Is your horse experiencing joint pain? Do you want to protect your equine companion from the risks of bone degradation? If you said ‘yes’ to either question, consider feeding your animal friend glucosamine.
What Is Glucosamine?
What is glucosamine? If you encounter this question, you should know the importance of this substance for your horse, especially for the animal’s joints and overall wellbeing.
Glucosamine is a non-prescription, naturally occurring compound used in different species, including humans and horses, for its ability to help prevent joint and tissue damage. It also helps relieve arthritic pain and other chronic joint conditions, along with their symptoms, and deeply protect and cushion the joints for years to come. It’s an effective, quick-acting ingredient commonly used as the primary component in many top horse joint supplements.
This compound has several benefits. For instance, it can act as a potent anti-inflammatory, which is good for horses suffering from joint inflammation or arthritis. Glucosamine for horses is available on the market in the form of supplements. But, it’s also present in a variety of foods, like red meats, shellfish, and cheese.
As you can see from the information mentioned above, glucosamine tends to be in high demand for horse owners. For this reason, it’s important to shop around and get a product with a good reputation and excellent track record.
A good glucosamine supplement should provide your horse with several health advantages, including the improvement of their joint health. The product you choose should include anti-inflammatory agents, as well as amino acids and various enzymes.
The Benefits Of Glucosamine
- Helps Treat Joint Inflammation
The primary benefit of glucosamine is that it aids in the growth of new cartilage to improve joint health. It also aids in the regeneration of cartilage, which reduces pain and inflammation in the joints.
- Helps Reduce The Risks Of Osteoarthritis
Glucosamine may also reduce the risks of osteoarthritis in horses. Osteoarthritis is a relatively common condition that can lead to mild to serious joint pain. Note that the cartilage in the joints becomes worn down over time, and the bones can’t support it properly.
Herein lies the importance of using glucosamine for horse joint health. The compound may help recover lost joint and cartilage tissue, preventing the buildup of bone-related illnesses, like osteoarthritis.
- Helps Reduce Equine Stress
Glucosamine may increase the amount of arginine in your horse’s body. Arginine helps control inflammation and pain, but tends to be more of a pain reliever than an actual treatment.
Nonetheless, glucosamine products work to get more arginine in the animal’s body to help reduce inflammation and swelling. In return, your horse should feel less stressed with the reduction of joint pain.
- Helps Improve Synovial Fluid
Synovial fluid is a lubricating liquid in the joints. It helps the bones move freely, minimizing friction while allowing for painless movement.
If your horse’s joints have reduced amounts of synovial fluid, then, the animal might experience pain and discomfort. The equine might even lose the will to move around because of the ache. So, consider adding glucosamine to your horse’s daily diet. This compound helps form other compounds to aid in creating synovial fluid, reducing joint-related issues.
One study found that supplementing up to three grams of glucosamine daily may promote collagen production in the knees. Collagen is a protein supporting several body parts, including the skin, tendons, and bones. The researchers found that the group that took the glucosamine supplements had a 27% reduction in collagen degradation risk. In comparison, the individuals who took the placebo only had an 8% reduction of this hazard.
Although the study focuses on human testing, similar results might be possible for equine joint health. Therefore, consider serving foods and supplements with glucosamine to your horses to improve synovial fluid production and reduce the risks of bone-related illnesses.
Although glucosamine is beneficial in various ways, it requires that your horse takes the supplement every day before they start experiencing the benefits. However, when your equine companion begins taking this supplement, you should see a marked difference in their joint pains, as well as other symptoms related to bone issues.
But, is glucosamine the best solution for your horse’s joint health? Perhaps, the best way to answer that question is to check with your veterinarian. The animal expert should give you professional advice on how to care for your horse’s joint health and overall wellbeing.
Furthermore, consulting the professional advice of a veterinarian helps prevent the risks of potential adverse effects from giving your horse certain supplements.
Final Words
Glucosamine is a naturally-occurring compound found in many food sources and supplements. Consider administering glucosamine-enriched products to improve your horse’s joint health and overall wellbeing. But, always remember to consult your veterinarian first to avoid potential adverse effects.
