Joint Supplements for horse with cushings & mild liver damage?

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smokeyjo

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Do any of you wise HHOers know whether joint supplements are contra-indicated in a horse with liver damage?

My boy (27 and with Cushings) has just been diagnosed with liver damage. It's only came up in a routine blood test following a Senior MOT. He seems very well in all respects ATM - no symptoms as yet.

I am changing his diet - which was already low sugar/starch - to one which is also low oil and low protein, and he is starting on a liver supplement from the vet.

However, he currently has joint supplements for arthritis which he has been on for quite a few years.

I have just ordered some PremierFlex Plus (before the liver issue came up). Do you think it would be Ok to feed? Or is it something which is best avoided for us? It has Devils claw in it.

Any advice would really be appreciated. Thanks
 
Smokeyjo, although Devils Claw hasn't been properly scientifically proven to be safe for horses with liver damage, the fact that it has actually been used historically to treat liver damage suggests that, at worst, it will do no harm. The only horses that really must avoid Devils Claw are those with ulcers. (It increases secretion of gastric acid, which will irritate ulcers.)
 
beryls2001 said:
Smokeyjo, although Devils Claw hasn't been properly scientifically proven to be safe for horses with liver damage, the fact that it has actually been used historically to treat liver damage suggests that, at worst, it will do no harm. The only horses that really must avoid Devils Claw are those with ulcers. (It increases secretion of gastric acid, which will irritate ulcers.)
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Thank you so much for that Beryls2001. I didn't know it was used to treat liver damage. That's really helpful info.
 
beryls2001 said:
Not sure if it was SUCCESSFULLY used for treating liver damage or not....
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I know what you mean, there are very few (if any) scientific trials of so many of these horse supplements. I was mainly worried though about whether it was actually harmful.

Anyway it's been taken out of my hands now as the vet has said no supplements at all for the time being - diet is the main thing to work on.

Thanks for taking the trouble to post.

Now to work on the low oil, low protein diet.
 
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