Arthritis improving feeding solutions.

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zaraanne

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My 18 yr old Welsh C X, has had arthritis in both his fore knees for about 2 years, much worse recently. Got to the point now where he only used for lead rein (on loan to a riding school), and occasional trotting. Would have him back myself to retire, but seizes up when he isn't worked.

He's is happy and V well looked after, but bute is only a pain mask. Wondered if there were any Really decent suppliments I could give. (Not feed, as he is an extreme good doer). Thought Cortaflex, but would like other opinions.
 
You may find what works for one neddy, doesn't do anything for the next, so it may be trial and error.

I have found best results with Cortaflex and Pernamax.

Other people may recommend Newmarket Joint Supplement, Synequin or Cosequin.

Cortavet is vet strength Cortaflex, and Mobifor is vet strength Superflex.

Some other brands have been recommended on this forum such as Riaflex, and some other less well known supplements.
 
A friend has a TB, older than yours but with the same symptoms. At one stage he was up to 3 bute a day and she wanted to try something, anything else rather than that. Told her about the good results I had had from Synequin so she tried that on the advice of her vet.
Once the loading dose had been taken (over 30 days double dose I think) he went down to 1 scoop a day. After another month, she took him off the bute, still sound and active. After another month she took him off Blue Chip Dynamic as well; still sound. That was three years ago; he is still sound and bucking like an idiot when she exercises him, has never looked or felt better! He is now down to half a scoop of Synequin a day in summer, back to a level scoop in damp weather and her vet has stated that she would have lost him to complications with feeding bute for so long and at such high levels long before this.
She would never take him off the Synequin now and is so glad she found out about it as it has been a real life saver for her horse. She also reckons that it is far less expensive to give that than all the other things she was using, plus this has done a lot more for his pain relief than the others too. Cheapest place she's found to purchase is http://www.wormers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Feed_Supplements_26.html and you don't need a prescription for it either (or certainly didn't!)
 
My TB had been diagnosed with exactly the same thing. The vet has put him on Danilon. Ive looked round for loads of products so tht i could cut the Danilon down & feeding what ive put below really helps.

I feed him Cortavet, MSM & the main thing which helps beyond anything else is Boswellia powder. The Boswellia is like nature's own bute & when i feed my horse this i can go days before he needs a sachet of Danilon. Which is brill as he was on one sachet a day.
Here's some info on it if your interested. I had never heard of it until last year & now i can't live without it.

http://www.metabolichorse.co.uk/boswellia%20bute%20alternative.htm
 
My horse has bone spavin, high and low ring bone, side bone and pedal osteitis x 4.

Vet recommended Synequin and Danilon.

Am still giving Jake the loading dose for synequin, he is a large 780 kg beastie and is on 3 packets for 35 days, we hare nearly half way there and I noticed a difference in about 10 days.

My vet also recommended that Jake has some exercise everyday on soft ground to keep him mobile and he goes out for his 'walkies' every day and am even considering riding him now instead of leading, but will see. I do not want to rush into anything.

He is on dynamic too because I bought 2 bags and he has to use it up now!

I am really not all that sure what the difference is between Synequine, newmarket and cosequin, but Synequin is working for us.

The Danilon, not only is it a pain killer, it is an anti-inflammatory too.

Good luck. He is a very lucky horse to have such a caring human.
 
My boy had bone spavin when I took him on and, after careful management and much TLC (he practically had a wooden leg when I rescued him - totally buggered with the bone spavin and still being used at a riding school) - he has now been sound on Cortaflex for the past 3 years. I wouldn't dare stop using it daily as I am sure this is what has kept him so mobile. At 18 years old we have just started showing and he has qualified twice in 1st place for in-hand veteran championships!!! I am SO proud of him - the judges have said he just looks SO well - that's a brilliant thing to hear when you have been taking such good care of these older (or any!) horses. Whatever advice you take from this forum I am sure you will make the best decision for your horse. Good luck (& I am going to make some notes of some of this info for future reference should we need some additional help!).
 
Last post was lovely. (Well done, you must be really proud).

Thanks everyone for replies. Now I can go and research each product a little, to see which is best for my boy. Thanks again. x
 
Cortafex is quite good from what I have heard.
Personally I just get chondroitin and gluecosamine from the pharmacy or health food shop. I used to share a horse with arthuritis and he got something like 3 tablets per feed. Seemed to keep it at bay. he also had apple cider vinegar in his feed too and it kept him really mobile.
A horse I know is on Cortaflex because he is just starting to develop ring bone. Its kept that at bay too.
 
I give my boy Cortaflex HA liquid (they do a new one that lasts up to 2 months), and have to syringe it into his mouth and get him to swallow it, not ideal but he wont touch feed if there is anything suspicious in it.
 
Try homeopathic remedy Rhus Tox for 2 weeks then take him off it, worked with my 30+ year old when he got really bad, after 1 day (!! yes I thought it was a coincidence!!) he was already much better.

Not good for long term use, i think it can cause skin problems, but all you need is a 2 week kick start every now & again.

For my 14 yr old I use the Aviform joint supplement "Suppaleaze Gold" which has all the same ingredients as the big names for less money, works out at £80/year if you take advantage of their 2 for 2 offer
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