My 24 year old Quarter horse gelding is having some troubles with the arthritis in his back legs. Out vet gave us some bute. he is fine during the summer but is there anything that I can give him to help in out in the colder months? any natural remedies or something I can buy at a local store?
I have a 23 year old retired polo horse. She has arthritis too. Like your horse, she does well during the warm months but the winter is really hard on her.
What helps her is getting her moving. I have noticed that even though she is turned out 24/7, when it is really cold she doesn't move much so I make sure I pull,her out of her field at least 3 days a week amd slowly hand walk her all over the farm to get her joints moving. It helps a lot.
I also have her on joint supplements. I started with Smartpak Smartflex II but have recently switched to the Dumor brand at tractor supply.
Just counting the days until warmer weather gets here.
B-L Pellets. You can get them on horse.com for a pretty good price. They are a natural form of Bute. Less money, and easier on the stomach. They say it's equal to about 1.5-2 grams of bute. My mare is on it and it really seems to help her
I give mine MSM twice a day and it has made a huge improvement in my arthritic horse's movement and stiffness. I tried everything else, even injections which I couldn't afford to continue, but the MSM has seemed to work the best. When it's really cold out I will give him a very small amount of bute as well.
I used to also bring a small electric blanket to the barn and lay it across his hip to warm him up when it was really cold. He stands so quiet and after a bit he drops his head and his lip. He gets pretty excited when he sees me bringing the blanket.
aawww.. how cute. I take it that he is blanketed ? If you dont have some old leg warmers, do you know anyone that can knit him some ? I know when my knee really hurts, having some warmth on it helps.
Chia Seeds are FANTASTIC i used to have an old horse with Artharitus and i swear after just over two weeks i saw Huge Improvement ... just a small scoop a day ( you get scoop with it )
OP - do you use Cosequin? Does wonders for the joints...it comes in a form with MSM. I use it on my 13 yr old mare for preventative measures, but being an arthritis sufferer myself I do know that condroitin and MSM do help.
These products are pricey but they work miracles. They are NOT meant to be left on during turnout.
I am so ecstatic with the therapeutic back pad, Quick Wraps, and hock wraps, that I ordered the mesh dog coat, today, for my 11 yr old Dobe/Rott.
The fractured pelvis from when I rescued her 9 years ago, is starting to really bother her, so I'm hoping the coat helps her.
I also know a lady who ordered the long johns for her husband and she said they are working wonders.
Buying these "self-generating heating pads" as I like to call them, doesn't meant you stop using the med/pellets. But they should kick the Feels Good up another notch or two
My 25 yo TWH has hock/ankle arthritis. I have cut his hylarin/boswelia in half since I started using the BOT hock wraps and he has been coming out of his stall with a fairly swinging back end, lately. Not as swingy as when he was ten but his movement is a lot more free, since I started wearing the BOT hock wraps on him four hours every morning
Oh I forgot to say I do also have magnetic hock boots if there's ever a random day he's more stiff than he should be. They definitely help too!
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