Joint supplements as a preventative - how do I know it's working?!

W

Widgeon

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 January 2017
Messages
4,707
Location
N Yorks
Visit site
I know this sounds a bit daft but bear with me...I've bought an 11 year old horse who has jumped quite a bit. He's completely sound and comfortable and is a lovely little man and I'd like to keep him going as long as possible. So a joint supplement seems like a sensible plan. I've got myself a spreadsheet so I can work out the daily dose of glucosamine and MSM (and possible also chronditin) to make sure they're high enough, and work out the cost per day.

However - the one thing that everyone says is "ah well, of course not all supplements work for all horses". Which is fine. But if I'm only feeding it as a preventative / maintenance thing, how do I know whether the one I choose I working for *my* horse? He's not lame or sore, the only noticeable thing is that he has one slightly clicky stifle until he's warmed up. So how do I know if it's working? Or should I just chop up fivers and put them in his chaff?!

Any thoughts much appreciated.
 
Widgeon said:
Or should I just chop up fivers and put them in his chaff?!
.
Click to expand...
haha, probably this!
I fed one of mine a joint supp for ages as she hit her teens and I was so frightened of her aging and getting niggles. I stopped it randomly when I was really poor.... and noticed no difference. 10 years later she's still gadding about quite happily. I wouldn't bother again!
 
milliepops said:
I wouldn't bother again!
Click to expand...

Oh dear....I am finding it really frustrating that there seems to be an almost total lack of "proper" trials for any of this stuff. I work with medical data and usually if I want to know about a human drug or treatment, I will trot off and find some evidence from randomized trials via PubMed or Cochrane or the like. But for anything animal the data seem to be totally lacking. I don't have enough money to be feeding something that has no effect!
 
yes very frustrating isn't it. I guess you'll get a lot of anecdotal stuff floating around. I think now I'd save my money and put it towards something like Cartrophen if/when I start to notice any issues with mine. I spoke with my vets about that a while back and that's what they suggested as a thing to have up our sleeve if needed, rather than feed supplements now. and in the meantime try to just be on top of their management as much as possible, good nutrition, good exercise, good shoeing etc :)
 
I have given joint supplement for 15 years to my 21 year old and think she’s doing great for her age. I did some research & am giving my 9 year old MSM as preventative. It’s not too expensive and if she shows stiffness in the future will swap to joint supplement
 
Widgeon said:
Oh dear....I am finding it really frustrating that there seems to be an almost total lack of "proper" trials for any of this stuff. I work with medical data and usually if I want to know about a human drug or treatment, I will trot off and find some evidence from randomized trials via PubMed or Cochrane or the like. But for anything animal the data seem to be totally lacking. I don't have enough money to be feeding something that has no effect!
Click to expand...

*whispers thats because they probably know they do bog all so wouldn't waste all that money on trials*...
 
It's a bit like turmeric, they studied it and yes in a large enough quantity the compound within it can have anti-inflammatory effect, but actually the amount contained within most supplements wouldn't be enough to have any effect...
 
I have taken glucosamine + chondroitin for about 30 yrs. Started when I realised I was getting arthritis in my fingers. Trying to lamb a sheep became really painful. Must have worked because it never got any worse although now in my 70's beginning to feel it more in one or two joints. Of all the stuff I take that is the one I wouldn't give up. However if someone is taking it thinking it is like a painkiller they will be disappointed, it is more for prevention so hard to quantify.
 
Interesting, thanks guys....this is the other problem with horses isn't it, they can't give nuanced feeback like that! I do need to do a bit more looking into whether chondroitin is something that horses can absorb / use (whatever the right term is) - I've heard people on both sides and I have no idea what research there is to point either way.
 
Myloubylou said:
I have given joint supplement for 15 years to my 21 year old and think she’s doing great for her age. I did some research & am giving my 9 year old MSM as preventative. It’s not too expensive and if she shows stiffness in the future will swap to joint supplement
Click to expand...

I feed MSM routinely. there has been plenty of testing to show how effective it is in preventing inflammation. the latest study i saw was in young horses and how it aids repair of the exercise induced micro tears that are part and parcel of being a horse. It's dead cheap bought 5 kilos at a time, fed at 20g a day.

.
 
ihatework said:
An annual course of Cartrophen is going to cost you approximately £300 and is more likely to be beneficial, and cheaper than a high spec oral
Click to expand...

This is probably true, but I'd want to check, if the horse was insured, whether it would affect future claims, only I'd be afraid that the checking itself would affect future claims!
.
 
David Ramey (US horse vet) thinks joint supplements are a waste of money.

https://www.doctorramey.com/oral-joint-supplements-still-dont-work/

He explains why biologically they are unlikely to work here
https://www.doctorramey.com/glucosaminechondroitin/

It’s difficult, you (I mean one, not you personally!) so want to give them something that will help / be preventative that the wanting to clutch straws makes you willing to pay ££ for stuff that has no proven effect. I feed my mid teens horse Omega ASU with no proof of it is doing anything (he wasn’t stiff before). (I also have ASU capsules for myself but forget to take them which doesn’t help me tell if they are working!)

PS I also tried that Epiitalis Forte gel on him and took a pea size amount myself every day!! I though my joints were a bit less clicky but hard to tell.
 
I asked my vet this very question after having my horse on a joint supplement for many years. He said the only way you will know is if you notice a deterioration when you stop giving it to your horse.

I've done the same with Magic on three occasions and each time noticed a huge difference and i also believe I detected a slight difference in deterioration with stopping my E.A. joint supplement also although this is obviously a great deal harder to guage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top