Re: Joint questions/ feed question

["Kathy Myers" <kathy@nvolve.com>]

Carol writes:
>A friend of mine has a horse that has had a lameness problem.  At the
>Timberon ride the vets seemed to think it was maybe arthritis and suggested
>a product similar to adequan (can't remember the name) but was less
>expensive.  Friend wants to know what others are using for slightly
>arthritic horses to keep them comfortable and sound, especially for
>multiday rides.  What are the dosages?  How often?  Injectible or oral?
>Any other management protocols?

Adequan injections once a month are helpful.  If this is just
a slight arthritis your friend might start with just the oral
supplements.  That's assuming she can give them to her horse
everyday.  Adequan is easier in that it's just a once a month
injection.

Before starting on a maintanence schedule of any joint product
it's often helpful to "kick start" the whole process.  That
would be like giving Adequan IM once a week for 3 weeks or
even more effective is Legend IV once a week for 3 weeks.
Then do the maintanence oral / injections afterwards.

With the orals, while just GAGS or CS alone is effective in
some horses, GAGS in combination with CS orally is most effective.
This is why Cosequin appears to work better than the others.
However, I, for one, don't particularly like the company so
I don't use their product.  Instead I mix my own since both
CS and GAGS are available singularly off the shelf.  The amounts
per serving is important.   There have been published minimum
amounts of each in several magazines... Michael Plumb for one...
but I don't know the numbers off the top of my head.  Currently
I am using Sure-Flex since I believe they also provide both
GAGS and CS although their label is not allowed to say specifially
that.  Some rumor about Cosequin and a lawsuit.

MSM is often effective in a synergistic way.  However, MSM
tests like DMSO so it is not legal for drug testing.  MSM
is supposed to reduce inflamation... something helpful when
dealing with arthritic joints.  I believe that none of these
products is an analgesic... ie mask pain.

>My 4 yr. old will be doing two 25 milers a month this fall.  We will be
>going slow to see the scenery and get used to the ride activities.  These
>will be our conditioning rides to start 5O's next fall.  I was considering
>using either chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine as a maintenance and
>preventative.

I could be wrong, but I am under the impression that most
4 year olds do not need any of these joint helpers.  They
are young and have their own metabolic processes working
fine.  If you have a 4yo that is already arthritic (I've
heard of these too) then I guess it's an option, but long
term soundness for endurance would also be in question.
Working horses hard too young CAN bring on early arthritic
changes (TB ex-race horses for example) but instead of using
these products as a prevenatative I'd imagine the better
choice is to simply not work your 4yo too hard too young.
Doesn't sound like you are working your 4yo that hard.

These are all just my own opinions.  I have used several
joint supplements on several horses with great success.
I am still amazed at our new opions to deal with arthritis.
If you have any questions please let me know.

:) - kat myers
in San Mateo, Ca with Magnum the TB ex-racer who is
     happy on his joint therapeutics
and Mr Maajistic... steely-eyed endurance arab who
     is too young to worry about these things yet