Equine arthritis can affect horses of all disciplines and ages, and early intervention is crucial for maintaining comfort and performance. Your ability to recognize subtle changes and collaborate with your veterinarian makes you your horse’s most important joint health advocate.
No one knows your horse better than you. The bond you share allows you to see when they’re at their best, when they’re at their worst and even when something is slightly off. Subtle things like changes in stride, reluctance to collect, or hesitation before familiar jumps are things you notice.
These quiet signals of potential lameness speak volumes to an attentive and informed rider. As your horse’s trusted partner, you’re in the perfect position to notice the earliest signs of a form of arthritis called degenerative joint disease (DJD), a condition responsible for 60% of equine lameness cases.1 Your ability to recognize these quiet warnings, before they become serious problems, creates the opportunity for early intervention that can help preserve your horse’s athletic ability and comfort for years to come.
Your watchful eye matters
The close relationship you have with your horse puts you in the best position to notice things that even a veterinarian might not pick up on. Your horse might be telling you something’s wrong, but not in the way you expect. Poor performance, unwillingness to respond to commands, or even an uncharacteristically bad attitude could all be early warning signs of arthritis.
When you’re familiar with the common signs of joint disease, you can take action at the first hint of trouble. Watch for:
Catching these signs early means you can take action promptly, which is important to help slow the effects of arthritis. Your observations could mean the difference between managing a minor issue and dealing with a career-limiting condition.
The power of regular soundness exams
Veterinarians agree that regular soundness examinations are one of the best ways to identify problems before they significantly impact your horse. Regular examinations with your veterinarian, paired with your observations, help establish your horse’s “normal,” making it easier to identify changes that might indicate developing joint problems. During these checkups, your veterinarian will conduct specialized assessments that can reveal joint sensitivity that may not be apparent during normal movement.
When communicating with your veterinarian about your horse’s joint health, be specific about when you noticed changes, what activities cause discomfort, and any recent adjustments to your horse’s routine. This detailed information helps your veterinarian arrive at an accurate diagnosis and devise an effective treatment plan. Be prepared to discuss:
This information supports the diagnostic procedures your veterinarian may recommend, which could include radiographs, nerve blocks, ultrasounds and more.
Every horse deserves protection
One truth every horse owner needs to understand? Arthritis doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to any horse despite their age, breed or discipline. They are all vulnerable, but proactive joint health management can make all the difference.
While elite athletes certainly face intense joint demands, your trail horse or pasture companion is just as susceptible to joint deterioration. Every collected canter or simple trot across the pasture generates forces that, over time, can affect joint health.
Similarly, arthritis isn’t just a concern for aging horses—the process often begins silently in younger years, long before obvious symptoms appear. When arthritis is identified early, you have a better chance to effectively manage the condition and maintain your horse’s mobility.
The best way to help prevent joint disease? Take precautions and help your horse live a healthy lifestyle through:
What do I do if my horse is diagnosed with arthritis?
Don’t panic—an arthritis diagnosis isn’t always career-ending and in some cases doesn’t have to be life-changing. It’s all about working with your veterinarian to find the right treatment plan for your horse. Managing joint disease effectively requires collaboration with your veterinarian to find the right multimodal approach, and communication with your trainer to adjust training schedules and intensity accordingly. Your veterinarian’s expertise is key when designing a plan that addresses joint health from multiple angles, giving your horse the best chance for comfort and continued performance.
When creating a management protocol for your horse’s arthritis, ask about treatment options that target the disease itself rather than just addressing the signs. Adequan i.m.® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) stands out as the only FDA-approved PSGAG that treats the disease itself as well as the symptoms, working at the molecular level to interrupt the cycle of joint deterioration.2-4
Adequan i.m. complements other management practices by addressing several aspects of joint health simultaneously. It reduces inflammation, inhibits cartilage-damaging enzymes, stimulates repair of joint components, and improves synovial fluid viscosity for better cushioning.4 This multifaceted action makes it a valuable part of your horse’s complete arthritis care. See below for Indications and a Brief Summary of Important Safety Information for Adequan i.m.
Safety should always be a top priority for any arthritis treatment you and your veterinarian choose. With millions of doses administered and an established safety profile, Adequan i.m. has earned the trust of veterinarians and horse owners. For over 30 years, veterinarians have given Adequan i.m. to help horses of every discipline and activity level enjoy greater mobility over their lifetimes.2-4
It’s suitable for horses of various ages and activity levels, offering practical flexibility for your arthritis management plan. The safe use of Adequan i.m. in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy or in lactating mares has not been evaluated. Competition horses benefit from treatment continuity, and Adequan i.m. can sometimes be used during competition periods. This allows your horse to receive necessary care without disrupting their performance schedule—an important consideration that helps maintain both joint health and competitive readiness.
Early intervention with the right treatment approach gives your horse the best chance of maintaining joint function and slowing disease progression. Open, detailed discussions with your veterinarian about your horse’s symptoms, history and lifestyle can help when designing an effective treatment plan. Your vet can help determine if Adequan i.e. is appropriate for your horse’s specific condition and how it fits within a complete management strategy.
By working closely with your veterinarian to implement a multimodal approach that includes treatments like Adequan i.e. when appropriate, you’re acting as your horse’s joint health champion. Schedule regular check-ins with your vet to monitor progress and adjust treatments as needed—because this ongoing partnership is key to your horse’s long-term joint health. See below for Indications and a Brief Summary of Important Safety Information for Adequan i.e.
Talk to your veterinarian about Adequan i.e. and how it can be part of your horse’s joint health management plan. For more information, visit www.adequan.com.
BRIEF SUMMARY: Prior to use please consult the product insert, a summary of which follows: CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. INDICATIONS: Adequan® i.m. is recommended for the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. CONTRAINDICATIONS: There are no known contraindications to the use of intramuscular Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. WARNINGS: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. PRECAUTIONS: The safe use of Adequan® i.m. in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy, or in lactating mares has not been evaluated. For customer care, or to obtain product information, visit www.adequan.com. To report an adverse event please contact American Regent, Inc. at 1-888-354-4857 or email pv@americanregent.com.
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