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Equine Lameness · Lameness signs & symptoms · Lameness diagnosis · Lameness treatment · Lameness related articles
Treatment for horse lameness is most successful when it addresses the cause of lameness. In general, it helps lame horses to reduce weight, reduce exercise, stand on soft flooring, undergo hydrotherapy, receive optimum nutrition, and take appropriate pain and anti-inflammatory medications. Acupuncture, homeopathy, and moxa therapy help many lame horses. Some lame horses benefit from shock wave therapy because it tears the tiny blood vessels in the bone’s periosteal lining and stimulates healing of an injury the body was ignoring.
Medications to treat horse lameness include those that fight pain, and those that improve the joint. Among the pain fighting medications are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs): injectable Banamine (Rx) and Flunixamine (Rx), and a topical NSAID anti-inflammatory cream, Surpass (Rx). Among oral prescription NSAID products are Banamine Paste (Rx), Phenylbutazone Tablets (Rx), and Phenylzone Paste (Rx). Aspirin Powder is a nonprescription NSAID. Additional oral products for lameness include homeopathic Traumeel, which is available as a tablet, an ointment, and an injectable medication. Injectable Traumeel requires a prescription. Robaxin-V (Rx) is an oral medication that reduces muscle spasms and is very helpful for horses with stiff muscles due to rhabdomyolysis (tying up).
Among the products that protect the cartilage in the joint (chondroprotectives) are injectable Adequan (Rx) and Legend (Rx). Oral chondroprotectives include Cosequin Equine Powder Concentrate. MSM is similar to aspirin in that it helps control pain, but it does not have any side effects (ulcers and kidney damage) associated with aspirin or NSAIDs. SynoviCre EQ Granules has glucosamine, just as Synovi-MSM and Cosequin have, but SynoviCre also has creatinine, which helps normal muscle development. SynoviG3 EQ Granules has glucosamine, MSM, and creatine.
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The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians
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