Making joint decisions ...

[Dakotawyatt]

How do you decide when to take the plunge and begin joint maintenance? I have a 6 year old ottb that I've had for a year, and I'm feeling it's time already to start him on some type of maintenance. I have no desire to do any types of feed thru stuff, becuase I'm just not the type to waste money. He is currently on U-Guard powder, but I think it's time to discontinue because he's happy, non stressed, and in fantastic physical condition.

He's been getting twice monthly massages now for about 3 months, and the therapist finally watched him go the other day. She sees "something" in the right hind that she doesn't like. Either stifle or hock. He is NOT lame or off at all. It was his movement that she was commenting on. And when I finished my ride, he had literal HEAT around the SI, and on either side of his hindquarters.

Our schoolies get monthly glucosamine shots, and seem pretty happy. All the show horses get monthly Adequan, and also seem pretty happy. If I do joint injections, it seems a little extreme for a 6 year old. If I start on glucosamine/Adequan NOW, I'll have to keep him on it forever and ever because I'll rob his body of the ability to lube his joints on his own.

I do hill work/flat work with him about 3 times a week, and jump once or twice a week. I only jump higher than 2'6 every other week or so, and even then it's only 3'. I don't even do full course work because my barn has 3 jumps and 3 18" cavellettis. We've done 2 shows in a year, and I plan this year to do a clinic or 2 as opposed to shows.

Advice is appreciated. My boss really likes the Adequan, and I believe it works, but the cost is a commitment. She also likes the glucosamine, but again, it's a price commitment, and I would rather pay $40 a month for something that works vs. $20 a month for something that doesn't.

[Equino]

My mare gets Adequan. I happened to start give it to her when she needed her hocks done 3 years ago. Whether it's all she needed, or she happened to have a bad day when she was flexed 3 years ago, she has not needed to be injected since-and she does get evaluated by my vet twice a year. So, I personally swear by Adequan and I would recommend using that over any other form of injection or oral supplement.

That said, I don't think once you start Adequan the hose has to be on it indefinitely. When given IM, Adequan helps promote formation of healthy cartilage and helps increase the production of joint fluid by decreasing inflammation in joints. It also helps in the repair process when trauma occurs. It doesn't replace the joint fluid so that the body stops producing it. I have known horses to be put on a course of Adequan following an injury, then stopped with no issues resulting from no more Adequan.

As for oral supplements, I like Cosequin, but I agree, I think most are a waste of money.

[dwblover]

I have never heard of Adequan robbing the body of its ability to do anything, you should call them and talk to them. My OTTB is also six and he gets the loading dose of Adequan twice per year. That is what studies show to be effective. I know the company was working on studies to show if the monthly single dose is effective so I may do that if that info comes out. He also gets Conquer gel which was studied in an equine veterinary journal and found to be helpful in reducing inflammation. I think it's best to stop arthritis before it starts and not wait until the horse is older.

[chawley]

My soon to be 17 yr. old older hunter has many miles and is in the process of fusing. I injected him for the first time this summer, and he also receives a daily oral joint solution and monthly Adequan shots. While he was doing okay with that program, he still wasn't 100%. I started laser therapy on both hocks and his back and hips 3-4 times a week, and he has been wonderful! I'm stunned at the difference it's made.

[Ozone]

Glucosimine Injection? Never heard of that before...

My horse is now 14 and just got injections into his hocks - cortisone and Legend shot and is on Antiflex Complete with HA and Yucca. Works for him.

Because your horse is 6 years old does not mean he does not need maintence now. I don't recall anything saying once you start you can never stop using the HA's either. Your horse is telling you something is not quite right at 6 years old. You are better off to start him on it now so you have many more years with him...

Chawley - laser therapy? What does your vet do? How long does it take? It's costly? Curious about that.

[LauraKY]

I know you don't like orals, but 10,000 mg. of MSM has done wonders for my OTTBs. We use the AniMed brand. It's inexpensive, so you're not wasting money, and it really seems to make a difference.

[magnolia73]

I injected my 6 yo this spring. I also keep her on MSM, 24/7 turnout, worked 5-6 days a week. In my case, I knew she had the issue with the hock, so I chose to treat it directly.

I have been told that often with OTTB's (well, young horses in general), if they have an issue at a young age, and you treat it, and keep them in work properly that you will not need to necessarily continue the injections like the old campaigners get. For her, since April, she has continued to improve and move better.

I'd get some x-rays and talk to your vet about the right course of action.

