Thoughts on glucosamine, potential replacements?

[Vermeer]

My native pony is 25. She is currently in very, very light work (mainly walking in hand, occasional long lining and very gentle hacking on flats). Vet checked her over last year and said she's a little stiff in her hind legs during trot up but nothing to worry about. He suggested giving her glucosamine, which she has been on now for just under a year.

However. I haven't really noticed a big difference in how she moves - what am I looking for here? I'm not expecting anything dramatic or a cure all, but how do I know it is working?

She's being fed dengie hi-fi molasses free, glucosamine, naf general supplement, and a splash of devil's claw. I'm particularly interested in feeding her herbs for her stiffness but don't know what is most effective or even if they are as effective as glucosamine etc.

My very elderly dog has had excellent results with Yumoves, so perhaps green lipped mussels might be a potential avenue to explore?

Any suggestions/experiences please? Thank you!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You could try Boswellia. Our farrier recommends it, although ours don't need anything currently. I am always wary of feeding something they have not evolved to digest sine having a problem when feeding my IDx glucosamine.

 

[meleeka]

There are many joint supplements and what works for one, does nothing for another. Yumove do an equine version, but I found the cost high compared to other supplements.

I fed Boswellia to my old cob and I think it did make a difference. I’ve just started my dog on it after a recommendation on here, but it’s too early to say whether it’s helping.

Personally I found Feedmark Bestflex the most effective with my old horses, which contains glucosamine and Boswellia. I’d love to feed it to my current old mare but she won’t ear anything new in her feed.

 

[Vermeer]

You could try Boswellia. Our farrier recommends it, although ours don't need anything currently. I am always wary of feeding something they have not evolved to digest sine having a problem when feeding my IDx glucosamine.

Have heard good things about Boswellia before!
Re. Feeding things they have not evolved to digest... That is a definite good point to bear in mind. Thank you!

 

[Vermeer]

There are many joint supplements and what works for one, does nothing for another. Yumove do an equine version, but I found the cost high compared to other supplements.

I fed Boswellia to my old cob and I think it did make a difference. I’ve just started my dog on it after a recommendation on here, but it’s too early to say whether it’s helping.

Personally I found Feedmark Bestflex the most effective with my old horses, which contains glucosamine and Boswellia. I’d love to feed it to my current old mare but she won’t ear anything new in her feed.

Re. equine Yumoves, is this really something a horse can/should digest? As they wouldn't ordinarily be part of a horse's natural diet? That said, they have been truly incredible for my little dog!

I will look further into Boswellia and bestflex. Thank you for the suggestions

 

[paddi22]

devils claw has worked amazingly well for my oldies

 

[ycbm]

I'm quite surprised that a vet recommended glucosamine because there seems to be precious little evidence that it does anything at all. Boswellia and Devils Claw are well tested though, and Devils Claw is so effective it's banned in competition.

One of other of those would be my choice for your horse but long term as a preventative I use MSM which is also well proven.
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I'm quite surprised that a vet recommended glucosamine because there seems to be precious little evidence that it does anything at all. Boswellia and Devils Claw are well tested though, and Devils Claw is so effective it's banned in competition.

One of other of those would be my choice for your horse but long term as a preventative I use MSM which is also well proven.
.

We had a problem with Devils Claw. Our ex-broodmare cob had it for a while until we noticed that it caused her to bleed much more heavily than usual when in season. It can cause abortion in pregnant mares but we knew she wasn't in foal again. We stopped feeding it and she went back to normal.

 

[vhf]

My slightly stiff behind older mare does well on Boswellia. MSM stopped being enough (in low doses).
I suspect boswellia and devil's claw work differently (maybe one is more pain relief and one more anti-inflammatory? I haven't read the research) so it may be a bit of trial and error. As I understand it glucosamine is 'meant' to provide support to the structures themselves rather than either pain or inflammation relief, so even if it works in equines, it might be a bit after the fact for the oldies?? MSM is definitely anti-inflammatory, I've researched that one, but also has preventative action.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Glucosamine is not a painkiller, it is for joint maintenance. I have used it long term, well over 30 yrs to help with the arthritis that was building up in my fingers and it has helped maintain my joints. As your mare is in need of help now not in many years time then you need something like Boswellia, Green Lipped mussel or Devils Claw.

 

[fankino04]

Had this chat with my vet recently, they dismissed glucosamine as being of much use unless fed from a very early age, they said whatever you pick should have hyaluronic acid and collagen in it, I discovered collagen is blinkin expensive so mine has gone onto equimins joint flex and it seems to have made a difference to her (well until she got a foot abcess!) Not sure it's much different to what you've got though as it's devil's claw and HA with chondriton sulphate, MSM, glucosamine and vit c.

 

[[153312]]

Devils claw is witchcraft - it's brilliant - as is Boswellia, both my mares get it for mild arthritis; in fact the app. had to be taken off the DC because she started being a tit and I was worried she'd do more damage! But she's still on Boswellia and can pass flexion tests etc.

 

[Vermeer]

Thank you everyone for the fab suggestions/advice! Off to look everything up now