reprinted from 1-800-petmeds.com
If you hear grating sounds coming from your horse's legs when he or she is walking, it is probably arthritis, and should be treated as soon as possible.
Does your aging horse show signs of lethargy or stiffness? If your horse's legs are rigid, or if he or she has begun limping, joint pain (arthritis) could be the cause. Just like other pets, and humans, horses can suffer from arthritis. Horse arthritis commonly affects a horse's legs, and horses over the age of 15 are especially prone to it, since at that age cartilage begins to wear out faster than it is produced. If not treated early enough, horse arthritis could lead to severe loss of mobility, known as horse "lameness." Treatment options should be discussed with your veterinarian or equine specialist before the problem worsens.
Give Your Horse a Supplement
Since prescription pain medication has potential side effects, try treating your horse's arthritis pain with a natural remedy. Yucca Intensive and T-Relief Tablets are highly recommended and have no reported side effects. You can also try giving your horse any of our effective joint supplements to help maintain healthy cartilage, tissue, and joint flexibility.
Relieve Severe Pain with Prescription Medication
For severe arthritis pain that won't go away with a homeopathic remedy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can provide relief. NSAIDs require a prescription from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may recommend Adequan Equine, Banamine or Phenylbutazone. As with all prescription pain medications, side effects may occur. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice a localized allergic reaction, swelling, diarrhea, bloody stools, vomiting, seizures, ulcers, or other alarming symptoms after giving your horse pain medication.