Rheumatoid Arthritis

While there is no cure for this disease process, there are many ways to manage pain and lengthen the athletic career of your horse.

The condition will require treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, that reduce pain and inflammation and help the joint to return to normal function. In some cases, it may be necessary or useful to inject medication into the joint itself. The more commonly used intra-articular preparations are corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid or biological joint supplements such as PRP, IRAP, Prostride, and stem cells.

While this treatment is often initially effective, some cases require repeated injections. In some cases, for example, where there has been extensive new bone formation or where a chip fracture has occurred as a consequence of DJD, arthroscopic surgery may be helpful to give the joint a better chance for recovery.

In most cases, a multi-modal approach works best:
Daily exercise;
Daily anti-inflammatories;
Intraarticular steroids;
Oral joint supplements;

Alternative modalities such as shockwave, acupuncture, PEMF, and chiropractic work may help.
Surgical or chemical fusion of joints may be recommended to speed up the arthritic process, as fusion is the most painful part for horses. Once the joint has fused, the motion may be limited, but there is less pain associated.