Joint supplements for arthritic horses

[HelenBack]

How long do they generally last on yours? My vet mentioned a 'gel' injection which is more expensive than the steriod injection, but will last a lot longer. He was sort of suggesting it would probably out live B. would that be the same thing or am I confusing cartophen with something else?

My lad had the gel injections and he's still doing well more than 15 months later. Steroids lasted about a fortnight for him. We only go hacking and the odd fun ride with a few small jumps so I don't know how he'd stand up to schooling but I know my vet has said more recently that they're seeing a lot of success with it. I'm kind of hoping we'll get by now with no further treatments and just the odd bit of bute if needed but if he does need something again I'll go straight back to the gel.

Cartrophen seems to have very mixed reviews. My vets don't tend to rate or recommend it but I know loads of other people who say it works really well. It's a minefield really but I guess cartrophen has the advantage of going everywhere if they have arthritis in several places.

 

[windand rain]

I know the howls of laughter will come but Turmeric kept my mare sound for years from hopping lame if forgotten to sound enough to compete at high level in days. Now combine it with Boswellia as she got kicked on her stifle so after the bute we moved to that combination as an experiment she went out hacking yesterday for several miles and had a lovely time cantering in the stubble.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

My elderly dun has gained a new lease of life since putting him on the NAF Glucosamine with MSM powder.

 

[dorsetladette]

thanks @milliepops & @HelenBack its a very new world to me. Never owned a creaking old gate before. I'm trying to listen to everything the vet and vet physio say, but it can all get a little confusing at times.

@windand rain my lads been on turmeric for years.

 

[Elno]

Basically no.

Since my horse recently got diagnoced with arthritis in his front fetlock I've spent days scouring Pubmed after scientific studies on supplements and treatments.

The problem is that there are some studies that seem to show some efficacy, but majority of them are poorly designed, with low power and some without statistical significance. On some supplements I have been able to find systemic reviews and meta studies, but the evidence is still very low quality.


My vet recommended me Equitop GLME so that is what I've been trying to give my horse. He hates it and I will probably stop it - I see no point trying to force it down him when the evidence for it working is "meh" anayways.

He got steroids last thursday and he is still just as lame as before them so most likely they didn't work ? I think I probably will be going ahead with Arthramid instead, but will see what the vet advices next week.

 

[Caol Ila]

I had Gypsum on turmeric for most of her 20s. I was that person. My vet told me that some studies had shown some vague efficacy, more so than other substances, and it was cheaper than everything else, so why not. When she got to her late 20s and her age caught up to her, I tried everything. All of them. The kitchen sink. Screw you, scientific studies. Didn't care anymore. Homeopathy, magnets, and a range of joint supplements. Boswellia, Devil's Claw, MSM/Glucosamine, YuMove. I thought the YuMove made some impact. And maybe the magnets. Or it could have been that degeneration was not linear (it isn't), so she had better weeks/months that would have happened anyway and had nothing to do with supplements/magnets/homeopathy.

Americans love preventative hock injections. I'm glad vets don't do that here. I don't think there are any studies showing that preventative hock injections prevent anything, and there are obviously risks associated with sticking needles into your horse's joints. I remember one friend getting really angry at me, on behalf of my horse, because I refused to inject her hocks. It was so accepted in certain barns/disciplines that people thought you were a bad owner if you didn't do it. Crazy.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I haven't found one thats works until friend who lost her horse gave me this
https://www.equine-america.co.uk/products/buteless-super-strength-powder


I didn't tell anyone else he was on it, i do feeds, and two weeks after starting it the other two people who turn out and bring in asked me what i had done to him as he is really walking out.

Will see if the results are still there in six weeks.

 

[windand rain]

Farrier recommended Vetrofen but it seems to be the same ingredients as the others