LMR
Well-Known Member
I've just read a statement saying that glucosamine maybe unsuitable for laminitics or those prone to lami. Is this true??
glucosamine unsuitable for laminitics??
- Thread starter LMR
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ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
There is a link between glucosamine and insulin resistance. Until recently, the link was thought to be related to intravenous and intramuscular glucosamine only,in 2007 showed the same effect with oral glucosamine. In horses with insulin resistance, laminitis, or Cushings disease,
So the answer some believe there is a link between them tho it is good for arthritis sometimes you have to go with the lesser evil.
Sometimes its best to use vegetarian glucosamine. As most horses need this in their diet the older they get. Its hard to not give something that isnt god for them for one thing but aids the problem with another.
My mare is on flexijoint has been for the last 6-7 years its never caused her a problem , neat Glucosamine I don't give her so maybe its too concentrated for Lami horses best given in something like flexijoint where its carefully measured.
So the answer some believe there is a link between them tho it is good for arthritis sometimes you have to go with the lesser evil.
Sometimes its best to use vegetarian glucosamine. As most horses need this in their diet the older they get. Its hard to not give something that isnt god for them for one thing but aids the problem with another.
My mare is on flexijoint has been for the last 6-7 years its never caused her a problem , neat Glucosamine I don't give her so maybe its too concentrated for Lami horses best given in something like flexijoint where its carefully measured.
liznpatch
Member
Our vet told us not to use glucosamine on our laminitic shetland or on our insulin resistant 12.1 pony. We havent had any problem with joints or recurrent lameness since we substituted switched to Simple Systems Joint Eclipse and Meta Slim. Fed as a complete programme (they can advise you), our ponies are both laminitis free and living really healthy active lives with careful management and a good amount of feed and steamed hay. Simple Systems allow the small horse quite a lot of forage based food so they dont feel starved, this in itself has helped with the wellbeing of the horses. Starving is a huge issue for laminitic ponies, no only is it horrible for the owner, it is very hard for the pony who doesnt understand why he cant eat all day and all night! We obviously have to manage the situation very carefully but I now swear by the Simple Systems approach (and I have to say, I was reluctant to try it initially, as it was a new way of feeding and I am a bit of an old stick in the mud...! However, we havent looked back). Incidentally, I use Glucosamine on my other horses and do rate it very highly, but the alternative seems better for little people with the laminitis tendancy. Good luck! x
alsiola
Well-Known Member
Comprehensive review paper was published in 2010 (full paper here http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dmrr.1150/full )
Bottom line:
Given that glucosamine has never been reliably shown to have a positive effect on OA in humans or horses (in well designed randomised controlled trials), then I still personally believe it is inappropriate to recommend its use, whether it effects insulin resistance or not. We can have that debate another day.
MeganLindsx
Well-Known Member
Agree, Not sure if Glucosamine has an actual effect on laminitics/ cushings sufferers as it has never been proven to have any effect on horses full stop. If you want a joint supplement that has been proven to work I would try apple cider vinegar- its very cheap too
