Magnets for arthritis, and another thing...

[suestowford]

I have a pony who dislikes Bute (as for Danilon, he thinks that's disgusting too). He also has arthritis.
Now, I use a syringe to get some Bute in him when the farrier is due, but I was wondering if anyone had used magnetic leg wraps with any success? I'm not aiming for 'spring chicken' mode with this pony, just to try to make him more comfortable without having to force feed him Bute every day. The weather here has turned cold the last day or so and he's noticeably stiffer in his legs.
I'd also be interested to hear about any other ways you have used to relieve arthritic pain.

The other thing is about human toes.
One of mine got trodden on about 6 weeks ago. The pony who trod had no shoes on thankfully but I have a black patch on my toenail that's slowly moving up the nail as it grows. The rest of the toe looks OK but it's still sore and I thought I would ask here how long it's likely to be stiff & sore, as I suspect there are many of us here who have suffered the same thing. Maybe I should be wearing the magnets!
I have learned my lesson - always wear steelies when a pony is sedated...

 

[dorsetladette]

My arthritic is doing well on Boswelia currently. But I'm swapping between boswelia and devils claw as they both seem to become less effective after being used for a while. it works out about 6 weeks on boswelia (the length of time the bag lasts) and then 3-4 weeks on devils claw. If he looks particularly stiff he gets a bute as well. The magnetic wraps didn't seem to work on him, but we did have problems with babies pinching them off his legs.

 

[Peglo]

I was very sceptical about magnets but when my TB’s arthritis made her a bit stiffer I stuck some magnet wraps on. I didn’t notice a difference until I washed them and just didn’t put them back on. I would say she was definitely stiffer. So I stuck them back on. But she was on a bute a day and a joint supplement too. I certainly wouldn’t expect magnets to do the job of bute I’m afraid. I only used them as they did no harm.

 

[Lady Jane]

There is no scientific evidence that magnets do any good at all but the magbetic wraps may help the legs will be warmer

 

[Bonnie Allie]

Our old mare who has arthritis had to be on 4 weeks box rest and she was really stiff each morning in the cold weather. I bought the Kentucky magnetic padded leg wraps which where eye wateringly expensive.

She was considerably more comfortable in the mornings, much less stiff after wearing these overnight.

Maybe I could have just achieved the same thing by bandaging as this would have kept her legs warm but I am rubbish at bandaging.

 

[Equi]

I used science supplements flexibility plus and found a big difference in my lad. I think magnetic bands are a bit of a myth.

 

[Birker2020]

I've used Bioflow for about the last 12 years and can say in my experience that it definitely helped by previous horse - of course sceptics will say that its the compression effect of the boots which helped. Others will say its the warmth that helps. Others will just say I am 'sales persons dream' not that I give a s**t.

But I know from experience they helped my horse and they were worth the small price.

Again imho there doesn't have to be scientific proof to prove something works, just the experience of people who use the product.

Obviously pulsed magnetic therapy (instead of static) of which I have experience of through my horse having during physio, is more beneficial.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I used Bioflow leg wraps for an arthritic horse and the effect was nothing short of miraculous! She was at last chance saloon hobbling on 2 bute per day when I got them As instructed she wore them for the 1st 24 hours, in overnight and out during the day. At teatime she trotted to the gate from the far field with no obvious sign of lameness. Unfortunately she had to be pts a few months later for an unrelated reason but they certainly gave her a few extra, comfortable months. I have tried the boots on other horses to no discernible effect though.

 

[Birker2020]

I used Bioflow leg wraps for an arthritic horse and the effect was nothing short of miraculous! She was at last chance saloon hobbling on 2 bute per day when I got them As instructed she wore them for the 1st 24 hours, in overnight and out during the day. At teatime she trotted to the gate from the far field with no obvious sign of lameness. Unfortunately she had to be pts a few months later for an unrelated reason but they certainly gave her a few extra, comfortable months. I have tried the boots on other horses to no discernible effect though.

We are both a salespersons dream then

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We are both a salespersons dream then

Not at all, they haven't worked for 3 others!

 

[meleeka]

I use magnetic stable chaps overnight on my arthritic mare who gets filled legs. They definitely don’t fill as much as stable chaps on their own, so my pony is less stiff. I don’t think they are as effective as bandaging, but I don’t want that faff every night if I can avoid it.

 

[July dreamer]

My old arthritic boy has started on Equioxx as an alternative to bute/Danilon. But I can't say how much it's helping him as he is currently has a mystery lameness. Equioxx is in tablet form, I push it into a piece of apple, not sure how effective it is as a use when you need it type pain killer. It is expensive but is supposed to not upset tummies as bute can.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I used Bioflow leg wraps for an arthritic horse and the effect was nothing short of miraculous! She was at last chance saloon hobbling on 2 bute per day when I got them As instructed she wore them for the 1st 24 hours, in overnight and out during the day. At teatime she trotted to the gate from the far field with no obvious sign of lameness. Unfortunately she had to be pts a few months later for an unrelated reason but they certainly gave her a few extra, comfortable months. I have tried the boots on other horses to no discernible effect though.

I got a pair 2nd hand as skeptical but do think it helps. Was put of by the mojo advertising but someone I trust said they were worth a go on my arthritic mare. She’s a bit stiff & not yet on burr etc but she she moves freer when she has been wearing them

 

[cauda equina]

I think they help too
I got a pair of magnetic leg wraps and put them on the old boy's hinds and the phsyio remarked on how his hocks had loosened up

 

[SEL]

Bozmerix seems to be helping my small pony - although something is making her itch and I don't know if its that.

