Arthritis in Horses
Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes symptoms like stiffness inflammation and pain. Just like humans horses can develop and suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is almost unavoidable as horses age but early diagnosis and conscientious care can slow its advance and minimize pain. A vet can run many tests and a thorough body examination to determine whether or not your horse has arthritis.
What Is Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease DJD involving the breakdown and loss of the cushioning cartilage that lines the end of bones within a joint 1 With this breakdown there is also a loss of lubricating joint fluid and the joint as a whole loses its ability to cushion impact and provide a gliding surface during motion. This then results in joint pain and leads to lameness in horses. Arthritis in specific locations in horses goes by common colloquial names such as ringbone and bone spavin.
The symptoms of arthritis in horses are painful and largely inhibiting motion. If your horse is experiencing any discomfort or you suspect that your horse has arthritis pay a visit to the vet right away.
In its early stages arthritis may appear as a slight stiffness that the horse overcomes once they are warmed up. In the joint the cartilage material is breaking down but not repairing itself efficiently. Eventually as the cartilage becomes more damaged the bone beneath the cartilage pad becomes damaged too. The horse will experience more discomfort and even heat in the joint as inflammation occurs. As the disease progresses the horse may experience more pain and lameness. In more advanced cases small bony growths called osteophytes may be seen under Xray and may be felt around the affected joint
Arthritis is caused by the wear and tear of cartilagethe tough flexible tissue that is the sliding shockabsorbing surface between the bones that meet at a joint 1 Over time compression and stress wear away the protective cartilage. Arthritis most commonly occurs in the weightbearing joints of the legs. Extra stress or injury to any joint can lead to arthritis
Specific sports can make a horse more susceptible to arthritis in certain joints due to repetitive concussive force. Certain types of conformation in a horse can also make it more prone to the development of arthritis. However as all horses age as with humans and other animals repetitive wear and tear cause damage
