Glucosamine For Horses

In recent years, the use of oral supplements including Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondroitin, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid that are intended to support joint health have become very popular for relief of the symptoms of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in people and animals. There is considerable anecdotal evidence to support the use of these products, together with experimental evidence of their efficacy in treating DJD in horses.

DJD is the most common joint disease in horses. Therapy is directed towards providing analgesia, controlling inflammation (if present), limiting damage to articular tissues and promoting healing of damaged cartilage. Medical treatment is usually based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or corticosteroids to relieve pain, reduce lameness and suppress inflammation. Long term use of these medications, however, may suppress chondrocyte metabolism and inhibit normal collagen and proteoglycan synthesis leading to further degradation of the cartilage matrix. Disease modifying drugs, which include polysulphated glycosaminoglycan and hyaluronan, also have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Horses by their very nature are prone to problems such as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.

Horses are big, muscular and usually kept very active which can lead to problems later in life but even low activity can lead to joint inflammation and degeneration of cartilage which is what osteoarthritis actually is. Cartilage can be broken to an extent where bones rub each other causing severe pain and discomfort to the horses.

Arthritis in horses is usually treated with glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. There have been many studies over the past 10 years showing dramatic improvement in horses suffering from osteoarthritis. "Dramatic" can be very accurate. In many cases not only are pain, stiffness and range of movement improved, but the horse's attitude improves as well. Horses that would shuffle off slowly with their heads down when turned out were observed to trot out freely, even buck and run, as the glucosamine and chondroitin began to take effect.

While the "jury was out" for some time on glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate for treating degenerative joint disease in horses, there are now many scientific articles proving the effectiveness of glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin. This leaves very little serious doubt that glucosamine helps in cases of degenerative joint disease like osteoarthritis. This is based the huge weight of testimony from thousands of users as well as on independent scientific tests, studies and field trials.

Key Points involving Corta-FLX in a recent study:

• Study was designed and performed by independent researchers.
• Study was double-blind – neither the researchers nor the horse owners knew which solution was Cortaflex and which was placebo until study had been completed.
• Gait evaluation was entirely objective using video and force plate analysis rather than a subjective scoring system.
• The subjects had naturally occurring lameness that was representative of one of the most common problems encountered in mature equine athletes.
• All the measured variables showed a trend toward greater symmetry after treatment with Corta FLX compared with the placebo.
• Peak vertical ground reaction force and vertical impulse, which represent the weight-bearing function of the limbs, were significantly more symmetrical after treatment with Corta Flex.
• Hock joint range of motion during stance was significantly more symmetrical after treatment with Corta-FLX.
• Energy generation at the hock joint, which represents propulsive force, was significantly more symmetrical after Corta FLX.