Arthritis - how do you manage it?

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ecrozier

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Tell me about how you manage any arthritis in your older horses? J has a touch of arthritis in his near fore fetlock nowadays, confirmed by xrays last summer after a very minor lameness, he had done the same the previous summer (2/10 lameness not on every stride) and both times has had a course of cartrofen. So far so good this summer. He is on a high strength joint supplement (artisol ultra), and generally it doesn't seem to bother him too much. I'm careful about what ground he jumps on although he has always been a hard-ground-preferring horse (arab! hates mud), and he no longer trots on roads.

Just wondered if anyone had any tips on long term management. Obviously guessing as much turnout as poss, but in winter do you think much about keeping joints warm overnight when in stable? Or not bother? How about magnetic boots - any use or just a placebo?
 
My little dressage horse had some arthritis in his fetlock joints later in life. This was a few years back now and things have come a long way but I had him on liquid Arthri-Aid which after trying most of the supplements on the market. I removed as much of the molasses from his diet and gave him Cider Vinegar and plenty of oil. I did really have to watch the ground he worked on but at the same time ensure he got regular exercise to keep him mobile. He was out 12 hours a day in summer but in winter a lot less, he had turnout chaps for the field when it was freezing and I had some of those Thermatex leg wraps for the stable in the winter - they are great as they can be put on wet legs as well.

He was always a little bit 'precious', he just became a more 'delicate' in his later years!
 
Lol mine is both precious and delicate ;) always has been and always will be (or that's what he would like you to believe, he's as tough as old boots really!)
I have some of those thermatex wraps, might use them a bit more this winter.
Was it specifically hard ground you avoided or particularly deep/soft? Know a couple of places we compete I don't think much of their surfaces and now I think of it he has lacked 'sparkle' on deeper schools over last year or so... Would happily avoid certain places tbh, he's def one for quality not quantify these days.
 
I was careful as you say both with hard and soft ground - he was always a daisy cutter and didn't like deep going ever - would you believe I brought him with me from Ireland ;) as you say, he found deep/over soft going too hard work and would definately not go forward on hard ground. The key thing though is keeping joints warm and keeping the exercise up - he was never retired, just stepped down in his workload, less schooling, more hacking.
 
I've got some Veredus Magnetic leg wraps that are fab... They take the swelling out totally, stop him stiffening up and keep his legs warm (good job too cus they weren't cheap!)

Also, I feed Vetroflex, which seems to have helped him (dressage trainer has commented on the difference and that was the only change).

Other than that, just being careful about ground etc really.
 
Interesting thanks Lynds81, was looking at the leg wraps yesterday and they aren't cheap are they!! If my other boy comes back from vets in a couple of weeks with a diagnosis that magnetic wraps might help I might be able to justify if they would both use them! Although do we think the veredus ones are much better than eg the premier equine ones?
 
I found that Devils Claw had a noticeable impact on my 20 year old dressage horse. I would definitely recommend it, you should see results in about a month.
 
I like the Harpley (used to be Aerborn) magnetic wraps. Cheaper than the Veredus ones, and made of the same sort of wicking material as the Thermatex non magnetic wraps, so can go on wet legs to help dry.

Also, number one thing to do is to listen to your horse. Mine has an arthritic coffin joint (and recently diagnosed with spavins.) A couple of times when I was hacking out on the roads he towed me over to the grass verge, which I found suspicious. Had the vet out, and his coffin joint was hurting him, so we put pads back on under his front shoes, and he is a million times better now. Listen to your horse and listen to yourself :)

Isabelle
 
I make sure I keep Bloss really warm all the time, almost over warm, which really helps especially when riding. Before I ride I put her saddle on first, then an exercise sheet then a medium weight stable rug over the top. She then stands like that for around 20mins whilst I sort myself out and finish getting her ready. Then top rug comes off and then I warmup in the exercise rug for another 20mins before taking it off. It really helps her. Obviously if its 30degrees out (which lets face it, its not!!) then I dont over rug, although I will still put a rug over her in the stable to warm her up.

If you have heat lamps its basically the same effect. I put her rug back on to cool off aswell.

She has thermatex leg wraps on her hinds and NEW magnetic boots on her fronts during the day (shes out at night and in during the day). These keep the filling down to a minimum. When its really cold in the winter she will wear the leg wraps all round at night (winter she will be in at night and out during the day).

Feed wise she has linseed and rosehips which has totally stopped her joints from clicking - ive tried LOADS of joint supplements including v expensive ones and non could stop her hocks from clicking apart from this combination.

She also has Bowen therapy once a month which helps her to stay supple. Shes 18, had 2 foals, has been back in work for 6months after her last foal and is now back out competing Medium level BD with me.
 
Tempi - where do you buy the linseed and rosehips?
I have an 18yo but she isn't on anything, I keep thinking that maybe she could do with a little help...
 
Linseed I buy in 20kg sacks from www.supplementsolutions.co.uk (although I think there are cheaper places to buy it from, its £40 and lasts around 5 months). She has a cup in each feed as i feed it for the oil content aswell.

