Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Horse Arthritis

By Amanda Outen


There are a lot of basic remedies to alleviate the pain because of arthritis to your horses. And a few of them can be performed at one time. The thing to keep in mind is that your horse is an individual and may not take too kindly to some therapies, and be just fine with others. Treat your horses in accordance with their needs. Bessie Carnaje is a certified veterinarian focusing on equine animals and practicing the latest veterinary practice management software. She highly advises veterinary computer programs for the best animal care.

If his joints are very swollen and painful and the Vet has proposed he be confined for a 24 hour or longer period, either use a box stall with lots of cushy hay or a small turn out pen with a lot of soft grass underfoot. Put your horse's buddy near him if he's the kind to throw a fit when his buddy's not around. The last thing you want is your aching horse to be fretting and pacing more in search of his friend.

You can place a coldpack on the engorged joint for 5 minutes to help remedy pain. Remove for Fifteen minutes, repeat 3 times in a row. To help release the swelling and inflammatio, cover the joint with a standing bandage. You can also try Neo-Ice Equine bandages or an ice gel that creates deep penetrating action in reducing edema and inflammation.

Hand walk your horse twice a day to cure stiffness of the affected joint, if your horse can manage. Take away his bandage first then walk for about 15 minutes to get limber. When you take him back to his stall or pen, rewrap the bandage. Exercises have to be gradually increased each day. You will need to do this about several times a day as he progresses and then also reduce the length of time he is to be confined to about half the original period of time.

Controlled exercises like hand walking, slow trot, ponying at a walk or riding at a walk is usually recommended. Use in discretion as this may highly rely upon what condition your horse is in. Take a a day off if the puffiness is back and slow down on the exercises.

If there is no swelling 1 hour after the exercise session(s) you will be able to turn your senior back out into this regular pasture and then slowly get back into an easy workout program. Call your veterinarian at once if signs of swelling are recognized.




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