Equine Arthritis Treatments

There are various treatments for equine arthritis. You can choose a treatment based on the severity of your horse's arthritis and your horse's workload. If you're worried about your horse getting arthritis, there are several methods of prevention.

  1. Acute Arthritis Treatment

    • Put the horse on stall rest and cold hose the joint for 10 to 20 minutes a day, or apply other cold therapy. You can apply DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) topically, or get an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as bute or Banamine) from your vet. Your horse will appreciate short periods of hand grazing. Return your horse to work slowly.

    Cortisone Injections

    • Corticosteriods (which may have hyaluronic acid added) are injected directly into the joint. Your horse will have a few days off after the procedure. The injection's effects will last a few weeks, or may extend to a year or more depending on your horse's workload and the progression of the disease. As a warning, consider that too many injections may make your horse's arthritis worse.

    Systemic Injections

    • The two most common systemic injections (meaning that the injection travels through the whole body rather than just to the joint) are the brand names Legend and Adequan. Legend is hyaluronic acid injected intravenously, and Adequan is polysulfated glycosaminoglycan that can be given through the muscle or intravenously. The injections are given every few weeks; your vet will help you decide how often.

    Oral Supplements

    • Oral supplements come in several formulations: powdered, pelleted, and liquid. These supplements usually consist of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane. More supplements are beginning to include hyaluronic acid. Oral supplements are used mostly as preventatives, and there is no research on their effectiveness.

    Pasture

    • Keeping your horse on pasture can be better for him if you suspect arthritis or know he has arthritis. The constant movement keeps the joint lubricated. This is also the best horse-keeping method for preventing arthritis.