Creaky joints

[WindyWitch]

My 19yo ex-rh has been on Buteless joint support for 2 years now, for his joints and also as he is prone to flare-ups of cellulitis. Being on this has meant that a flare up hasn't resulted in severe lameness at the onset which I am very happy with as he is a typical man when it comes to pain 😉 and it's allowing me to walk him in hand to reduce the swelling. Recently tho I have noticed more creakiness in his joints and neck and am wondering what else people would recommend. In my heart I'm thinking to stay with Buteless because of the cellulitis, but whatelse could I give him to help alleviate the creakiness? He's in minimum work, ie the odd hack here and there and he's happy. TIA

 

[OLDGREYMARE]

Boswellia works well for creaky horses.

 

[Birker2020]

Creaky joints don't always mean a problem. They are made when the fluid-filled sac within joints gets stretched by a sudden change in joint position. The resulting pressure and volume change, pulls some dissolved gases out of solution [from the joint fluid] and the gases make bubbles that are unstable and pop. The gases contian carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen.And it's the popping that makes the snapping sound that you can probably hear. Like us cracking our knuckles. Sometimes during movement, tendons and ligaments that cross the joint can temporarily shift position or drag across a bone. When they return to their normal position, they make a snapping noise. Obviously if the noise is accompanied by lameness or the horse appears to be resenting a hoof being picked up for example then there may well be arthritis present. It might be worth getting his neck xrayed to see if he requires his neck medicated with steroid.