Joint wear and tear in horses

Joint wear and tear can occur in all joints in the body. It mainly occurs in the legs, back, and neck. Unfortunately, joint wear and tear in horses is irreversible. However, there are ways to slow down further progression of joint wear and tear.

What are the causes of joint wear and tear?

Since a joint makes a hinging movement, it is important that this movement is smooth. Joint wear and tear occurs when one or more parts of the joint no longer function properly. As a result, the joint can no longer hinge properly without causing further damage. Since a joint has multiple components, there are also multiple possible causes of joint wear and tear. See below for the most common causes:

• Overloading
  Overloading is the most common cause of joint wear and tear. Due to overloading, the components in a joint can wear out irreparably more quickly. In particular, the cartilage is tested with overloading.

• Aging
  Just like in humans, joints wear down as they age. The older a horse gets, the faster it can become overloaded.

• Joint infections
  Infections can have an impact on the cartilage and joint fluid.

• Fractures
  A fracture can damage a certain part of a joint. If this prevents a joint from hinging properly, it can cause joint wear and tear.

• Silicon deficiency
  Silicon is one of the building blocks of connective tissue and collagen (bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles). A deficiency in silicon can cause joint wear and tear because a horse is no longer able to produce / repair connective tissue.

Symptoms and diagnosis of joint wear and tear in horses

Horses that suffer from joint wear and tear often show one or more of the following symptoms:

• Lameness

• Difficulty bending

• Problems chewing

• Stiffness

• Difficulty rising

There are several ways to diagnose joint wear and tear, as a joint consists of multiple parts. For example, cartilage is not visible on an X-ray, so an X-ray does not always provide enough information.

It is also possible, for example, to inject a joint with an anesthetic. If the horse then uses the joint normally, it is a sign that the horse is in pain.

Silicon building block of connective tissue and glucosamine

Silicon is the building block for connective tissue (cartilage, muscles, bones, tendons, skin, and hooves). Scientific research has shown that when younger horses are supplemented with silicon, an improved bone quality is observed. Therefore, silicon is definitely recommended for growing sport horses. Additionally, it stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), also known as glucosamine.

Forgotten component in joint problems, crystal formation

When you search for joint problems in horses on the internet, you will find beautiful images of all parts of a joint everywhere. What is often not described is that some joint problems are caused by crystal formation in joint fluid. This crystal formation is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, which can crystallize in joints. It is imaginable that crystal formation between a joint causes friction and therefore pain. A supplement based on glucosamine, collagen, or hyaluronic acid promotes cartilage formation, but does not prevent this crystal formation. Therefore, pay attention when choosing supplements for your horse with joint problems.