Thanks to advancements in veterinary medicine, horses diagnosed with equine arthritis can stay active longer and enjoy a much better quality of life than ever before.

At Woodside Equine Clinic, we are committed to every aspect of equine health, and we offer innovative treatments to help horses suffering from equine joint pain and stiffness. In this blog, our team covers the basics of equine arthritis to help horse owners recognize the signs so they can seek help quickly. 

Understanding Equine Arthritis and Its Causes

Equine arthritis is a condition in which the joints are swollen and inflamed, leading to mobility limitations and equine joint pain. Arthritis can strike horses of any age and activity level, but seasoned athletes are more susceptible due to the increased wear and tear on their joints. Trauma or injury to a joint can also cause arthritis later on, and poor conformation (misaligned back, bowed legs, etc.) can predispose a horse’s joints to arthritis. Although equine arthritis is nonreversible, there are plenty of effective options for equine arthritis management.

Horse Arthritis Symptoms

Watch for these signs that a horse might be suffering from equine arthritis:

• Lameness
• Stiffness
• Swollen joints
• Heat around affected joints
• Obvious pain
• Cracking or popping sounds when moving

The first symptoms are typically stiffness and lameness that improve with physical activity, so it’s important to pay attention to a horse’s ease of mobility when beginning any exercise; otherwise, these symptoms could be overlooked.

Equine Arthritis Management

It can be difficult to hear that your horse has been diagnosed with equine arthritis, but there is much that we can do to lessen equine joint pain and provide relief for other horse arthritis symptoms. An approach that uses multiple modalities is typically best for the horse. Your Woodside Equine Clinic veterinarian will work with you to create an optimal treatment plan that includes a combination of the following:

• Regular exercise (as recommended by your veterinarian) 
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories
• Nutritional supplements such as Cosequin for horses
• Shockwave therapy to promote healing in soft tissue injuries
• Biological therapies, including platelet-rich plasma injections, IRAP Therapy, and Pro-Stride to stimulate recovery while activating your horse’s own anti-inflammatory factors
• Joint injections to treat inflammation
• Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic to restore balance and support the body’s natural healing process
• Surgical intervention in some cases

Helping Horses With Equine Arthritis

If your horse seems slow or stiff at the onset of exercise, please contact us right away at (804) 798-3281. We will conduct a comprehensive examination complete with digital imaging to evaluate your horse’s condition. While we can’t cure equine arthritis, we’ll do all we can to keep your horse moving as comfortably as possible.