Joint Supplements Arthritis and degenerative joint disease are common problems in performance horses. They can often be managed with joint supplements that allow a horse to continue a useful athletic career. These can be administered topically, orally, intramuscularly, intravenously or intra-articularly (directly into the joint).
Common oral supplements include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and avocado soybean unsaponifiable extracts (ASU). Limited studies have been done on orally administered joint supplements, but the data suggest they may be helpful in controlling and even protecting against certain joint problems.
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This article originally appeared in the 2010 issue of Horses USA. Click here to purchase a copy.
Holly Caccamise has been with Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines since 2007, and in 2019, she became Editor in Chief of both titles. Caccamise has a master's degree in Animal Science with a specialization in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She has also worked as a racing magazine ad copywriter and top-level show groom.
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