Joint Supplements for Arthiritics?

sophiebailey said:
Hi OP! :)

Here's what's worked for me so far -

:D 1/2 sachet Danilon daily through the winter.

:D Maxavita Maxaflex (contains Green Lipped Mussel - vet has said this and rosehips have been proven to stabalise joint health in arthritics)

:D Bioflow magnetic boots on whilst we hack, occasionally will put them on in the field whilst i'm poo picking etc.

:D 24/7 turnout and regular exercise. If stiffness is really bad on cold days, just got for in hand walks. If 24/7 turnout isn't an option (short of moving to a another yard) try and maximise turnout and use stable wraps/bandages when the horse is stabled to try and keep joints warm.

:D Taking shoes off. have noticed a great difference in my horse after I had his shoes removed. He's doing well barefoot! Also if their arthritis is painful on the day the farrier comes it's not pleasant for them :(

:D No trotting on concrete/road and no working on sand/arena surfaces. My vet told me arthritics can find it very hard to work on surfaces as they're a bit 'deeper' than firm ground would be, and they'll struggle to work on 20m circles etc as it's a lot of strain on the joints. You have to be careful what ground you ride on - when it comes to grass/bridleways if it's too hard or too soft (boggy) it's best to avoid trotting/cantering until conditions are firmer!!

:D And i'm not sure if it works or not but I put devils claw liquid in his feed as it's supposedly a natural anti-inflammatory.


........ not saying any/all of the above is the best treatment plan for your horse but it's what's worked for me :) He still hacks out and trots/canters on grass, he's a very happy chappy and isn't showing any signs of discomfort at the moment! Good luck xxxx
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply it's given me lots to think about, the only thing we couldn't do with maybe would be to take her shoes off she currently has fronts on but she has flat feet and when she doesn't have shoes her feet wear down quiet quickly.
I am lucky that she doesn't need bute or danilon just yet. I am going to turn her out full time, and hopefully she will improve! She was so so stiff this morning when I turned her out I hate stabling her in this weather! My poor girly was on the point of being lame, so gave her legs a good massage and rubbed some horsey deep heat in and this helped.
I was told by my vet that devil's claw doesn't really do much which suprised me as to me she seems better on it?! :confused:
I am currently having a good look at Joint supplements to see which one might suit her, I am having a look at lots of different ones to see what might suit her, it's such a mine field!!
 
BentleyBelly said:
Over the last 3 years I have wasted loads of money on cheaper joint supplements, not one has worked. Even Cortaflex HA did nothing. The only thing that helped really is gentle exercise and danilon. I wish I had gone straight for the expensive prescription only ones rather than faffed around with the shop bought alternatives. Having said that every horse is different and I can only speak from my experience.
Click to expand...


Thank you Bentleybelly, I agree every horse is completely different and that finding a good supplement is hard and that it can cost a fortune trying to find one that may or may not work! Maybe hasn't been prescriped Danilon yet or bute as my vet said she doesn't need it just yet and to try and keep her off it for as long as possible as she doesn't need it just yet. Thank you though :)
 
This is a real mine field, my 9 yr old has arthritis, including small lesion i the fetlock and I'm currently trying Maxavita Maxaflex whilst getting her sound. I heard good things about it but my vet has poo poohed it as there is no proof and recommended a v expensive one (can't remember off top of head) which i asked Viovet about and they came up with alternatives with the same amounts of ingredients. I still have to decide mind you as just not sure if they help at all.

I use magnets (again unsure but worth a try), turn out as much as poss, light work until sound, stable wraps when colder, looking into taking shoes off, massage. Have had injections but works on one leg unsure at the mo about the other.
If we could have some sort of proof i would shell out, i know different products work on different people/horses etc but just to go on word of mouth again?
 
I got the magnetic chaps because they were only £40 and non-invasive, which compared to the rest of the money I have poured into this horse's various conditions seemed like a bit of a steal. The magnets may or may not actually do anything but she does come out of her stable less stiff in the mornings when she has had the wraps on. Whether this is down to the magnets or to the warmth of the chaps, I don't actually care.
The other thing I forgot to mention is warming up in hand with turns around the forehand, leg yielding and shoulder ins, that sort of thing, to get her stretching her hips and hindlegs, before I get on. That helps. She also seems to feel a lot better after we do lateral work (or after my instructor rides her!).
As for taking the shoes off - my pony got to a point where she really struggled to be shod because it hurt her to bang the nails in. Also having them off reduces concussion every time they take a step so you are slowing down any further damage. Flat feet is very fixable by changing diet (my pony had thin soles and I really thought she would never be able to go barefoot, I thought she would be crippled without shoes) and if you build up the work (especially roadwork) gradually they don't wear their feet down. PM Lucy Priory on here and she should have some good ideas for you if you do decide to think about it some more.
Oh one more thing I've just thought of - rubber mats in the stable so they are never standing on concrete. I have the really soft eva ones.
 
