Joint Issues in Horses

Joint issues in horses are common, affecting their comfort, mobility, and overall health. This article serves as a guide for horse owners to recognize the early signs of joint problems. It can also help them comprehend joint problem implications, and help them learn about effective treatments.

Common Joint Disorders in Horses

Various conditions can lead to joint issues in horses. The most prevalent ones include:

Osteoarthritis: This degenerative disease involves the gradual wearing down of joint cartilage, causing pain and inflammation.¹
Bone Chips: Fragments of bone or cartilage can detach and float within the joint, causing pain and inflammation. Bone chips are usually traumatic in origin, such as work-related trauma (e.g., over-extension of a fetlock), noted Dyson.
Osteochondrosis: This is a developmental problem of cartilage and bone.
Synovitis and Capsulitis: Inflammation of the joint lining or capsule can cause significant discomfort.²

Identifying the Clinical Signs

Osteoarthritis is the most common problem affecting joints. However, a joint could be injured traumatically (e.g., a joint ‘sprain’ with damage to the supporting [collateral] ligaments or a penetrating injury resulting in infection), according to Sue Dyson, MA, Vet MB, PhD. Horses with joint issues typically show a range of clinical signs.

Osteoarthritis is often bilateral, noted Dyson. “It results in stiffness and reduced performance not always recognised as overt lameness,” she said.

Clinical Signs of Lameness

Lameness might be persistent or intermittent and can vary in severity. Acute lameness might be due to injury or infection. Acute lameness often manifests as a reluctance to bear weight on the affected limb, an altered gait, or inability to perform at previous levels. Chronic lameness develops over time and could be a result of degenerative conditions. Following are two indicators of lameness.

Head Nod: This is an indicator of lameness that some horse owners might miss early in the joint disease process. A horse puts more weight on the non-lame (sound) forelimb, dropping the head down—a head nod. It might raise the head and neck above a normal position as the lame limb is brought forward. (Check out this video by Dr. Sue Dyson.) Some horses with limb lameness might head-nod while being ridden, but not while being led or lunged.
Hip Hike: Horse owners should be on the lookout for a hip hike (with or without a concurrent head-nod) with hind-limb lameness. The hip on the painful limb side will not rise as high as on the sound side. (Check out this video by Dr. Sue Dyson starting at 21:05.)

Joint Clinical Signs Associated with Lameness

Swelling or Heat in the Joint: An inflamed joint usually shows some type of swelling and feels warm to the touch. These clinical signs are indicative of inflammation within the joint and can be accompanied by pain. The swelling can range from mild to severe and can fluctuate throughout the day or in response to activity levels.

Decreased Mobility: Joint issues in horses might cause the animal to have difficulty performing movements that were once effortless. Affected horses might show an unwillingness to move or perform athletic activities. They might have difficulty rising when lying down or exhibit stiffness during routine activities. In severe cases, the horse might try to avoid movement altogether. That can impact its behavior and posing potential challenges for care and handling.

Medical Treatments for Joint Issues

When tackling joint issues in horses, a multifaceted approach that combines both medical and physical therapies is often most effective.

Medical options—such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—are commonly prescribed to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. In more advanced cases, intra-articular injections with corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid might be used to manage pain and inflammation directly within the affected joint.

Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) is an FDA-approved drug recommended for the intramuscular treatment of noninfectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses.

Other equine joint treatments include stem cells and polyacrylamide gels, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and autologous conditioned serum (ACS).

Physical and Dietary Therapies for Joint Issues in Horses

Physical therapy plays a critical role in managing and rehabilitating horses with joint problems. Controlled exercise programs, designed to maintain range of motion and strengthen the supporting musculature, can greatly benefit affected horses. Additionally, alternative therapies such as cold and heat treatment, massage, and acupuncture are increasingly gaining popularity for their potential to provide pain relief and improve mobility.

For long-term joint health, you might consider dietary management, including supplements containing glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and fish oils. These are believed to support joint structure and function.

Keep in mind that products have varying quality and proportion of active ingredients and that bioavailability might be small, noted Dyson. “So you may be paying a lot for something that is not efficacious,” she said. “And scientific evidence for efficacy is often lacking.”

Always tailor treatment plans to the individual horse and work with your veterinarian to ensure the best possible outcome.

Surgical Therapy for Joint Issues

Surgical intervention might be necessary in certain cases where the joint issues are severe or do not respond adequately to medical and physical therapies.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that allows veterinarians to examine and treat the interior of the joint with precision. During arthroscopic surgery, small incisions are made for the insertion of an arthroscope and specialized surgical instruments, which can be used to remove osteochondral fragments or treatment of joint infection.

Surgical options require thorough discussions between horse owners and their veterinarians to weigh the potential benefits and risks. Post-surgical care, including a tailored rehabilitation program, is also paramount to promote healing and restore mobility.

The Significance of Regular Veterinary Checkups

Regular veterinary examinations are crucial for detecting joint issues in horses early in the disease process. Early diagnosis can substantially improve the prognosis and help preserve your horse’s quality of life.

Final Words

Being aware of the clinical signs of joint issues in horses and seeking timely veterinary attention is key to maintaining your equid’s long-term health and well-being.

Remember, as a horse owner, you are the front line of defense for your horse’s health. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and always discuss concerns with your equine veterinarian.