I never had much luck with magnetic bands but my friend swears they helped her mare in her latter years

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I got a pair 2nd hand as skeptical but do think it helps. Was put of by the mojo advertising but someone I trust said they were worth a go on my arthritic mare. She’s a bit stiff & not yet on burr etc but she she moves freer when she has been wearing them

They were recommended to me by a friend who managed a laminitic pony with them

 

[suestowford]

I might look out for a 2nd hand set of wraps, and will also look into Equioxx. I think the vet mentioned that when last here as a possibility.

 

[holeymoley]

I think certain things work on some horse and not at all on others. I really rate magnets.

I use the staroak leg bands for the Winter. I used to use another brand but one day all of the magnets had stuck together somehow, no idea how that happened. Just be careful if on thin haired or pink/clipped skin as I found the Staroak ones either rubbed or caused some kind of burn last year. Also make sure they are thoroughly clear of any mud/dirt that could rub. When I'm around for a while in the evenings I put on magnetic leg wraps and hock wraps too. I suppose the idea is to keep the joints warm so I suppose general wraps would work too.

Supplement-wise I really like Devil's Claw liquid. I know a lot of people swear by Boswellia too.

 

[maya2008]

Boswellia made my old TB happy and still able to be the field boss (with all the lunging at others, threatening to kick etc that was needed to keep that role) almost right up until she died, when the vertebrate calcified sufficiently in her neck that they began to press on her spinal cord. I have photos of her two weeks before she began to fall, looking the picture of health with a relaxed, open face. It did a simply brilliant job and she never minded eating it.

 

[J&S]

I used magnetic brushing type boots on my NF mare when she was looking a little stiff on the corners in her mid twenties. They really made a difference and she went on doing PC events for some time after and hacking after that till late twenties. However, they do not make any noticeable difference to my veteran coloured mare, they do keep her legs warm though! As said above, some things work for some and not others.

 

[EternalVetBills]

My old mare has previcox (same as equinox, but marketed for dogs so 10x cheaper) everyday, according to my vet it can actually be more effective than bute for these sorts of chronic conditions and I think has a lower risk of ulcers. She wouldn't eat bute either. It's been so much easier with the previcox, she just has one in a stud muffin every morning.
I also bandage her whenever she's in a stable. I never been swayed by magnets, but I know quite a few people on my yard who use them and really rate them for their horses.

 

[donkeyindisguise]

My old arthritic boy has started on Equioxx as an alternative to bute/Danilon. But I can't say how much it's helping him as he is currently has a mystery lameness. Equioxx is in tablet form, I push it into a piece of apple, not sure how effective it is as a use when you need it type pain killer. It is expensive but is supposed to not upset tummies as bute can.

My mare has been on Previcoxx (dog version of Equioxx but my next order will have to be for equioxx now it’s licenced ?) for the last 4 years due to a lameness we couldn’t get to the bottom of despite full work up.

Anyway I digress, she was put on it as she can’t stomach bute and she would need it long term, originally she was on one tablet daily but now has them as and when she looks like she needs one and they do seem to do the job on an ‘ad hoc’ basis ?

 

[suestowford]

Really appreciate all your comments. I'm seeing the vet next week so will have a chat with her about it all.
I've got some Bute to be going on with and will attempt to get it inside the pony and not all down my shirt

 

[throwawayaccount]

Haven’t read the whole thread, but I got these from Bolesworth (one of the trade stands) and they actually reduce swelling and help loads:

https://www.redpostequestrian.co.uk...magnetik-pro-pastern-wraps--blackblue__149486

 

[Birker2020]

Not at all, they haven't worked for 3 others!

Dang

 

[Birker2020]

Really appreciate all your comments. I'm seeing the vet next week so will have a chat with her about it all.
I've got some Bute to be going on with and will attempt to get it inside the pony and not all down my shirt

Just bear in mind that vets are about treating with drugs and other conventional means and not many know about alternative therapies.

Like my old vet that would take the micky out of me feeding Bailey Slippery Elm and used to tease me and call it Sticky Oak instead! But its been around for thousands of years, it works simply and effectively and does what it says on the tin (forms a gel on the surface of the stomach to prevent acid splash) and does this for a fraction of the price of other things on the market.

Just because it doesn't sell for £50 quid a tub doesn't make it less effective.

 

[Wizpop]

Another one who has had success with Bosmerix- as has a friend of mine. It’s available from vets. I’d be using the magnetic wraps/ bands too as there seems to be a lot of positive, anecdotal evidence around. Hope you find something that helps.

 

[suestowford]

Just bear in mind that vets are about treating with drugs and other conventional means and not many know about alternative therapies.

This is the vet who's been our preferred horse vet for 25 years. She knows us all well and the ponies like her. She is also the vet who does acupuncture and has successfully treated many of my elderly pets with that. I trust her judgement on this and if she thinks that this pony might need a bit extra some days, then we'll give it a go. I will also ask her about the other suggestions on this thread.
When I had my old horse he too had arthritis, it's what did for him in the end. I'd been giving him a herbal supplement for years which helped for a while but I can recall her saying to me that 'it's gone beyond that now'. He needed Bute thereafter, but that was a long time ago. It's good that there are more options now.
The difficulty I have with this pony is that he's a bit of a dramatist. More than once I have called the vet out, convinced he was about to croak, only for the vet to do an inspection and pronounce that 'he's not TOO bad'. The vet has the clinical skills to tell the difference and I don't! So if it really is the case that he's not right, I will know it's not just me, thinking the worst.

 

[Winters100]

I use magnetic boots on my old lady, but to be honest I have no idea whether an ordinary set of boots would do the same job. I would say that if they are easily affordable to you by all means give them a try, but if you are on a budget you should not feel obliged to stretch to buy something for which there is essentially no real evidence.