Arthritis in horses

A general overview of arthritis in horses, the symptoms to look for, and possible treatment.

By Jack Marinadi, Vet   Talk to the Author.

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Arthritis in horses

Although we often think of arthritis as a human affliction, it is also very common in horses and ends many racing and other performance careers.

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects horses by causing lameness. Although it can appear in any joint, most common areas are the upper knee joint, front fetlocks, hocks, or coffin joints in the front feet. Arthritis can be caused by injuries, loose joints, an abnormal growth pattern, or it can be hereditary.

Regardless of the cause, the disease begins when the synovial fluid that lubricates healthy joints begins to thin. The decrease in lubrication causes the cartilage cushion to break down, and eventually the bones begin to grind painfully against each other.

Horses over the age of 15 are especially prone to arthritis since cartilage begins to wear out faster than it is produced at that age. This results in more bone-to-bone contact and joint injury. Older horses also are affected by tendons and ligaments that become more elastic, which can result in tears, joint instability and inflammation. Another factor that contributes to the disease is abnormal growth such as toes that turn out or crooked legs. This type of growth causes cartilage to wear out unevenly. Other at-risk categories include horses that are overworked or generally not physically fit.

Arthritis is treatable and manageable if it is detected early enough. Because of this, it is important to know the warning signs. Some of the symptoms include mild swelling and heat in a joint, general decreased range of motion, or increased stiffness before warming up. After exercise, horses with arthritis may exhibit either slight lameness or have an obvious limp. Other signs include changes in performance such as a decline or changes in the horse's general attitude.

When these signs are present, it is important to have the horse examined by a veterinarian to determine if the horse has developed arthritis. Diagnostic tests may include observation as the horse performs various gaits, X-rays, joint fluid analysis, and ultrasound. If problem areas are found, further fluid samples, X-rays and ultrasounds may be used to determine the extent of the condition.

Once the presence of arthritis has been determined, treatment depends upon the severity of the disease and the amount of work the horse is expected to perform. Sometimes a basic treatment of stall rest and ice packs will help reduce inflammation and swelling. In severe cases, surgery is required to clean affected joints or even fuse them together.

Another helpful treatment in some cases is the use of drugs that bring pain relief and reduce inflammation. Some of the common drugs include dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which works very quickly when applied topically to reduce swelling and inflammation and non-steroidal anti-inflamatories (NSAIDs) such as naproxen, which can be given orally or injected to block pain and reduce inflammation. However, NSAIDs provide only temporary relief rather than healing, and their use has been linked to gastrointestinal ulcers.

Another treatment is sodium hyaluronate, which can be injected into the joint to provide relief. An injectible drug that promotes healing and protects cartilege from further damage is polysulfated glycosaminolglycan (PSGAG). This drug, commonly known as Adequan, is said to be the most powerful tool to date, since it protects cartilege from additional deterioration and may even help to lay down new cartilege by binding to the existing cartilege structure.

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