As a horse owner, you know the joy these magnificent creatures can provide. Whether you are training your horse for competition or you simply enjoy a nice trail ride, keeping your horse healthy is a priority. Because of their size, activity, and the natural processes of aging, many horses experience arthritis or other joint issues. Arthritis is inflammation of a joint, often caused by the erosion of cartilage and joint fluid, leading to bone-on-bone movement. This is quite painful for horses, and there is no true cure for the condition. However, there are ways you can manage a horse’s symptoms and help them lead a comfortable life.
There is a variety of options for horse owners who are seeking the best way to help a horse with arthritis. Joint supplements for horses are among the many different methods that are designed to target horse osteoarthritis pain, and supplements are also arguably the easiest. The best joint supplement for horses is available from SeaPet: Super Joint Formula Powder for Horses. Supported by scientific research, horse joint supplements can be used effectively all on their own or in combination with other methods. Let’s break down the many options that owners have in terms of horse arthritis treatments.
How to diagnose arthritis in horses
Contrary to popular belief, arthritis can strike horses of any age, but older horses are more susceptible to it. Over time, the articular surfaces of the joint deteriorate naturally. Older horses also tend to lose movement in their ligaments and tendons, leading to a thinning of the joint structure. Horses who take part in more rigorous activities, such as those that involve significant running or jumping, might experience these joint symptoms earlier or with greater severity.
If your horse has arthritis, you’ll want to catch and treat it as soon as possible. Natural deterioration can cause joint inflammation, which can exacerbate the situation. This is particularly essential because there is no easy way to keep a horse off its feet. Dealing with arthritis or inflammation quickly can greatly improve your horse’s prognosis and reduce the severity of its symptoms. If you suspect that you have an arthritic horse, here are some symptoms to look for:
- Changes in your horse’s movement, like a shorter stride, a hollow back, or a raised head
- Stiffness that goes away after warming up
- Balking at particular maneuvers that place more strain on the affected joints of the horse
- Reluctance to be ridden
- Puffiness around a joint
- Heat or tenderness near a joint
If your horse is showing any of the signs above, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. If left untreated, arthritis can lead to lameness. Your vet will be able to rule out any other underlying problems and, if arthritis is the culprit, help you to form a treatment plan. This is vital because your horse could have a degenerative joint as a result of a genetic or medical condition separate from arthritis. Other causes of joint pain can, of course, require different treatment strategies. A vet can also help you to figure out exactly which joint or joints are causing your horse pain, helping you to decide on the best horse arthritis treatment.
What are some treatment options for arthritic horses?
There is a wide variety of options available that can provide horse arthritis pain relief, from equine joint supplements to injections directly to the joint. Let’s take a look at the hows and whys of a few of the most popular horse arthritis treatment methods.
- Horse arthritis injections. The most costly and invasive of the commonly used pain relief methods, this treatment involves injections that target the affected joint in a horse directly. There are several different types of arthritis injections for horses that are effective for both short- and long-term treatment. These injections are designed to reduce inflammation and reduce the severity of the horse’s arthritis pain. However, the cost can be prohibitive for some horse owners: Traveling fees for the vet and the cost of the injections can add up over time — sometimes to the tune of over $1000 per visit.
- Traditional horse arthritis medications. Phenylbutazone, or “Bute”, is an affordable and easy-to-administer NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), making it a frequent choice of owners seeking horse arthritis pain relief. However, NSAIDs are best utilized for short periods of time in which your horse is experiencing more pain than normal. These drugs can be hard on the lining of a horse’s gastrointestinal tract, making longer-term use dangerous and liable to create other health problems.
- Horse joint cream. Relief for arthritic horses can also come in the form of a cream. It’s a topical NSAID and works to reduce inflammation from the outside in. It’s a safer option than medications like Bute as it bypasses the horse’s gastrointestinal tract entirely. But, it can be difficult to apply accurately. That’s important because the more accurately the cream is applied, the more effectively it can treat the horse’s affected joint.
- Horse arthritis supplements. For horse owners on the hunt for an all-natural, effective method to combat pain caused by equine arthritis, horse joint supplements are a popular choice. Natural equine joint supplements are backed by scientific research and veterinarian recommendations, and they’re a great way to help your four-hooved friend live with more comfort. These products can be easily integrated into a horse’s diet, and in some cases, they can serve as a preventative measure against future arthritis symptoms.
Regardless of which of the above treatment options you choose, a key aspect of treating a horse’s arthritis is managing its workload. Individual horses have their own pain tolerance and joint care needs, but there are a few principles that are true for most horses with arthritis. While it may seem counterintuitive, consistent movement can be beneficial for a horse’s arthritis. Staying in the stable for too long makes joints stiff, whereas movement keeps the joints stimulated. It is important to not overdo it; in many cases, simply grazing in a pasture or going for gentle walks is all a horse needs. Likewise, keeping an eye on a horse’s weight can reduce the strain on its joints. Talk to your horse’s veterinarian to discuss any changes to the horse’s diet before moving ahead with this plan.