Rosehips I get from Feedmark - I normally stock up when they have an offer on. You dont have to feed large quantities of those, she just has 1/2 a measure per feed (they provide a measure in each tub). A 4kg tub lasts about 4 months.

I get all my supplements from either Pegasus Health, Feedmark or Supplement Solutions as they seem to be the cheapest and the best service. Feedmark always have really good offers on and money off etc and delivery is free.

ETA - Be careful with storing the linseed as it can go off if it gets really hot. I keep mine in a big metal feed bin, just dont keep it in the sack it comes in as it tends to swet in it.
 
Very interesting thanks all.
Tempi - any particular reason she has magnets on front and not back or just that those legs fill more? And how many hours at a time does she have them? I wondered if overnight in winter was too long?
 
We are pretty sure my mare has athiritis in her fetlock joint . It was scanned by the physio. And she has been boxed rested due to lami for 11 months . Sometimes when she puts toe down the fetlock locks and she has to push down.

She has been on Flexijoint for years (100% money back guarantee)
She has Harpley magnetic boots ( watch the oh magnetic dont work brigade ):rolleyes: who will put their 2 cents worth .

She has stated moving now and I would also be interested to know of anything else i can do. I put ice boots on too after her walk.(vet says) .


I would have to run anything by my vet as we have come so far we have to be careful with the lami:)

she was on cider vinegar but cant restart that yet

She hobbles allot in the stable due to the tight turns . Vet not concerned at this time
 
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ecrozier said:
Very interesting thanks all.
Tempi - any particular reason she has magnets on front and not back or just that those legs fill more? And how many hours at a time does she have them? I wondered if overnight in winter was too long?
Click to expand...

At the moment i'm putting the leg wraps behind as shes got slight mud fever from the wet weather (fields are on marsh land so really wet) and so I put the wraps on behind to dry out her legs. Normally she has the boots behind and no wraps when its warm and just a summer sheet or a fleece during the day.

She has the magnetic boots on all day, you can with the NEW boots. Or when shes in at night she has them on all night.
 
Sorry for hijacking this thread OP, but my boy has just been diagnosed with Coffin joint arthritis, and I am also looking for ideas on how to manage him better.

Have had at a look at the Harpley magnetic boots, would they help him?
 
Tempi said:
At the moment i'm putting the leg wraps behind as shes got slight mud fever from the wet weather (fields are on marsh land so really wet) and so I put the wraps on behind to dry out her legs. Normally she has the boots behind and no wraps when its warm and just a summer sheet or a fleece during the day.

She has the magnetic boots on all day, you can with the NEW boots. Or when shes in at night she has them on all night.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks. Will look into the NEW boots
 
Interesting thread. My 19yr old has arthritis in fetlock joints and spavins in both hocks. We now no longer jump and stick to ground that is not too hard or soft and don't trot on the roads. He loves playing on the beach :)

He just has joint supplement, rosehips and devils relief.

Interesting reading all the other threads. What are the benefits of cider vinegar? Also what effect does molasses have?
 
Joyous70 said:
Sorry for hijacking this thread OP, but my boy has just been diagnosed with Coffin joint arthritis, and I am also looking for ideas on how to manage him better.

Have had at a look at the Harpley magnetic boots, would they help him?
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The thing with magnetic boots is that some people believe, and some don't, and there doesn't seem to be any proof that they work. However, you will find that a lot of people swear by them. My vet has said that there does seem to be anecdotal evidence that they work and that even if they do nothing, they keep the legs warmer which helps with the stiffness. I asked my vet about getting the overreach boots to target the coffin joint, he said that the normal wraps should have some effect as they increase the blood flow to the area.

I have Sidney on Equine America's ASU (Avocado and Soya oil) which vet has recommended. He started being a bit footy (walking on the grass verges), so I had vet out who recommended putting pads back on his front shoes. He was originally shod with pads and magic cushion in front, we had been trying him without the pads for 9 months. Pads have gone back on, and he is completely happy and sound again. His coffin joint was last medicated 2 years ago and we have managed to keep him sound with just the pads and normal exercise.

Hope this helps!

Isabelle
 
Isabelle

Thanks, i think i'll definately have a look at the leg wraps then, for when he's stabled.

I have had my boys joints medicated, and am waiting for the two weeks to be up to see if he's sound and able to start ridden work again. Vet and farrier have spoken to each other regards his foot balance, but nothing mentioned about pads, will see how he goes and maybe ask farrier again about pads, im assuming the help prevent concussion.
 
mudmonkey17 said:
What are the benefits of cider vinegar? Also what effect does molasses have?
Click to expand...

I too was wondering this, especially the effect of molasses, due to the fact that I've recently changed my boy onto molassed chaff and am now wondering whether this was a mistake if it's going to affect his coffin joint arthritis??

Can someone shed some light please?
 
The molasses thing was told to me many years ago by my physio in regards to a friends pony I was looking after at the time. I took him off the mix and molassed chaff he was on and within a month he was more mobile - I must say I was amazed myself but it there was a definate improvement - I routinely feed everything low molasses diets but am extra cautious with anything older or arthritic now.
 
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