Tried Maxavita Maxaflex on my mare (arthritis in both front lower joints) such good results I will never take her off it, even our vet has started recommending it after saying with the severity of the arthritis showing on the x-rays he's stumped as to how she's completely sound. That's a good enough reason for me :)
 
It is a minefield and you'll try millions of different lotions + potions before you find the right cocktail for your horse!! I'm hoping once the summer rolls around I'll be able to stop feeding Danilon, but my vet seemed to think last years combination of cold temps + wet weather was the worst scenario for arthritics :( xx
 
Just put our daughters 23 yr old pony on premier flex plus 3 weeks ago when we brought him back into work in readiness for PC events this year and have been very pleased with how much better he is moving - was cantering circles much more happily with very little encouragement and actually jumping small fences rather than trying to trot over them at PC clinic today. Difficult to tell whether it was the Premierflex, clipping very heavy winter coat off or change to PureFeeds working that made the difference but something has helped.

I have also been very careful in managing him eg keeping him warm including his legs just before exercise, we also took his shoes off (tripping has been much reduced) and he lives out 24/7 other than a few hours in most days to have some hay and eat his tea in peace and have a change of rug for a while. He also seems to enjoy standing on a deep shavings bed for that time but always happy to go out again.

I am a great believer in not stabling arthritic older ponies in cold damp conditions with small beds and lots of concrete exposed.
 
My 15 year old has the same affliction. Arthritic hocks and stifles and a pelvic frature which.will no doubt end up the same.
We are currently in training for endurance after him having 2 years off and he is free from pain and happily going forward. We use good old fashioned apple cider vinegar and equine americas glucosamine and msm and plenty of oil. He also has 24/7 turnout to keep him moving around
 
Saying that i thin i have noticed a change in her today, she larked about a bit in the field and didn't seem lame in the 4 steps of trot that followed and walked in fine. Have relalised that the apple cider vinegar i'm feeding her might be working now or the maxaflex i just don't know, still it ha given her a lovely shine for a moulting hairy beast.
Trial and error and knowing who to trust...
 
unbalanced said:
I got the magnetic chaps because they were only £40 and non-invasive, which compared to the rest of the money I have poured into this horse's various conditions seemed like a bit of a steal. The magnets may or may not actually do anything but she does come out of her stable less stiff in the mornings when she has had the wraps on. Whether this is down to the magnets or to the warmth of the chaps, I don't actually care.
The other thing I forgot to mention is warming up in hand with turns around the forehand, leg yielding and shoulder ins, that sort of thing, to get her stretching her hips and hindlegs, before I get on. That helps. She also seems to feel a lot better after we do lateral work (or after my instructor rides her!).
As for taking the shoes off - my pony got to a point where she really struggled to be shod because it hurt her to bang the nails in. Also having them off reduces concussion every time they take a step so you are slowing down any further damage. Flat feet is very fixable by changing diet (my pony had thin soles and I really thought she would never be able to go barefoot, I thought she would be crippled without shoes) and if you build up the work (especially roadwork) gradually they don't wear their feet down. PM Lucy Priory on here and she should have some good ideas for you if you do decide to think about it some more.
Oh one more thing I've just thought of - rubber mats in the stable so they are never standing on concrete. I have the really soft eva ones.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your tips you've also given me lots to think about, I tried going barefoot with her last summer as well as feeding her biotin for the past two years, she got so foot sore from hacking that we now just leave fronts on her, there's no grassy bridle ways where we are otherwise I would take them off.
She has rubber matting in her stable as well as a nice thick bed to help comfort her joints :)
I've been thinking about some magnetic boots for a while now, she has started wearing polypad wrappas at night and she does come out much less stiff in the mornings after wearing them :)
I've been walking her out in hand every day too :) can't face riding with all this crappy weather we have been having, don't think she would appreciate it either bless her! :D
 
sophiebailey said:
It is a minefield and you'll try millions of different lotions + potions before you find the right cocktail for your horse!! I'm hoping once the summer rolls around I'll be able to stop feeding Danilon, but my vet seemed to think last years combination of cold temps + wet weather was the worst scenario for arthritics :( xx
Click to expand...

