Prescription Horse Pain Relief & Arthritis Medication

Arthritis in horses typically refers to a chronic, progressive and often painful degeneration of the underlying bone and soft tissues and the cartilage lining the ends of your horse’s long bones inside their joints. Some of the best treatment for arthritis in horses is through both short- and long-term management of the symptoms.

To help manage pain in an arthritic horse:

• Consult your Veterinarian to help reduce inflammation in the joints and find appropriate horse arthritis medicine.
• Develop a proper exercise and stretching regimen which includes a range of motion exercises. Exercise your horse according to their age and fitness level, and be sure your horse stretches and warms up properly before training.
• Keep your horse’s feet well-trimmed and ride on soft, supportive surfaces to reduce impact.
• Help your horse maintain optimal weight to help avoid extra strain on their joints and muscles.

A proper diet is an important part of pain relief for horses in that it can help them stay in good shape and help provide them with essential nutrients as they age. To develop a good diet for horses with arthritis:

• Provide food, such as hay and grasses that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is an anti-inflammatory and can help to serve as a natural form of equine arthritis pain relief. Avoid or limit grains that are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which are sometimes pro-inflammatory.
• Incorporate natural vitamin E and a joint supplement such as glucosamine into your horse’s diet.
• If you need prescription pain meds for horses, take steps to protect your horse’s stomach lining. Talk with your vet about supplements such as chia and licorice root, which may help prevent your horse from developing ulcers.