Glucosamine Studies On Horses
By Thomas Morva
“Healthy as a horse” implies that horses have a good resistance to many diseases. But being athletic in nature they are trained for long hours and made to run long distances. Such activity schedules and accidents can lead to joint inflammation and degeneration of cartilage, a condition termed as osteoarthritis. Cartilage can be broken to an extent where bones rub each other causing severe pain to the horses.
Generally horses over the age of 15 are more prone to arthritis as the cartilage begins to wear out faster than it is produced at that age. These horses also suffer from weakened tendons and ligaments that become more elastic and results in instability.
To treat arthritis in horses, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are commonly used. Glucosamine sulfate is extracted from crustacean shells and chondroitin from bovine cartilage. They are generally added to horse’s daily diet. Chondroitin sulfate is believed to block certain enzymes that result in the breakdown of cartilage.
Recent studies conducted in Toronto, Canada have shown that glucosamine sulfate and its supplements have improved the arthritic joints in horses suffering from arthritis.
In a study conducted by the veterinary orthopedic society horses between the age 5 and 15 diagnosed with arthritis were given glucosamine and chondroitin for two months. After two months the horses were examined and they showed significant improvement.
In 1997, a study on degenerative joint disease in horses was conducted. Horses with cartilage breakdown of the hock, fetlock, pastern and cannon bone were selected for this study. They were administered glucosamine and chondroitin for six weeks. The researchers could see a significant improvement in the horses within the first two weeks.
Arthritis is treatable if detected early. The horse must be regularly examined by a veterinarian to check for signs of arthritis or other ailments.
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