Taking care of a horse with arthritis

Arthritis in older horses is not uncommon. These majestic animals whether old or young can have a difficult time if some assistance is not timely given. It is crucial to understand how important joints are and the early symptoms that can be used to indicate that a horse may indeed have arthritis. This type of aliment is ongoing, and it is wide to take precaution by buying veteran horse insurance as your horse matures. Significant to note, horse owners ought to assess the requirements for a healthy animal, this is in keeping with at best mitigating arthritis altogether or being able to follow best practices in taking care of an arthritic horse. Some guidelines and important notations when taking care of such horses will be briefly mentioned.

Exercise 

Exercise will serve a horse exceptionally well, regardless of the nature of the ownership, being occupational or recreational. In order to maintain what is left of the animal’s joints, exercise must be one of the major priorities. With joint movement, a horse will be able to maintain and see to building those muscles and ligaments surrounding areas with missing cartilage. The aim is to give as much support as possible to the already weakened areas. Depending on the state of the joints, routines must be tailored as such, as extreme exercise can cause further damage.

Check weight on a regular basis

Weight plays an important role in how joints respond on a daily basis. Excess weight means excess work and pressure on already pressured joints. Imagine being overweight and attempting to exercise, this is by no means a pain-free endeavour for any horse. If the animal is no longer as active, then the likelihood of weight gain will be higher, therefore as a part of the regiment ensure the diet is adequately assessed for the horse in question.

Pay particular attention to your horse’s feet

Paying particular attention to the horse’s feet is another point of support. In order to have the animal as comfortable as possible on their feet for as long as possible, trimming and shoeing are of tantamount importance; after all, the animal carries its weight on those powerful legs. With proper grooming in this regard, the veteran horse will be fully balanced with trimmed feet and consistent inspection if any issues arise for those that may wear shoes.

The living environment for the animal must be assessed in terms of surfaces they have to stand on. In aiding in less pain and general excess pressure, the horse must be provided with the right footing. The area must not be too soft nor entirely too hard, avoid uneven areas such as rocky or shifting surfaces as well as flooring with deep spots. The horse should be able to walk without having falls or twists of the legs.

Medicate as necessary

Last to note, but definitely not the least, is the use of medication. A veterinarian will be able to tell what will be the best choice for treating varying situations. It can range from including daily supplements to doses of injections when deemed necessary. Ensure to seek such advice as early as is possible to give the animal the best chance at a comfortable life.