Do Horse Joint Supplements Work?

If you want to place your horse on a joint supplement either as a preventative or to help alleviate joint pain he already exhibits, you have many products to choose. The effectiveness of joint supplements has been questioned, but it finally seems there are some results to answer those questions.

  1. Types

    • Most joint supplements can be separated into two types: injectables and oral, with oral being the more widely used. The active ingredient in injectables is either hyaluronic acid or polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (also referred to as PSGAGs). Oral supplements run a gamut from glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (the most common ingredients) to herbs such as devil's claw.

    Regulations

    • Only injectable joint supplements are considered pharmaceuticals and therefore regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Oral supplements are considered nutraceuticals and so are largely unregulated. There is one group, the National Animal Supplement Council, that subjects members to a quality standard. This is in no way a guarantee of the joint supplement's effectiveness, but it does mean the product should contain what the label claims it contains.

    Injectables

    • Injectable joint supplements, whether PSGAGs or hyaluronic acid, have been shown to be effective, as they are approved by the FDA. They also have no side effects and only one contraindication: intra-articular PSGAGs cannot be given if there is an infection in the horse's joint. Hyaluronic acid has been used in horses since the 1970s.

    Orals

    • In regards to oral joint supplements, most research has been done on glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, and it seems these two supplements work best together. They are already packaged together in many cases. There is also some positive evidence regarding methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), avocado and soy unsaponifiables (ASUs) and cetylated fatty acids.

    Warning

    • There have been some studies done where the researchers discovered the amounts of ingredients used in oral joint supplements were lower than what the supplement's label read, or the label is recommending dosages below what studies have found to be therapeutic doses. A large part of this is due to the lack of regulation nutraceuticals have, but you can try to safeguard yourself by buying from companies that have been in existence for several years.