| "Healthy as a horse" implies that horses have a good | | | | Recent studies conducted in Toronto, Canada have |
| resistance to many diseases. But being athletic in | | | | shown that glucosamine sulfate and its supplements |
| nature they are trained for long hours and made to run | | | | have improved the arthritic joints in horses suffering |
| long distances. Such activity schedules and accidents | | | | from arthritis. |
| can lead to joint inflammation and degeneration of | | | | In a study conducted by the veterinary orthopedic |
| cartilage, a condition termed as osteoarthritis. Cartilage | | | | society horses between the age 5 and 15 diagnosed |
| can be broken to an extent where bones rub each | | | | with arthritis were given glucosamine and chondroitin |
| other causing severe pain to the horses. | | | | for two months. After two months the horses were |
| Generally horses over the age of 15 are more prone | | | | examined and they showed significant improvement. |
| to arthritis as the cartilage begins to wear out faster | | | | In 1997, a study on degenerative joint disease in horses |
| than it is produced at that age. These horses also | | | | was conducted. Horses with cartilage breakdown of |
| suffer from weakened tendons and ligaments that | | | | the hock, fetlock, pastern and cannon bone were |
| become more elastic and results in instability. | | | | selected for this study. They were administered |
| To treat arthritis in horses, glucosamine sulfate and | | | | glucosamine and chondroitin for six weeks. The |
| chondroitin sulfate are commonly used. Glucosamine | | | | researchers could see a significant improvement in the |
| sulfate is extracted from crustacean shells and | | | | horses within the first two weeks. |
| chondroitin from bovine cartilage. They are generally | | | | Arthritis is treatable if detected early. The horse must |
| added to horse's daily diet. Chondroitin sulfate is | | | | be regularly examined by a veterinarian to check for |
| believed to block certain enzymes that result in the | | | | signs of arthritis or other ailments. |
| breakdown of cartilage. | | | | |