Horse Medication for Arthritis

A number of medical treatment options exist for treating horses with arthritis, otherwise known as degenerative joint disease. Medications will work best if started as soon as arthritis symptoms are recognized.

  1. Cox 1 versus Cox 2 enzymes

    • Cox 2 enzymes cause the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis while Cox 1 enzymes help to protect and maintain the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract. Medications that selectively target only the Cox 2 enzymes will get results without the potential side effect of irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.

    Basic Medications

    • Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs are among the most basic medications for horses with arthritis. The least expensive NSAID is Phenylbutazone, also known as "Bute," which is both a Cox 1 and Cox 2 enzyme inhibitor. More expensive medications such as Remedil or Equioxx are Cox 2 selective inhibitors that result in fewer side effects.

    Topical anti-inflammatory medication

    • Surpass is an NSAID that is delivered as a cream applied directly to the horse's skin over the joint.

    Injectable Medications

    • Legend, a medication delivered intravenously, is composed of hyaluronic acid--a normal component of joint fluid. Adequan is delivered intramuscularly and helps to rebuild and protect cartilage lost to arthritis. Joint injections consisting of steroids with or without hyaluronic acid can be injected directly into the joint capsule.

    IRAP

    • Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein can be injected directly into the joint to block the inflammatory cascade, or process, in order to prevent the worsening of the arthritis symptoms.

    Stem Cell Therapy

    • Stem cell therapy, such as that available from Vet-Stem, is injected directly into the joint to help synthesize new cartilage cells that will rebuild the joint.