How should a horse owner choose a supplement?
Arthritis is an ailment that many horses experience. While there are a variety of equine arthritis treatments, including joint powders, not all are created equal. Just because a product says that it is designed for horse care does not mean that it is necessarily good for joint disease. Finding products with the right ingredients is the first step to improving horse health. Look for compounds like glucosamine sulfate and MSM in products for equine joint disease. Additionally, investigate the standards to which a particular company tests its equine joint therapy products. In some cases, you will notice additives that could do more harm than good, or “all-natural” products that are partially so.
Finding the right supplements for horses with arthritis involves taking the time to research individual products. Pay attention to how arthritis supplements are produced and the brand’s quality control processes. Companies that are more open and transparent with their testing standards are generally more trustworthy. You can also talk with your horse’s veterinarian about arthritis care products that are familiar to them.
At SeaPet, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of quality to ensure that your horse receives superb care for their arthritis. With robust amounts of MSM, shark cartilage, and glucosamine sulfate, your horse can get what their body needs for back issues, inflammation, and arthritis in a natural, easy-to-administer package.
How do horse joint supplements improve horse health?
Natural compounds like chondroitin, glucosamine sulfate, and MSM are essential parts of a healthy joint and can positively affect joint health and mobility. Veterinarians prescribing these supplements for treatment report that their equine patients experienced a reduction of pain and other symptoms. In some cases, simply adding horse joint supplements can make a marked difference in the health of a horse’s joints. But why? It’s all thanks to the compounds within high-quality, all-natural equine joint supplements.
- Shark Cartilage: Shark cartilage products can be given on their own as a treatment for arthritis in horses, dogs, or other pets. They also work well in combination with other treatment options for joint health. Shark cartilage provides your horse with a powerful combination of proteins, glucosamine sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate. These compounds are essential to a horse’s immune system as well as supporting joint health and movement. When you’re choosing a shark cartilage joint supplement for horses, make sure to pick a product that’s as pure as possible (and sustainably harvested!).
- Glucosamine sulfate: Glucosamine sulfate targets the articular cartilage that shields the ends of the bones in horses. In concert with the joint fluid, the cartilage helps to reduce joint friction, allowing for easy movement of the joints. A horse’s joint cartilage deteriorates naturally, which can lead to arthritis in a horse’s knee or other joints. Research shows that horse joint supplements including glucosamine sulfate improve a horse’s ability to heal and nourish previously damaged articular cartilage.
- MSM: MSM is a natural sulfur that can be found in collagen-rich meat byproducts, such as bones and connective tissues. While many pet owners, including those of dogs and cats, have the option of feeding a completely raw and organic diet, it’s simply not realistic for horse owners! The good news is that MSM is also easily reproduced in labs, making MSM accessible to all horse owners. Horse joint supplements containing MSM are known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and these types of supplements are created specifically to ease horse osteoarthritis pain — without spending hours in the kitchen.
These particular nutrients can be effective on their own in combating inflammation and other arthritis symptoms, but taken together, they can be even more potent. SeaPet offers our Super Joint Powder for Horses that combines all three. This allows horse owners to give their equine companion healthy joint assistance in one package.
Where can I find supplements for horses with arthritis?
When you decide to supplement your horse’s diet for horse arthritis pain relief, it is important to look for a company that offers high-quality products and has years of experience providing excellent nutrition and care. At SeaPet, we are committed to providing the best horse joint supplements available. If your horse is showing signs of equine osteoarthritis, don’t fret yet. Horse arthritis supplements are a great way to make sure your horse is getting the joint health boost they need, and easing the symptoms of arthritis is easier than you might think: Simply pick up our Super Joint Formula Powder for Horses.
We understand how important your horse is to you, and that inflammation and arthritis can make a significant impact on a horse’s quality of life. While there are numerous treatment options you can consider, from NSAIDs prescribed by a vet to alternative treatments like acupuncture, ensuring that your horse’s diet contains nutrients to support joint and joint fluid health can have a real impact.
Additionally, using our Super Joint Powder for Horses to treat arthritis doesn’t prevent your horse from receiving other treatment options. Whether your horse is receiving physical therapy for inflammation or back issues or they are taking medications like NSAIDs, our joint powder integrates easily. Because our all-natural products provide nutrients that equine joints already need, you aren’t introducing unusual substances that their body cannot process. Not only is our Super Joint Formula Powder excellent for the treatment of equine joint inflammation, but it can also serve to improve joint health before problems arise. While there is no way to prevent arthritis with certainty, the shark cartilage, MSM, and glucosamine sulfate in this powder can support healthy cartilage, bone, and joint fluid to help your horse age gracefully.
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/white-horse-horse-nature-animal-1136093/
