Arthritis-worse in summer?

[ashleigh]

I have a 16yo gelding who has been suffering from arthritis for 2-3 years. He had a flair up last summer but inceasing his bute seemed to help. He has recently gone into the summer field during the day for longer than he was out in the winter field and it has flaired up again. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas we are starting to wonder if it might be the rich grass that is causing it. We are getting very worried about him so any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[hollyzippo]

Not sure unless it is the hard ground jarring his joint?? My chap has navicular and is beter in the summer as out more. However, I dont trot on hard ground so i guess wandering on hard ground would be the same for yours?

I'd speak to the vet to see if they think more bute would help- last resort in my case.

Hope it improves

 

[ashleigh]

Thanks its possible he is going back for his 6 monthly check up soon so hopefully they will have some idea!

 

[mrussell]

I was going to say the same !!

I use Premier Flex Plus (with HA and devils claw) and my boy seems to have really improved on it (I found it cheaper than Cortaflex/NAF5*... and far more effective). Its by Equine Answers you'll have to google for the website as Ive only got the email address! Fabby stuff.

 

[mickey]

That sounds very odd. I would have expected his stiffness to improve in the warmer weather if anything.

My horse has a spavin. He is on Extraflex HA which has been fantastic for him. I previously had him on cortaflex liquid and then cortaflex HA for years with limited success. In the summer he is out about 16/18 hrs out of 24 and the extra walking about seems to loosen him even more.

Is your boy prone to charging about or even jogging about in the field? Also are there any other factors such as exercise regime that could account for your increased problems????

 

[Rueysmum]

My 12 year old gelding has an arthritic knee which is bent to the outside as well (this is fundamentally the reason why he has the arthritis). It started about 3 years ago and he has been on Superflex since then and Danilon for the last 18 months.

He has had a bit of a flare up recently and more synovial fluid lumps have appeared around the knee. I have put this down to the hard ground. We are on clay and it may as well be metal for all the give it has in it.

When he is feeling his leg, e.g. after shoeing, I up his Danilon for a while and he always comes back ok (touch wood).

Is your horse on any anti-inflammatories?

 

[TheresaW]

Mac has arthritis and his is worse in the damp and cold.

 

[Chex]

Chex is worse when he's fatter, so his can be worse in the summer, especially when the ground is rock solid. But generally he is better in summer.

 

[Theresa_F]

Cairo has low ringbone and in the summer when the ground is hard we put on front shoes to "roll" his weight when the hoof goes down. He goes a bit pottery rather than outright lame and the shoes soon put him right again.

Normally put them on late May/early June and have them off mid to late September and back to barefoot as soon as the ground softens again.

 

[ashleigh]

In answer to your questions he isnt keen on charging around the field however my other horse is and i think he does tend to be forced into joining in unfortunately!

He is on 1 bute a day and nafflex and we havent really changed anything but the field and they are the only two in it.

 

[Andy66]

I run a supplements company that and we manufacture a joint supplement called Premier Flex Plus. It is specifically designed for arthritic horses and has a high level of glucosamine, HA, chondroitin and Devils Claw. It can give arthritic horses a new lease of life. For more info go to www.equineanswers.co.uk

 

[shandy133]

have you tried him on Rhus-tox? its a homeopathic treatement, and worked wonders on my little old chap Roadywhen he was alive (although he died of it in the end, was at ripe age of 38 though!!) and i found Roady worse in winter -we lost him 5th ,arch when the weather suddenly dropped.
its expensive but cortaflex is amazing too. good luck with him!

 

[Doublethyme]

If it has flaired up with a switch to summer grazing, are you sure it isn't a touch of laminitis? Not full blown but just enough to make him foot sore? Just a thought, seems a bit of a coincidence with the change of field in my book.

 

[loopylucifer]

yep mines showing lamness behind again! (not yet in front again!). think sudden onset of hard ground and offten uneven ground causing uneven loading of joints last year we went up to two danilon for the summer think maybe the same this year if still showing lameness nxt wk will talk to vet.

 

[TeeLee]

My 15 yo 16hh TB gelding has DJD and I started using Pernamax tablets about 2 months ago. The improvement is amazing. From being hopping lame and on 2 bute a day, he is now being hacked out again - and no bute. A couple of days ago I overdid it by going on quite a long fastish hack, and the ground is hard from lack of rain. The next day he was quite sore so I have ordered some of the Pernamax gel and patches that they also sell. Will see it that works.

I also use magnetic boots when he is in the stable - seems to reduce the swelling and he isn't as stiff when I turn him out.

Has anyone else had good results with either Pernamax or magnets?

 

[monstermunch]

Although arthritis is commonly thought of as a condition that worsens in the winter this is not always the case. hard ground and other factors in summer will also affect degenerative disorders. I would be concerned about upping his bute unless you absolutely have to as a last resort. Make sure you read your product labels on joint supplements as well. Leading brands are the biggest offenders claiming to have high levels of compounds when in fact they don't. You only need three main compounds MSM, Glucosmine, and Chondroitin, any other ingriedients will have no effects on the joints.
www.riaflex-equine.co.uk has some useful info on what to look for etc.
I hope you find it useful. Good luck!

 

[k1963]

My horse is now at a horse sanctuary ( I've got no land ) , & his arthritis is always worse in summer . He's in his early 20's & had foot/leg problems since he was 5 .

I don't know what treatment(s) he is on , but he is surgically shod . When I go to visit him , you can hear him creaking ! Problem is , he always has to be ' The Boss ' & charge around , bossing the other horses . He was raced before I got him & I retired him as he was seldom sound ( flat TB feet , upward fixation of the patella . )

Yes , the dealer saw me coming ........ ( many years ago . )
I dread the sanctuary calling me to say it's time to say goodbye , but he became too dangerous to ride , so rather than sell him ( think he would have gone for meat ) , I felt a sancuary would be best . Call me sentimental , but at least I know where he is .