b"Ask the Vet continued from page 5or the combination as a whirlpool, often give some relief and comfort. Many horses can live comfortably with arthritis for Some ice wrap products, such as EZ Iceyears with careful management. The goals are to and Fabri-Tech wraps can do doublekeep them as active as possible, in order to stimulate duty for heating by either soaking the inserts in hot water or warmingcirculation, while minimizing the risks of overuse and them in the microwave. Velcro closurethe inflammation it brings. Each horse's exact needs wraps made of Neoprene, a rubber-like material, are available for knees, hocks,will vary, depending on the severity of the case. and fetlocks. These trap the horse's own body heat very effectively.don't want an arthritic horse to be chased to the point Heated poultices are a real treat, especiallyIn use since the 1950s, theof exhaustion. Turnout in a smaller area with one or two Nobody in Arizonain winter. Heat the poultice in the microwave before applying.injection of corticosteroids directly into the synovial fluid hasquiet companions might be a better option. If turnout isn't Cover it with a layer of plastic wrap, then a regular standingbeen well documented to halt inflammation within a joint. available, make sure that horses confined to stalls get some Sells or Services bandage for prolonged effect. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a normal component of synovialform of daily exercise. If you can't ride or turn out the horse, take him for walks, as you would a dog.Before work or turnout, a brisk massage of stiff joints forfluid as well as articular cartilage. It has been injected More RV Tiresfive minutes or so works wonders in improving flexibility.directly into the arthritic joints of horses since the 1970s,Whether for riding or for turnout, choose footing that Using a warming liniment such as Absorbine, Chapmans,and an intravenous injection (Legend) has been availableprovides some cushioning without being too soft. Hard Than Firebird Tire. Aloe Advantage Sports Rub or Choate's enhances this effect. since the 1980s. Both injectable forms have an anti- surfaces subject the joints to pounding, concussive forces, inflammatory effect, and they also seem to stimulate thewhile ground that is too soft or deep can cause strains. Also When using heat therapy to loosen stiff, sore areas prior tobody to produce more HA, which thickens the synovialavoid steep hillsides, rocky or uneven terrain, or other areas work, massage for five minutes immediately before workingfluid and increases its cushioning ability within the joint. that invite overwork or missteps. We Offer Mobileor use heated wraps. Otherwise, you can use heat therapyPolysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAGs or Adequan) andTimely hoof care is important for all horses but especially methods as needed. Neoprene wraps or sweats should not Tire Service. be left on the horse for more than 12 hours at a time. related polysaccharides are, like HA, among the naturallyso for those with arthritis, because regular trimming occurring compounds found in the articular cartilageminimizes joint strain. MEDICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS matrix. PSGAGs have been used in both intra-articular and It's not possible to cure arthritis at this time, but treatmentsintramuscular injections. They have an anti-inflammatoryBe sure to manage your horse's weight. As a horse's activity can halt or slow the cycle of inflammation that bringseffect and are believed to stimulate the production oflevels diminish, his weight is likely to go up, and additionalWe proudly sell further damage, ease pain and stiffness, and/or support thesynovial fluid.It does not heal defects left in the joint but itpounds place more stress on joints. Evaluate your horse's regeneration of cartilage as much as is possible. does decrease the rate of further cartilage degradation. diet to consider whether it's meeting his nutritional Pressure Pro The right treatments for an individual case of arthritisIRAP Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP)needs and is matched to his caloric needs. Consult your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist with any questions.Tire Pressure depend in part on the causes as well as severity of theblocks interleukin-1, a protein that can accelerate jointWith modern treatment strategies as well as time-honored problem. Your veterinarian is the best judge of what isdamage. IRAP is produced naturally in the body, butmethods, horses with arthritis can live comfortable, almost Monitoring System most likely to work for your horse. Fortunately, there are aresearchers have found ways to bolster the amountsnormal, lives. But it's best to catch it in its earliest stages growing number of options to choose from. available. The