocks medicated with steroids and has had a Tildrin drip, which aids bone regeneration. Now she is not on any bute and the vet thinks we should be able to do everything we used to. The only restriction will be if we go showjumping just do one round and don't try and do tight turns in a jump off. Dressage and cross country will be fine. We don't have anywhere to jump in winter so I haven't tried it yet but she is moving so much better on the flat.
In addition to the vet treatment, I also got her magnetic stable chaps for her back legs, she has had physio to help with the stiff muscles where she wasn't moving properly before and the farrier has done something to her back shoes. I think the toes are rolled and the shoes are seated out, but definitely talk to your farrier as that alone made an overnight difference.
Mine doesn't get any turnout as she just kicks the gate to come back in but I ride every day and take her for a walk in the mornings before work.
I understand what you mean about the steroids and laminitis risk but don't worry. My pony is a laminitic and she was fine. My friend's pony has EMS and he also had the injections without any problems and there was a huge difference to his movement too (from lame-retired to back in work doing dressage). The vet just told us to keep them in for two days and feed only soaked hay which has been a small price to pay.
If I were you I would call the vet, there is a lot they can do these days.
 
Nadia has arthritis in her right hock. She has had a treatment called Tildren twice and now she I give her oil, scoop of turmeric and a supplement which for the life of me can't remember what its called but its about £80 for a 4 month supply.
 
I would turnout as much as is humanly possible, either in school/dirt paddok/with muzzle/at night (grass isn't photosynthesising at night so much lowed in sugar) as gentle movement really is key.
 
My old boy was diagnosed with Ringbone at 15. He's 17.3 with typical old german feet, so we knew it was going to be a bit of a challenge. The vet initially prescribed Adaquan - into the joint and bute (:( ). Originally he thought 6 month intervals - he went 10. This went on for about 4 doses which at the end were administered into the muscle. The the wrong dose was given and he didn't come sound.

SO!!

I initially changed him on to a good joint supplement with Glucosamine and Chondroitin which worked reasonably well for a while. But he also had arthritis in his knees. Product of a mis-spent youth... He then started a spavin in a hind leg. I now generally cover it by saying "if it involves a leg, then it has arthritis somewhere."

Management wise NOW:
As much turnout as possible (you don't say if you have your own place or livery) The joints need as much blood supply to get to them as possible to slow down the pitting on the bone.
As much gentle exercise as possible initially. You may well be able to increase his workload as he improves. You are the only one who knows your horse well and will learn what he can cope with and what he cant.
Fibre feeds - no sugars. These are easier to digest and less loading on his system (esp if laminitic - tho this can also be caused by stress so make changes gradually :))
Involving a homeopath if poss (they can be costly but it can work) Your horses treatment will be specific to YOUR horse. Rhus tox is great, but doesnt work for all. Getting the dose right is key (rhus tox is after all Poison Ivy...)

Herbs:
Comfrey (aka knitbone) great for soft tissue as well as bone
Turmeric - anti inflamm
Milk thistle - aid liver function (ensure efficiency of absorption of all these goodies)
Rosehip - antioxidant

My boy is now 28 (and not a bute in sight) He is retired but is turned out with the others and can still show them how it is done. Occasionally he makes promises his body cant keep and is sore the next day so I give him a bute and "restricted" turnout.

I hope some of this will help. Feel free to pm me...
 
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