Ever wondered what arthritis is? Or how it’s different from degenerative joint disease? Let’s break it down!
Arthritis in Horses? Arthritis is basically inflammation in the joints. This can happen for lots of reasons like trauma, infection, or just overuse. When this inflammation goes on for a while, it can damage the cartilage and bone, leading to what we call "arthritic changes." In severe cases, it becomes "osteoarthritis" or "degenerative joint disease."
In the early stages of arthritis, you might not see any changes on X-rays. But as inflammation gets worse, the cartilage starts to wear away. The joint space narrows, providing less cushion for the bones, which then start to stress and produce new layers of bone as protection. This bone is denser and less flexible, causing more pain. It's a cycle of cartilage thinning, bone remodeling, and thickening of soft tissues, which can be seen on X-rays as degenerative joint disease.
How Can We Prevent This? The key is stopping the inflammation. Sounds easy, right? Not quite. Many products that stop inflammation can also harm joint health and body function.
Corticosteroids These are often injected into horse joints for pain relief. They're great at stopping inflammation but can damage cartilage over time, potentially contributing to degenerative joint disease. So, using them on a young horse might not be best for long-term joint health.
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories) Commonly used drugs like Phenylbutazone or Banamine can reduce inflammation effectively but can cause serious side effects like gastric ulcers, kidney damage, and colitis with long-term use.
Better Options for Stopping Inflammation
Orthobiologics Instead of steroids, we can use substances like Protein Rich Plasma (PRP) and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP) made from the horse’s own blood. These are processed to harvest natural anti-inflammatory mediators, which can be injected back into the joint to help repair damage and preserve cartilage. The downside? They can be costly, and there’s a small risk of infection with any joint injection.
COX-2 Selective Inhibitors Drugs like Firocoxib (Equioxx) or Meloxicam are less likely to interfere with the body’s normal processes compared to other NSAIDs. They are less potent but can be used longer term with fewer side effects. However, they can still cause problems if used in high doses over long periods, so horses on these drugs should have breaks and regular blood work every six months.
Natural Alternatives You know we love nature! Our Lifespan product is packed with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herbs.
Turmeric: A natural COX-2 selective antagonist with none of the bad side effects seen in manufactured drugs.
Frankincense (Boswellia): Enhances turmeric's effects by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme crucial in the inflammatory process.
Rosemary: Suppresses inflammatory molecules that increase during arthritis.
Flaxseed: A great source of Omega-3 fatty acids that helps absorb turmeric better and reduces interleukin-6, a key player in chronic arthritis.
In summary, there are many options for managing arthritis, and none are perfect. It's important to educate yourself to make the best long-term choices for your horse.
Hope you found this helpful!
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