[toomanyponies]

Get your vet out to have her flexed, maybe shoot an xray or two. It could be a temporary thing, or it could be arthritis starting in the joint. I would be tempted to start with non-invasive, like a loading course of Adequan, maybe combined with topical Surpass on the (potentially) offending joint.

[yellowbritches]

I would caution your massage therapist to be very, very careful on what she says about your horse. In some states there can be serious consequences for a massage therapist who makes anything that remotely resembles a diagnosis. Some vets can get really snarky if you say something about what your massage therapist thinks she sees or thinks she feels.

Anyway, as for the question, I do what they need, when they need it. If a young horse is telling me something isn't right, I'm not going to ignore it or try to mask it, I'm going to deal with it and I'm going to deal with it the best way our vet thinks is best. Sometimes that can be as simple as some supplementation, but it might be joint injections. But if I have a horse with some years on it who is still fine and dandy and happy as can be, then why fix what isn't broke? ;) My horses work HARD for me and are ATHLETES. I want them to get the very best care to keep them happy and make doing their job as effortless as it can be.

[yellowbritches]

If I do joint injections, it seems a little extreme for a 6 year old. If I start on glucosamine/Adequan NOW, I'll have to keep him on it forever and ever because I'll rob his body of the ability to lube his joints on his own.

PS- If a horse has some changes and is uncomfortable, it isn't extreme. A good lameness exam and radiographs is the best way to decide what is needed.

But, where exactly did you hear that starting them on Adequan etc, robs them of their ability to lube their joints? THAT sounds totally hokey.

[Dakotawyatt]

I never thought the joint supplements would do that, but at the barn where my horse lives, there area a lot of *experts*.:winkgrin: That statement about the joint supps came from the farrier and the "cowboy".:D I figured a COTH "debunking" was in order.:yes:

Just got a script for the Adequan. I think I've talked myself into going for it. Now I'm wondering if I should only go with the loading dose, or if I should do the loading dose plus the monthly? All the show horses get the monthly dose. My boy always comes out of his stall a hair on the stiff side, and I definitely want him to be comfortable because he's the only one I've got!

Not ready yet for x-rays and all that jazz ... I think I'll save a little money if I start him on the Adequan and see if it makes a difference. He's not in any way lame or unsound, just a little stiff.

Thanks for the words of advice, y'all gave me a good perspective. It's nice to know that if I start him on this, I don't necessarily have to keep him on it forever and ever.

[Fharoah]

In my opinion the sooner you know if there is something wrong will save you money, I would have your vet at least take a look at your horse before even doing the loading dose.

Good luck!

[Gry2Yng]

In my opinion the sooner you know if there is something wrong will save you money, I would have your vet at least take a look at your horse before even doing the loading dose.

Good luck!

Agree.

[TheOrangeOne]

The longer there is inflammation in the joint, the more permanent damage that is done to the cartilage. I'd rather start injecting a young horse and take that inflammation out, and only have to do it every year or even every two years than to wait until the cartilage and joint fluid both have irreparable damage. At this stage, however, I would start with a loading dose of adequan, since in my experience, that month can really help younger horses who are encountering some stiffness. I'm also not a big oral supplement person, but if I had another horse who had minor changes, I'd try it and see if it worked.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

In my opinion the sooner you know if there is something wrong will save you money, I would have your vet at least take a look at your horse before even doing the loading dose.

Good luck!

Ditto. I'd absolutely have the vet do some diagnostics before anything else.

It would be a good idea to have baseline x-rays for a horse you suspect is undergoing arthritic changes anyway--at least if you plan on continuing to campaign it, imho.

[Beam Me Up]

One question--do YOU see an unevenness in his hind end, or just the massage therapist does?

Honestly I would probably do some diagnostics so you don't waste your money on the wrong treatment. The RH (stifle vs. hock) and SI are likely going to be treated differently. Hocks are usually about arthritic changes, stifles can be arthritic or more of a loose/weak issue, IME SI issues usually need direct joint injections as opposed to IM/IV stuff.

X-rays will at least let you know if you are dealing with changes (and if so give you a baseline for the future) or if it's something else.


As for joint injections robbing them of the ability to lube their own joints, I've heard that many times too, especially before the Legend/Adequan craze of the past decade, and I think it comes from the older cortizone/HA mix injections that did in fact do joint damage, which you truly could only do so many of in a horse's life. I believe the current injections are much gentler.

[pattnic]

...at the barn where my horse lives, there area a lot of *experts*.:winkgrin:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[serendipityhunter]

Agree with the others, get a lameness exam done so you know what your dealing with, and the best route of dealing with those issues. It is worth every penny.