Joint supplements - vet hospital advice

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mtj

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After the news that glucosamine supplements have been shown to be ineffective for human arthritis, H+H published that vets were still open minded about horses.

If anyone has had their horse treated for joint issues at a major centre recently, were you still advised to use a glucosamine supplement?

Currently reviewing my horse's supplement collection and deciding whether to continue with such a supplement on a preventative basis.

Thanks
 
Yes - I was advised to use a supplements for my boy who had arthritic changes in his right hock which was treated twice with cortisone injections. A few months ago I took the plunge and switched to feeding him Turmeric in his dinner - an Indian spice with well documented anti inflammatory properties. He has been fine on it, in fact he has an extra spring in his step these days :D
 
mtj said:
After the news that glucosamine supplements have been shown to be ineffective for human arthritis, H+H published that vets were still open minded about horses.

If anyone has had their horse treated for joint issues at a major centre recently, were you still advised to use a glucosamine supplement?

Currently reviewing my horse's supplement collection and deciding whether to continue with such a supplement on a preventative basis.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Liphook - Consultant vet David Lloyd

Said there is merit in feeding glucosamine HCl 10gms / 500kg, Chondroitin 4gm / 500kg horse, as shown by journal research (not all available online without subscription). Neutral about feeding MSM, said no point feeding HA as not absorbed from gut.

Said (when asked) feeding 20gms of Supplease gold which provides the above for £24, is worth doing.

See other thread in New Lounge (Aprils amateur joint supplement calcs or something like that for some joint supplement comparisons, and link to cheap supplier of Supplease Gold.
 
There was am article in this weeks H&H that said green lipped mussel extract has been found to help in horses with arthritis. We currently give our horse Cortaflex but going to change to Maxaflex when we run out.
 
Had a mare with OCD and early onselt Osteo Arthritis which was discovered during a lameness workup / arthroscopy. Was prescribed box rest post op and green lipped mussel supplements.
 
I am another who has changed from Cortaflex to Turmeric, I haven't noticed any difference either way to be honest, though my horses have no specific joint problem - more preventative.
 
My horse has arthritic changes in both hocks, has had them medicated twice. Vet recommended glucosamine which we bought from them then changed to supplease gold but to be honest didn't really notice much difference!
Have just started him on Global Herbs Movefree liquid and Strongbones and he deffinately has a spring in his step so will continue with these.
 
just remember horses and humans are very different and just because they can find no evidence that these supplements work in humans does not mean they won't help a horse.
 
I have used Newmarket Joint supplement since my horse had her hocks medicated twice for arthritis...this was advised by my vet. Then she had to go to Liphook for an operation and they approved that she was on this and actually had buckets of the stuff themselves for horses!
I notice if my mare goes 1 day without it...wouldn't chnage her now.
 
New Market Joint Supplement is just high purity Glucosamine HCl - nothing else, no chondroitin.

You can buy cheaply 1.5kg of high purity Glucosamine HCl for £40 delivered.

So NMJS is very very expensive for the ingredients it contains.

Vets also used to get commission for using it / supplies provided.
 
PitPony said:
I have used Newmarket Joint supplement since my horse had her hocks medicated twice for arthritis...this was advised by my vet. Then she had to go to Liphook for an operation and they approved that she was on this and actually had buckets of the stuff themselves for horses!
I notice if my mare goes 1 day without it...wouldn't chnage her now.
Click to expand...

Interesting I have just been to Liphook as a referral (3 visits) and NJS was not one they supply, nor one the consultant lameness vet I saw recommended.

He said need glucosamine and chondroitin for best effect.
 
wingedhorse said:
Liphook - Consultant vet David Lloyd

Said there is merit in feeding glucosamine HCl 10gms / 500kg, Chondroitin 4gm / 500kg horse, as shown by journal research (not all available online without subscription). Neutral about feeding MSM, said no point feeding HA as not absorbed from gut.

Said (when asked) feeding 20gms of Supplease gold which provides the above for £24, is worth doing.

See other thread in New Lounge (Aprils amateur joint supplement calcs or something like that for some joint supplement comparisons, and link to cheap supplier of Supplease Gold.
Click to expand...

Thats interesting because David is my vet, he operated on my horse's shoulder joint 6 years ago and medicates the joint every year. David told me that there is no point in feeding Chondroitin, I distinctly remember him telling me that the molecule is too large to be absorbed through the gut. He recommended Newmarket Joint Supplement and then after a couple of years Liphook have their own brand of Glucosamine so my horse has had that ever since.
 
Hi,

It might be worth checking again with the Liphook vet - I have emails dated this August and October from him advising that it is worth feeding chondroitin - I was looking for ways to reduce costs, and asked specifically. Maybe he has changed his mind / new journal articles have come out. Or maybe he feels the cost is worth the benefits for my horse's issues, but not of benefit for your horse?

He said HA was pointless as not absorbed but that chondroitin and glucosamine were worth feeding.

F_H
 
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