My 22 year old horse has arthritis?

[Cheval Dore28]

It has slowly gotten worse. I work him almost everyday like the vet said. And they told me to give him butte every so often when he really needs it. But my question is, is should I get sports medicine boots for him. I have been looking up information on them and they sound like they might help. I am also considering putting him on cortaflex. Does anyone use this? or know any other joint supplements that would help him.

[crazy_kizmet]

SMB can create other problems. Better to put loose insulating wraps on and help warm old joints. Liniment is good also. MSM, and Cortaflex can help as well, but arthritis is always progressive. Improved circulation can be helpful, even after the damage is done. Shoes prevent the hoof from functioning properly as an important part of the circulatory system. Shoes deprive the legs of good blood flow, and thus retard healing. Shoes add to the weight at the end of the leg, which can't be helping him feel better. Since this "Old Man" is clearly NOT going to be competing in any high performance events soon, it might be time to try out natural hoof trim methods. Shoes are not necessary in any event with the boots available today for occasional protection, but after a couple thousand years it is going to be hard to change back, (we rode horses before shoes). Smile, barefoot is cheaper! If you want to save more, learn to do it yourself, and have the pro come out half as often or less. Here are a couple of links with information about going barefoot. If you go this route, look for someone with training in natural trim, or at least someone willing to learn. Get familiar with what the hoof should look like, cause not everyone out there really knows how to trim a barefoot horse. You probably could have had a sound horse longer if he had been barefoot to begin with, but bare is always better, no mater what the traditionalist say.

[CIFYACAN]

See if your vet thinks adequan would be an option. I don't have it spelled right but it worked really well on my older mare.

[eqwuus]

Cortaflex works wonders. A horse that I knew that was rescued and had been bred at the age of 3 got bad arthritis, now she is one of the best barrel racers I've ever seen, beautiful red Roan. Foal died at the neglectful place as a yearling and was caused by peritonitis. But anyways, I've never heard of the boots but I just looked at them and they seem like they'd work.

[bartliddy]

Put you horse on Synovi MSM. My mule has arthritis, and after double dosing the first month and then maintenance the next she is walking so much better.Another very important thing is get your horse excises. they are like us if we don't do anything our muscles get weak and we get stiff. I am not kidding do this and you will see a miracle.

[arabiannerrr]

yes, continue administering bute when necessary, it acts like an aspirin for the horse. sports medicine boots provide exterior protection for the horse, they also provide energy absorption and tendon&ligament support. Potentially they could be beneficial for your horse. However, i would also consider putting liniment on your horses legs and wraping them at night (if she is stalled) with knit-track bandages over quilted wraps.other supplements you may be interested in are GLUCOSOMINE SULFATEandCHONDROITIN SULFATEboth of which are over the counter horse supplements proven to provide arthritis relief in horses.(chrondroitin is naturally found in joint cartalige and supplements of it help to rebuild it)hope this helps :)