Natural pain killers/anti-inflammatories

Not necessarily true MotherOfChickens!
Take aspirin (salicylic acid). Well known to cause ulcers. Even though white willow bark contains salicylic acid, it does not cause ulcers; in fact, it can be used to help treat them. This is because white willow bark also contains other constituents that buffer the effects of the salicylic acid. The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts!

Quote from Gastric Ulcers - Causes and Management By Dr John Kohnke BVSc RDA: "Some herbal preparations, such as Devil’s Claw and White Willow Bark, used as natural anti-inflammatory remedies, may also increase the risk of gastric ulcers in horses given these products to ease discomfort and mild arthritic pain." http://www.kohnkesown.com/C6gastriculcers.pdf

I would stick to bute or danilon. At least you know the exact strength and action. If you feed ad-lib forage, and low starch feeds, bute isn't going to cause much of a problem at a long term low dose. My 24y/o TB has been on it 6 months now, and it has given her new lease of life.

eta I tried tumeric for a few months before the bute - it did nothing for her. She is on glucosamine, msm and linseed etc which definitely helps, but bute makes her much better.(free moving and less grumpy).
 
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Not necessarily true MotherOfChickens!
Take aspirin (salicylic acid). Well known to cause ulcers. Even though white willow bark contains salicylic acid, it does not cause ulcers; in fact, it can be used to help treat them. This is because white willow bark also contains other constituents that buffer the effects of the salicylic acid. The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts!

Pennyturner you're lucky, wish we had it growing near us! I keep trying to grow meadowsweet from seeds but I'm not doing too well!

Ah the irony. Where the meadowsweet grows is on the half my meadow which is marshland, a SSSI which no one in their right mind would keep horses on. I took it on when I was desperate, and eventually bought it, having seen my ponies stay fat and happy eating stuff you wouldn't give to a goat! lol.
 
At 19 you're looking at quality of life - not quantity.

I would have no hesitation on putting a horse on a daily dose of Danillon. And I can neveru understand people's reluctance to do so.

I agree with this. I have plenty of horse patients on long term bute, several of which have blood tests yearly and I can't remember the last time I had a blood test come back showing liver issues. I tested a horse a few weeks ago that has been on bute on and off for 16 years or so, she is now in her late twenties and on 2-3 sachets daily, and her liver is still fine.

At 19, in my clinical judgement I would say her leg will cause problems long before the bute will, and I would not hesitate to put my own or a clients horse on bute at this age, especially f she only needs it in winter.
 
hi have u ever tried clivers? its very good at reducing swelling and supporting the lymph sysytem ,but do agree with murphy88 if long term bute =quality of life then i wouldnt worry about giving it.
 
Quote from Gastric Ulcers - Causes and Management By Dr John Kohnke BVSc RDA: "Some herbal preparations, such as Devil’s Claw and White Willow Bark, used as natural anti-inflammatory remedies, may also increase the risk of gastric ulcers in horses given these products to ease discomfort and mild arthritic pain." http://www.kohnkesown.com/C6gastriculcers.pdf
I wouldn't class that as scientific data - he doesn't back up this assertion with any evidence at all. But then proper scientific research on herbal medicine is hard to find - most drug research is funded by drug companies and they will only fund research into things they can sell, hence why they had to remove and synthesise single chemicals from herbs so they can be sold (aspirin from willow, digoxin from foxglove etc). Even if someone did manage to do a research paper getting it published would be another thing altogether.
The herb as a whole contains many chemicals which work together.
White willow contains salicin which is anti-inflammatory and gradually converted by the body to salicylic acid after its passed through the stomach, which is why it takes longer to work than an aspirin, and is easier on the stomach. It also has an astringent action on the body. Meadowsweet contains salicin as well, and can also soothe the gut due to it's mucilaginous properties.
I would say though that herbs are medicines and if you are purposely feeding them to your horse (rather than him helping himself to what he needs in the field) then do your research or consult a qualified herbalist, and always be on the lookout for any possible reactions.
 
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