Supplement Recommendation Help Needed for Potential Arthritis

[treebeard]

I have a wee mule that my farrier and I believe has issues with potential arthritis or some other general joint issue. He’s definitely got one leg that bothers him on occasion, and I sometimes hear clunking in his hips when he moves a certain way. His stifles will occasionally lock. He does move soundly but he wears his hind hooves in a way that makes my farrier and I believe he’s adjusting for pain.

He’s coming up on 10 years old but he had a rough time in his early life and he was literally manhandled at an auction facility that has a very bad reputation. He’s small at about 36" tall so previous people in his life just forced him to do things and he’s got an incredible memory for experiences - good and bad. As a result, he is extremely careful about what he will and will not accept from humans.

I’ve had Gunther for nine years and although he’s a bit better with a vet, it’s still impossible for my vet to do any exam of muscles or joints. I can palpate and examine, and my farrier can most of the time, but not any vet or vet student. Gunther is just too much on full alert with strangers and vets and he’s genuinely afraid and trying to protect himself at all costs. Think little grey flying elephant in full panic…

I would like to see if a supplement might help with general joint health but there are so many choices and I’m not sure what is the current go-to. I’ve used Cosequin in the past, but now there are several varieties of it. I have arthritis, so know that a lot of supplements are just a waste of money.

I’m hoping that someone might have a good recommendation of something that has worked for their horse, donkey or mule. Pellets work better than a powder because he gets very little feed and a powder is usually just left in the bowl.

Any supplement needs to be molasses-free because I’m managing Gunther as if he is metabolic. He’s on a small portion of low NSC feed and he gets Ultra Cruz Metabolic Support.

I would love to try a massage therapist for him but I highly doubt he’d let the person do the necessary work. It took six months for him to accept my farrier and that was with her coming out to do my mini mare and spending some time just talking to him.

[treebeard]

I hope this worked. Here is my little buddy.

[aBayDay]

What a cute guy!!

In terms of feed through options, from the research I’ve read, and from limited personal experience, MSM is one of the only supplements that helps joint inflammation. I feed msm pellets daily from smartpak, and they have seemed to help with the very mild stiffness my horse has in his hocks. After that, I would probably look into injectables like pentosan- obviously after your vet is able to do a more thorough examination. I would at least stay away from any of the trendy supplements right now- like osteo-max, there is no research to back them, and they are $$$$.

[treebeard]

Thank you! That’s helpful.

In the past MSM has been reliable but I was confounded by all of the powders, liquids and pellets I was seeing when trying to decide what to do.

An injectable will most likely never happen due to Gunther’s fear of the vet. Vaccines send him flying around the stall in a panic.

[treebeard]

Gunthie is a very cute little mover.

[aBayDay]

There are so many supplements out there now, it’s overwhelming!

Is he okay with vaccines if you give them vs. the vet? Pentosan is easy to self administer if that’s an option. I think I’ve read that it is approved for oral administration as well, might be worth asking your vet about.

Research points to pentosan polysulfate to treat equine osteoarthritis

It might also be worth inquiring about an equioxx trial if it’s safe for mini-mule use.

[Pico_Banana]

I have had good luck with 4 Cyte joint supplement. My vet recommends it, as well, as does one of the top specialist vets in the area. The specialist also recommends rose hips. His view is that the usual glucosamine, chondroitin, etc. don’t work as well as 4 Cyte or rose hips.

I think, however, that it’s a bit hit or miss. What works for some doesn’t necessarily work for others.

If you think you could do an IM shot yourself, there’s Adequan or Pentosan. I personally have found Pentosan to work better for my guy who really needs it.

[treebeard]

Sadly, no. He’s very good at association so if he has anything happen to him that he perceives as a negative then he will object strongly the next time and for years after. Very smart mule.

I’ll ask my vet clinic about the oral Pentosan. If something doesn’t taste bad Gunther will allow me to give it orally but it does take time to convince him to accept the syringe.

[cayuse]

I’ve uses Conquer HA gel (comes in both a dosing syringe or bottle) with really good results on one of my minis who has a little stifle arthritis. There is not much taste to it at all and mine accepted it readily with a treat after.

[Marla_000]

Maybe Lubrisyn HA.
I take it and my dog and horse also. Tasteless gel, can put it on top of a few pellets. My dog gets it orally in a syringe and doesn’t mind it.
I can confirm, it works for comfort from arthritis.

[treebeard]

Thank you! These suggestions and experiences are very helpful.

[stargzng386]

I second this I have a goat that sucks the lubrisyn out of a syringe daily who would be euthed at this point without it. She has horrible arthritis and was having difficulty standing up and is now trotting and running around. If I miss a few days I can see a difference.

[aBayDay]

I’ve never heard of this, it sounds promising. What dosage do you give your horse?

[starsandsun]

I looked up Lubrisyn and you can get a small bottle for around $30 from Chewy. So at least if you wanted to give it a go, it’s not a big investment. I’ve never heard of it myself, but may get some to try for my ancient dog, myself and my horse.

[Marla_000]

A pump comes with the larger
Gallon and a horse gets so many
Squirts based on weight.
I take 1 Tb.
My dog gets 30 ml
Lubrisyn has been around for years, is popular with racing Tbs.

[Old_Mac_Donald]

I use 4cyte Epiitalis and a monthly in-the-neck shot of Arthropen (pentosan) for my horse. Working very well!

He also gets bute before the farrier arrives as it is his hock which is developing arthritis and it just makes him a bit happier to be trimmed.

He also gets 30g celery seeds daily.

[TWH_Girl]

Gunther is so dang adorable!!

I like the Lubrisyn and Cosequin options for him. Cosequin MSM and ASU (more pricey) have pelleted options that may work well. Either of those should be easy enough to feed and help to a degree.

If you think he would accept IM shots from you, you can try Pentosan or Adequan. Otherwise you can maybe do an adjusted dose of equioxx for his size.

[Critter]

I use the Smart Flex Senior pellets for my 20 yr old. He’s been on them for several years…has his share of wear and tear.
One year during Covid I decided to switch up his supplements…about a month later, I was like, man he’s so stiff and not himself. Put him back on the Smart Flex and he was back to his normal self. So in my small trial of one horse, I can say that they definitely made a difference for him! He also thinks any new supplement might be poison…and he eats the pellets with no issue, so that is also a bonus.

[StormyDay]

I’d ask the vet about equioxx. Once the damage is there joint supplements can’t do much. If he was okay with needles I’d suggest adequan first as I’ve seen it work really well in some cases, but you have to get 4-5 IM shots into them every few days; I know my mini mule would NOT tolerate that.

[FjordBCRF]

@StormyDay

I’d ask the vet about equioxx. Once the damage is there joint supplements can’t do much. If he was okay with needles I’d suggest adequan first as I’ve seen it work really well in some cases, but you have to get 4-5 IM shots into them every few days; I know my mini mule would NOT tolerate that.

Was just going to mention Equioxx. If he is in pain…there is no supplementing out of that. We found degeneration in the neck of my soon to be 8YO Fjord and Equioxx is doing the trick.