Even though Glucosamine supplements are mainly used to treat arthritis in humans, many people have taken to using it in helping horses joints recover. Horses run and this intense activity is often done for hours upon a time over long distances. As a result of this, the joints of the horses can degrade and become inflamed. A condition called osteoarthritis can also develop. The cartilage of the horses legs can be degraded down to the point where the horses will experience severe pain due to the balls rubbing on each other.
It is widely known that once a horse reaches over the age of 15 they are more susceptible to arthritis. This is due to the fact that the cartilage begins to wear out much quickly at that age. It is also not replaced at the same rate and this adds to the problem. The horses that experience these problems will also have more instability due to the fact that their ligaments and tendons have become weakened and it lasted.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements are often used to treat heart set suffer from arthritis. It is a widely held theory that glucosamine is the key that is needed for the development of cartilage that help to repair joints. Glucosamine is extracted for the shells of crustaceans such as lobster, shrimp and crab. Chondrotin sulfate is known to help the glucosamine effectively reach the joints, as well as being able to stop certain enzymes that are responsible for cartilage breaking down.
There have been studies that have been done that show a direct correlation between the use of glucosamine supplements and improvement of horses that suffer from the painful joint condition arthritis.
The particular study looked at horses from varying ages that were diagnosed with arthritis. These horses were given supplements that contained glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate for a period of two months. After the two months were up the prices were examined. The results showed that the joints of these horses showed considerable improvement.
Glucosamine Supplements for Horses.
There are many different glucosamine supplements available for horses and it is up to you to decide which is the best for your animal.
Generally the glucosamine supplements often contain yucca and Omega-3 fatty acids that can be used for inflammation. Glucosamine is found naturally in the bodies of animals and is a natural precursor of glycosaminoglycans, which are found in the cartilage and connective tissue of all animals.
The supplements for purses contain 7500 mg glucosamine per ounce which is very palatable as it also does not contain fillers that are non-nutritional. Some of the supplements also contain yucca, heat-stabilized flax meal (a source of Omega-3 fatty acids), manganese methionine complex, copper amino acid complex, absorbic acid, and zinc methionine complex. These ingredients all come together to help the affected joints of the horse.