Thanks Sophiebailey it definitely is! I haven't had to go down the bute or danilon route yet, but she may need it come next winter. Yep my vet has said exactly the same a lot of arthritics are suffering with this cold damp weather, I've started using arnica rubs on my mares hocks and stifles at night and this seems to help also, just a thought in case you might want to try it :) xxx
 
ChestnutConvert said:
This is a real mine field, my 9 yr old has arthritis, including small lesion i the fetlock and I'm currently trying Maxavita Maxaflex whilst getting her sound. I heard good things about it but my vet has poo poohed it as there is no proof and recommended a v expensive one (can't remember off top of head) which i asked Viovet about and they came up with alternatives with the same amounts of ingredients. I still have to decide mind you as just not sure if they help at all.

I use magnets (again unsure but worth a try), turn out as much as poss, light work until sound, stable wraps when colder, looking into taking shoes off, massage. Have had injections but works on one leg unsure at the mo about the other.
If we could have some sort of proof i would shell out, i know different products work on different people/horses etc but just to go on word of mouth again?
Click to expand...


Thank you for your reply chestnut convert, I completely agree my vet poo pooed alot of the supplements I suggested for my horse and recommended synequin but its £140 for two and a half months! :eek: I would buy it but there is no really good reviews and no one I know has used it! So I am a bit loathed to go out and buy it. Going to give cortaflex and NAF superflex a go and see what comes out on top :)
I am also going to look at turning her out full time as I think that this would make a huge difference to her, unless I could find a huge barn to turn her out in at night! Can't see that happening though! :D;)
 
i started with cortiflex then cortiflex HA it was ok but at £ 50 per month. That is when I phoned Equimins and like I said in PM Flexi Joint works out 1/4 of the cost my 3 kilo tub last 6 months for 3 animals

My vets tried to get me to buy their product I said no , it was more expensive too

And my mare was better on it than cortiflex. Onwards and upwards I say :) she was and my others are better on it than anything else I tried. just look at the reviews on the site in my signature
 
Jericho said:
Just put our daughters 23 yr old pony on premier flex plus 3 weeks ago when we brought him back into work in readiness for PC events this year and have been very pleased with how much better he is moving - was cantering circles much more happily with very little encouragement and actually jumping small fences rather than trying to trot over them at PC clinic today. Difficult to tell whether it was the Premierflex, clipping very heavy winter coat off or change to PureFeeds working that made the difference but something has helped.

I have also been very careful in managing him eg keeping him warm including his legs just before exercise, we also took his shoes off (tripping has been much reduced) and he lives out 24/7 other than a few hours in most days to have some hay and eat his tea in peace and have a change of rug for a while. He also seems to enjoy standing on a deep shavings bed for that time but always happy to go out again.

I am a great believer in not stabling arthritic older ponies in cold damp conditions with small beds and lots of concrete exposed.
Click to expand...

Thank you Jericho, mine is currently stabled at night :mad: as the yard owner does not like horses living out so I will be moving yards so she can go out and stretch her legs rather than being couped up in a stable.
She does have a thick bed its always 2-3 inches thick so that it doesn't move, she is also on shavings I think they work best for her. That's good news though your obviously doing something right and I am pleased to hear your pony is doing well :)
 
Leviathan said:
i started with cortiflex then cortiflex HA it was ok but at £ 50 per month. That is when I phoned Equimins and like I said in PM works out 1/4 of the cost my 3 kilo tub last 6 months for 3 animals

My vets tried to get me to buy their product I said no , it was more expensive too

And my mare was better on it than cortiflex. Onwards and upwards I say :)
Click to expand...


Thank you leviathan, I am going to try equimins as well forgot to ad! I will try all three and see which one is best for her :) hopefully the equimins will work best for her, I am a bit unsure about cortaflex as it doesn't seem to have much glucosamine or msm so may hold of using it and try the flexijoint and superflex and see what works best :)
 
Laura-Maybe-IV said:
Thank you leviathan, I am going to try equimins as well forgot to ad! I will try all three and see which one is best for her :) hopefully the equimins will work best for her, I am a bit unsure about cortaflex as it doesn't seem to have much glucosamine or msm so may hold of using it and try the flexijoint and superflex and see what works best :)
Click to expand...

oh and my mare magnetic boots too when in and stable wraps at nights these were the best i tried http://www.harpleyequestrian.co.uk/equine_magnetic_therapy_products.htm.




.
 
Apologies as I haven't read the entire thread, but has anyone suggested you learning to massage your own horse? As you can imagine, you could potentially make a big difference to comfort levels (just think how much better you'd feel if you had a massage once a week), and massage is relatively easy to learn ( and no, it doesn't have to be physically hard work or hurt your fingers), just time consuming to carry out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top