"natural" anti inflammatories - Any good?

[Klix]

A friend of mines horse has a very swollen leg and I'd into all of the herbal mollarky. As the horse is weight baring and not too lame she is cold hosing, applying NAF cool clay and bandaging and feeding devils claw saying it works better than bute...

Personally I'd just get the vet but do all of these herbal remedies work? Needless to say I'm interested in the result of this one.

Thanks

 

[Mrs B]

A friend of mines horse has a very swollen leg and I'd into all of the herbal mollarky. As the horse is weight baring and not too lame she is cold hosing, applying NAF cool clay and bandaging and feeding devils claw saying it works better than bute...

Personally I'd just get the vet but do all of these herbal remedies work? Needless to say I'm interested in the result of this one.

Thanks

Could be cellulitis. Could be a chipped bone. I've had horses for 40 odd years and am not one to cry 'wolf' where the vets are concerned, but if there is swelling plus any degree of lameness and the cause is not obvious, then to NOT call the vet, self diagnose and treat is irresponsible. And stupid. (IMO, of course ).

 

[be positive]

Natural remedies can help but not if you do not know why the leg is swollen in the first place, if it has pulled a tendon or ligament, rather than just a minor bruise or touch of mud fever, inappropriate remedies will not make the horse better, a diagnosis really needs to be made in order to treat it.

 

[Klix]

I know what she should do with the horse, and what I would personally do. Obviously if this is the route she chooses it's up to her.. I was just curious to see if anyone else does this or wether said friend is a paragraph short of a book..

 

[Rebels]

I rate devils claw more effective than bute for long term issues, it worked for one of mine on more than 4 bute a day, has noticeably improved a 20yr old retired due to stiffness and has boosted my youngster with a spavin. However it does take time to kick in so for quick anti inflammatory relief bute is better. Certainly something that has now become a staple for a few of mine

 

[Rebels]

Oh, meant to add I only use it for known conditions, I will diagnose and treat my own minor leg pulls but only as I have sadly had too much practice working them out.

 

[violethillx]

My horse came in with a swollen leg in October and I gave her 'no bute' which contains devils claw to help her while I decided whether to get vet/scan etc. She became gradually less lame but not sure whether this was due to box rest and swelling going down through cold hosing etc or the no bute. Only had her on it for a few weeks as it;s better to know if theyre in pain or not so you can determine the cause I think! Would definitely say to get the vet if swelling hasn't gone down in about a week too x