Raise Your Joint IQ

Approximately ___% of lameness problems in horses are related to osteoarthritis.

• a.) 10
• b.) 40
• c.) 60
  Approximately 60% of lameness problems in horses are related to osteoarthritis (usually referred to simply as “arthritis”). Also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), arthritis is progressive and permanent deterioration of articular cartilage, the tissue that lines the ends of bones. Healthy articular cartilage provides a smooth, slippery surface that allows free movement and contributes to the shock-absorbing properties of the joint. Compromised articular cartilage can result in signs ranging from decreased athletic performance to career-ending lameness.
• d.) 95

How often should horses with arthritis be exercised?

• a.) Never
• b.) Once a week
• c.) Once a day
  With your veterinarian’s blessing, daily exercise is actually very beneficial for horses with arthritis! Just be sure your rides include good, long warm-ups and cool-downs, and avoid repetitive exercises like lunging. If your horse trains and competes at upper levels, you may also want to consider dropping down a level to reduce some stress on the joints. Additionally, a horse with arthritis should be turned out as much as possible because constant movement is much healthier for joints than standing still.
• d.) Twice a day

Which of the following factors should be considered when picking a joint supplement?

• a.) Age
• b.) Workload
• c.) Competition status
• d.) All of the above
  Increases in age and workload are usually associated with an increased level of wear and tear on joints, which in turn can increase your horse’s risk of developing arthritis. Competition status is important because some joint supplements contain herbs that are not allowed by competitive organizations.

True or False You should only use a joint supplement if your horse is showing signs of stiffness or discomfort.

• True
• False
  Joint supplements are designed to provide your horse’s body with the natural ingredients he needs to maintain healthy joints. This means that the best time to start a joint supplement is before your horse starts showing signs of stiffness and discomfort. However, horses already displaying signs of arthritis can also benefit from joint supplements, as they can help support healthy synovial fluid and a normal inflammatory response, giving already-stressed cartilage additional support.

True or False All joint supplements are created equal.

• True
• False
  Many joint supplements contain similar ingredients, with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid (HA) being the most common. However, different supplements provide varying levels of these ingredients, so it’s important to find one that suits your horse’s needs. In addition, some supplements incorporate ingredients like MSM, ASU, omega  fatty acids, herbs, and antioxidants for more comprehensive joint support.

Approximately ___% of jumpers and grand prix dressage horses studied have shown arthritic changes in the hock?

• a.) 5
• b.) 15
• c.) 35
• d.) 50
  Arthritis in the hock is also known as “bone spavin,” and just about every type of heavy work puts a significant amount of stress on the hock. In fact, as many as half of the jumpers and grand prix dressage horses studied have shown arthritic changes in the hock joints.

True or False Joint supplements are only for horses.

• True
• False
  Your other four-legged friend can benefit from joint supplements, too! Just like with your horse, providing your dog with joint support is a great way to keep him comfortable as he ages, and extend the years you have to play together.

True or False Glucosamine is bad for horses with insulin resistance or other metabolic disorders.

• True
• False
  In a recent study, Cosequin® Equine Powder, which contains glucosamine, was given at up to five times maintenance levels for 84 days (that’s 36 grams or 36,000 mg of glucosamine daily). No adverse effects on blood sugar levels or any clinically significant effects on any biochemical parameters were seen.

Arthritic changes have been seen in:

• a.) Older horses
• b.) Young horses
• c.) Competitive horses
• d.) Wild Mustangs
• e.) All of the above
  With so many risk factors for arthritis (workload, injury, conformation, age), it’s no surprise that arthritic changes have been seen in horses of all ages, breeds, and disciplines. In addition, one study found arthritic changes in a herd of wild mustangs, leading the researchers to conclude that arthritis is a natural part of the aging process, even for horses that have never been ridden. Those researchers further suggested that the stresses associated with training may accelerate that process.

True or False You should feed a daily joint supplement if you’re also using injectable support.

• True
  Injectable joint medications and oral joint supplements actually serve different purposes. Intravenous and intramuscular injections are designed to help reverse the effects of DJD, while oral joint supplements provide key ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and HA to offer daily support for healthy joint tissue, fluid, and cartilage. For the most comprehensive approach, we suggest using both forms of support to keep your horse going strong.
• False

Which of these terms can be another name for arthritis in the horse?

• a.) Ringbone
• b.) Bone Spavin
• c.) Navicular
• d.) All of the above
  “Ringbone” can refer to arthritis in the pastern joint, “bone spavin” can refer to arthritis in the hock joint, and in some instances “navicular” can refer to arthritis of the navicular bone.