Joint Health

By: Lorelei Prichard DVM
About the author

Osteoarthritis, or inflammation of the bones of the joint, is one of the most common ailments seen in horses. Although treatment can control or reverse the symptoms of joint pain in some acute cases, chronic trauma to the joint eventually destroys the protective joint cartilage making damage irreversible.

What are the signs of joint pain in a horse? Inflammation is the most common sign of joint disease and is recognized as heat, pain and swelling. These symptoms are often accompanied by a decreased range of motion and a compensatory change in the use of the opposite limb.

Although joint disease can affect any joint, it is frequently identified in the knees, front fetlocks, hocks and front coffin joints.  The long-term consequences of joint disease include arthritis and degenerative joint disease, both of which can lead to the premature end of a performance horse’s career.

Although joint inflammation can result from direct trauma, it is more often associated with recurring stress upon the joints as a result of poor conformation and/or aggressive workouts. Penetrating wounds that allow bacteria access to the joint space can also lead to joint disease.

Inflammation can be a destructive force in your horse’s joints. When injury occurs, the damaged tissues release byproducts of inflammation. These substances belong to the body’s protective response system and may further impair the joint as they cause secondary changes to the healthy tissue. A vicious cycle can transpire as damage caused by inflammation may lead to cartilage damage that results in yet more inflammation. Repeated or chronic inflammation can result in permanent tissue damage.

Prevention is the best way to avoid joint disease, but once inflammation is present in the joint, management is the next best thing. This includes decreasing existing inflammation already present in the joint. There are several products available that can be used to manage an inflamed joint. These include disease-modifying agents (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronate sodium, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Omega-3 fatty acids, and steroids.

Oral therapy with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can be combined with injectable agents (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan intramuscularly or hyaluronic acid intravenously or intra-articularly) and/or NSAIDS for faster results. These products can decrease pain, increase range of motion and improve function in those joints by restoring the synovial fluid to a more functional level. 

Whether joint supplementation would be beneficial can only be determined once the source of the inflammation is identified and the severity of damage is assessed.  Degeneration or damage to the cartilage of the joint is one factor that may limit a positive response. It is only beneficial for a select group of conditions and is not a cure for advanced joint disease. Loss of articular cartilage (seen in advanced joint disease), indicated by the narrowing of the joint space, may be identified through the use of radiographs.

Joint instability and the presence of osteochondral fractures may also diminish a positive response to these disease-modifying agents. If cartilage damage or bone chips are present, therapy alone may be inadequate. Most horses demonstrate a positive response in three to four weeks to injectable therapy, but because these products are not a cure, but rather stabilizing treatments, future injections may be necessary to maintain your horse’s condition. Supplementation with oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (as found in Dr. Mike’s Equine Joint Supplement) may increase your horse’s chances of improvement.

Prior to any therapy designed to address lameness or joint pain, the horse owner should utilize his veterinarian to determine the source of lameness. This can be determined through the use of a physical exam, hoof-tester evaluation, radiographs, flexion tests, and nerve blocks. Armed with this knowledge, your veterinarian can assist you in choosing the most effective and beneficial therapy for your horse.

Copyright © 2007 Lorelei Prichard DVM