Traumatic arthritis in horses is joint inflammation caused by physical injury, leading to pain, swelling, and reduced mobility.

Traumatic Arthritis

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment

Traumatic arthritis (TA) which is caused by excessive/abnormal use or from an acute injury. Any movement, irregular conformation or traumatic injury that affects the usage of the joint can result in negative changes.

Symptoms

  • Stiff posture
  • Stiff legs
  • Reduced Range of Motion
  • Abnormal change in gait
  • Joint Swelling
  • Hot legs
  • Lameness

Treatment

The aim of any treatment for an arthritic horse is to relieve the pain, reduce the inflammation in the joints and slow the cartilage breakdown. There is no cure for arthritis at this time, but it is possible to reduce pain and inflammation, whilst preventing further damage. When given daily, a targeted joint supplement or medication may help support the joint and ease discomfort, although there is a range of alternative horse therapies also available. Treatments are often injected into the system through the muscle or the vein or directly to the affected area via joint injections.

Prevention

Every horse benefits greatly from regular movement through a consistent work program and turn-out. A proper exercise program also helps ensure that the horse isn’t overworked and is fit enough for the demands of their workload or sport. Avoid overuse and excessively hard, demanding work for your horse. This will also improve the longevity of your horse’s career.
In your horse’s early years, you might want to consider how your horse is worked and the kind of terrain this happens on.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare. With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments. The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

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