Horses are and have always been great pets. They provide wonderful companionship to many people all around the world. While they are physically sturdy and strong, they are prone to a number of health problems specific to horses. Arthritis is just one example and it is not a condition to be taken lightly. Much like humans arthritis in horses can not be reversed. It can be a painful disease as you can imagine. There are methods, however, to limit the disparaging symptoms of this disease and provide the horse with plenty of relief. As a matter of fact, much of this can be done with the proper care and the right treatments.

If you are a proud owner of a beautiful horse but unfortunately it is diagnosed with arthritis, you must understand the horse will be on medication and supplements for the rest of its life. The most common equine supplements are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In many instances, they will provide adequate pain relief to return the horse to its’ everyday activities.

You will need to mull over if a treatment should be used to alleviate soft tissue inflammation and pain, or if you want to get the joint fluid back to normal. In addition, you’ll probably have to make a decision if you are hoping to either slow down or prevent entirely cartilage disintegration. Quite frequently, horse owners find that a combination of treatment methods typically yield the best results.

If the horse has early symptoms of arthritis but there is no cartilage damage, then the very best thing you can do is to allow the animal to rest. Most veterinarians recommend anywhere from a few days to a few months. The horse should receive injections of anti-inflammatory medications into the muscles or the affected joint and undergo physical therapy, like ice or heat treatments, for example. Your veterinarian can usually recommend the best course of action depending on the animals’ medical history and normal exercise routine.

In regards to equine supplements for treating arthritis cases, horse owners tend to favor supplements which include glucosamine and chondroitin. These two ingredients are helpful in repairing damaged cartilage. They also aid in the return of elasticity to the cartilage.

Assuming your horse is not already rendered severely lame by arthritis, exercise everyday is extremely important. Daily exercise allows for the continued support and strengthening of the muscles which support the joints. It also aids the cartilage of the joints in retaining its potency while helping to reduce the development of arthritis.