Joint supplements

I watched a show on RFD-TV the other day, that a vet was saying, that of all the joint supplements you can feed, that the horse only gets about 6% of that... and with the cost of the joint supplements, that it's just flat stupid to do it... That the best way to take care of it, is through injections, where it goes straight to whatever the problem is, Legend shots, and another one, can't remember the name of it... that that actually does more for the horse than feeding them joint stuff.

I thought that interesting... anybody else have a take on that? If you'll recall, I just about messed Kid up working him in the round pen, and he had to have 2 rounds of Legend injections, cost the dickens out of me, with all the X-rays, etc. to narrow the problem down. Since his last Legend injection, and keeping him out of the round pen, never had a problem since.

What's ya'll's take on this?

Well, whatever 6% they get must do something.... My uncle has a twenty year old palomino gelding that fractured a rear cannon bone as a yearling and also severly tore his suspensory ligament. In a tear that big (nearly severed actually), there was never any chance of it to heal properly. Now, because that ligament was not doing it's job, his joint was starting to become arthretic, there was a great amount of swelling (I mean, it just looked like a pole from his hock to his hoof. When you let swelling like that go, it only causes more damage to the leg, including the soft tissue and the joints. He brought him over for me to look at one day, he was barely walking and my uncle was very upset because he was faced with the possibility of having to put his horse down, which he has had for 10+ years. Well, I get down there and start looking and feeling around, find the main source of swelling and what type of swelling it is. Then I take a look at his feet too, the angle was all wrong and he was literally straight up and down, like a mule. I told Weldom to give him a month or so before he made any choices, gave him two standing wraps to help support his back legs, got him on MSM and a glucose supplement, both had natural antiinflamitory properties, along with things to aid in joint lubrication. With some different farrier work along with that, wrapping, and exercise, now two months later and he is RIDING this horse again. So yea, I do believe that in certain cases, supplements are worth it, but I personally prefer to go with more natural ones, because they digest and absorb better.

One of the reasons I pour 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar over my horses feed is because it helps them absorb nutrients in their supplements and in their forrage. Honestly, we all pretty much know that once the damage is done, it's almost near impossible to repair it. It becomes more of a management program, with an emphasis on preventing further damage. Most horse owners I know cannot afford the Legend shots, and while I think they're great, I also think a lot of people have luck with simply changing up the nutrition in their feed programs. But, that's just me, I'm not a vet, yet. Oh, I can also say that supplements basically saved the little pally's life.

Interesting, Silverbuckles, thanks for the info... I always wonder when I'm watching a show like that if those guys aren't getting paid by Legend or whoever they're promoting... always two sides to every story!

glucosamine cant absorbe from the stomache at the molecular level that is why they say that- even in humans but they sell the heck out of supplements for us too... if you like the results keep using it lots of people swear the stuff works but all the studies by all the companies human and animal say there is no way the stuff is able to be utilized by the body appropriately unless injected.. my Dr. told me after my knee injury to start taking glucosamine I asked why when all the studies said it wouldn't work he said it wouldn't hurt and at 35 I already basically needed a knee replacement and they won't do them until 45 try anything and everything out there to keep going for the next 10 yrs... I've noticed no difference but I keep buying the stuff maybe I just know the stuff isn't supposed to work, the people who think it does have better results.
I suspect Silverbuckle had good results from the MSM good farrier work and lots of TLC she takes the time and effort to try and the time off and time invested probably did the trick for that one....

They say that there is an oral HA product that can actually be absorbed now...I'm not completely on board yet...
Adequan and Legend are the two big injectables...

Oral HA has a big push behind it right now...several "bigger" places are 100% behind it (Kesmark in KY for one)...

Adequan was the other, thanks, Kidd!

Wonder since DMSO passes through the skin, if something could be put with DMSO to actually go through the skin. I've been begging the heck out of Kell about DMSO lately, poor girl, and I gave up, and am using it myself, on this stupid shoulder, elbow and wrist!

Oh, crap, TripleJ, youv'e so got to use it on your shoulder... slap forgot about it -- making mine feels tons and tons better... typing like a demon... thank GAWD!

Lynn, have you tried the DMSO on your knee... I've been bugging mom now for months to let me try it on her, and she is going to have a knee replacement right after football season.

I use lidocaine patches when it gets bad no pain that way..