most widely used type of IRAP therapybefore much damage has been done.for RVs. These drugs help halt degenerative changes as well asinvolves taking blood from the arthritic horse and stimulating the production of IRAP as well as other indirectly reducing pain and lameness. It also seems thatundefined beneficial mediators from the white blood cells.Dually Valve small quantities of the drugs can have a significant effect. The resulting serum, called autologous conditioned serum These medications are effective at reducing inflammation(ACS), is then injected into the same horse's inflamedHunter Loadforce We Have On-SiteHeave Duty Scales and the associated swelling and pain. Inexpensive and easyjoints in three treatments once a week. IRAP tends to an Weighto administer, phenylbutazone (bute) has long been a staplebeexpensive compared to the prices of $100 to $150 per HD Balancer Now Scales That CHeavy Duty Alignments in most barns, but it is not the best choice for long-termtreatment for other joint injections.to 80,000 lbs.use in all horses because it can damage the lining of the On-Site for State-of-up Per Axle! Ride Disturbance gastrointestinal tract. However, bute may be prescribed forExtracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) which involves arthritis flare-ups lasting a week or two. directing a beam of energy waves at a target site has shown Specializing in RV Tirepromise as a treatment for osteoarthritis in horses. In one the-Art RV Balance Another type of NSAID, firocoxib, is available in an oralstudy, ESWT-treated horses showed significant improvement Sales and Installationpaste product (Equioxx). Clinical trials have shown thatin clinical lameness as well as in the concentrations of certain Diagnostic Testing. for Over 32 Years! firocoxib is as effective as bute in reducing lamenessbiochemical markers of the disease. associated with arthritis and it may facilitate greater improvement in some areas, such as range of motion.In severe cases, where there is no other way to alleviate Because firocoxib is a COX-2 inhibitor, it may be lesspain, a surgeon may want to fuse a joint. Either by Bridgestone/Firestone/Yokohama/Sumitomo/Michelin/BFGoodrichirritating to the gastrointestinal tract. chemical, laser or physical surgery, the veterinarian destroys remaining cartilage, enabling the two exposed bone ends to Also available is a topical cream (Surpass) containing grow together into a single, immobile structure. With the 1% diclofenac sodium, which is applied directly to the skinsource of friction removed, the pain diminishes. In some Request a Quote, View Our Coupons, and Read Our Reviews at: over the affected joint.cases, depending on which joints are affected, the horse may be sound enough for riding.FIREBIRDTIRE.COM Currently, there are more than 80 supplements formulatedDAILY MANAGEMENTto support equine joint health on the market. A lot contain glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and/or hyaluronan,Comprehensive care of the arthritic horse means more than substances found naturally in joints. Many feel thatdrugs or supplements. Many horses can live comfortably glucosamine plays a role in the formation and repairwith arthritis for years with careful management. The goals of cartilage, chondroitin sulfate helps give cartilage itsare to keep them as active as possible, in order to stimulate 623-582-9212 elasticity, and hyaluronan helps lubricate joints and formcirculation, while minimizing the risks of overuse and the the matrix of articular cartilage. Some other supplementsinflammation it brings. Each horse's exact needs will vary, contain soybean and avocado unsaponifiables (ASU),depending on the severity of the case. Your veterinarian will which studies suggest may reduce inflammation andhelp you plan a regimen that strikes the right balance for Family Owned Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00am-5:00pm protect cartilage.your horse. and OperatedSupplements are not required to meet the same standardKeep riding, if possible. Moderate exercise helps keep joints 22444 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027 for Food and Drug Administration approval as drugs are,healthy by stimulating the production of synovial fluid and Since 1986! and so their efficacy has not been studied as extensively.by strengthening the muscles that help stabilize the joints. However, equine and human research suggests that some ofMoving around in a pasture also provides exercise that Take I-17 to Deer Valley Rd. Go East to 19th Ave.these substances have protective effects. Your veterinarianreduces stiffness and allows the horse to move at his then North a half mile to SW 19th Ave. and Williams can help you decide what's best for your horse. own pace. Keep an eye on herd dynamics, though. You ArizonaRealCountry.com April 2019 7"