Why Are Joint Supplements Needed?
Soreness related to joints can develop from trauma, either direct or from the concussive effects of the legs striking hard surfaces, or from age, i.e. degenerative loss of cartilage quality.
The resulting osteoarthritis, known as degenerative joint disease, is similar in humans and horses. Joint pain can affect horses of all ages, as conformation defects and work on hard or uneven surfaces can be detrimental at any age.
However, as all horses age, their internal production of glucosamine slows down, and that is the active that hydrates the cartilage to keep it like a cushion between the bones of a joint.
It is like a kitchen sponge that, when it is moist, is soft and spongy, but when left to dry out becomes hard and brittle.
What Can Help to Prevent the Onset of DJD?
Firstly, reducing work on hard surfaces, ensuring good shoeing with lighter-weight shoes and, if needed, padding the sole.
Then feeding a fully formulated nutraceutical can help prevent joint deterioration, especially as a horse ages, and preferably as an oral supplement instead of injectable solutions (Rodgers, 2006).
Ideally, provide it as a prophylactic at around 6 years of age.
The formulation is important, as feeding glucosamine alone is not as effective and the daily amount is crucial, as up to 90% will be absorbed by the liver.
Other actives such as manganese ascorbate (Leach et al., 1969), chondroitin (Chou et al., 2005; Dechant et al., 2005) and particularly undenatured collagen type II (Gupta et al., 2009) provide a more efficient response.
Gelatin is also supportive, with high levels of glycine and proline, both of which are important components of collagen, the protein found in the cartilage matrix. Science has shown that gelatin improves the homeostasis of those amino acids required for cartilage synthesis (Coenen et al., 2006).
Adding bioavailable support minerals such as copper and zinc can again help to improve the outcome.
Vetpro Flex Equine Plus brings these important actives together in a fully formulated daily joint supplement. It contains glucosamine sulphate, undenatured collagen type II, manganese ascorbate, mixed glycosaminoglycans, gelatin and chelated minerals to support cartilage quality, joint elasticity and normal joint repair.
Learn more about equine arthritis and degenerative joint disease.
How Does a Joint Nutraceutical Work?
While anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain and reduce inflammation, it has been scientifically proven that drug-free nutraceuticals containing key ingredients at the right levels can improve cartilage quality and so help relieve the prevalent condition.
When the joints need more glucosamine (Reginster et al., 2012), due to age or concussive damage, the body is unable to speed up production because it is set at a fixed rate.
Scientific studies have shown that the body is able to absorb digested glucosamine sulphate and utilise it directly in the joints to repair and maintain the cartilage, and that 10–12 g daily is efficacious.
While glucosamine HCl is also available, it has been shown that the bioavailability of glucosamine sulphate is far greater, and so this is the ingredient in Vetpro Flex Equine Plus (Meulyzer et al., 2008).
Glucosamine is the major structural component of the principal glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in cartilage. It is the GAGs that maintain the water content of cartilage and hence its ability to resist the compressive forces during weight-bearing (Homandberg et al., 2006).
The mixed glycosaminoglycans include chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate. Manganese ascorbate is necessary for the conversion of glucosamine to GAGs to occur (Leach et al., 1969).
Science has also shown that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin provides a more effective response than either active alone (Yamada et al., 2022; Harlan et al., 2012).
Undenatured collagen type II is a new discovery that was determined to be effective in relieving osteoarthritis in humans, but has now been independently scientifically tested on horses and showed remarkable positive responses (Gupta et al., 2009).
Vetpro Flex Equine Plus is a Fully Formulated Joint Nutraceutical
Vetpro Flex Equine Plus contains the recommended amounts of the actives to be effective in improving joint elasticity and joint repairs.
It puts the spring back into the horse and can assist in prolonging the competitive life of the horse.
Each daily dose contains all the important actives:
- Glucosamine sulphate
- Undenatured collagen type II
- Manganese ascorbate
- Mixed GAGs, including chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate
- Chelated copper
- Chelated zinc
- Gelatin
To be more effective, it is recommended that a double dose is given for the first 4–6 weeks and then reduced to the standard daily dose.
To assist at times of hard surfaces and greater work demands, a return to the double dose is also recommended.
Daily Dose and Product Information for Vetpro Flex Equine Plus
Suitable for: Older horses, performance horses, horses working on hard or uneven surfaces, and horses requiring long-term nutritional joint support.
Primary purpose: Supports cartilage quality, joint elasticity and normal joint repair.
Key active ingredients: Glucosamine sulphate, undenatured collagen type II, mixed GAGs (chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate), manganese ascorbate, gelatin, chelated copper and chelated zinc.
Available sizes: 500 g, 1 kg and 2 kg packs.
| Horse or Pony | Loading Dose (First 4–6 Weeks) | Maintenance Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Horses (450–500 kg) | 26–30 g | 13–15 g |
| Ponies (225–350 kg) | 13–20 g | 7.5–10 g |
Available sizes: 500 g, 1 kg and 2 kg packs.
FAQs
Can I just feed raw glucosamine alone to fix my horse’s joint issues?
The formulation is important, as feeding glucosamine alone is not as effective. Other actives such as manganese ascorbate, chondroitin, undenatured collagen type II, gelatin, copper and zinc help provide a more efficient response.
Is there a difference between the types of glucosamine?
Yes. While glucosamine HCl is also available, the bioavailability of glucosamine sulphate has been shown to be far greater, and this is the form used in Vetpro Flex Equine Plus.
What makes undenatured collagen type II special?
Undenatured collagen type II was first shown to be effective in relieving osteoarthritis in humans and has since been independently scientifically tested in horses, where it showed positive responses.
When should I start my horse on a joint supplement?
Ideally, a fully formulated joint nutraceutical can be provided as a prophylactic from around 6 years of age, particularly for horses exposed to hard surfaces, intensive work or other factors that may contribute to joint deterioration.
Scientific References
Chou, M. M., Vergnolle, N., McDougall, J. J., Wallace, J. L., Marty, S., Teskey, V., & Buret, A. G. (2005). Effects of chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate in a dietary bar formulation on inflammation, interleukin-1β, matrix metalloprotease-9, and cartilage damage in arthritis. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 230(4), 255–262.https://doi.org/10.1177/153537020523000405
Coenen, M., Appelt, K., Niemeyer, A., & Vervuert, I. (2006). Study of gelatin supplemented diet on amino acid homeostasis in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement, 36, 606–610.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05612.x
Dechant, J. E., Baxter, G. M., Frisbie, D. D., Trotter, G. W., & McIlwraith, C. W. (2005). Effects of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate, alone and in combination, on normal and interleukin-1 conditioned equine articular cartilage explant metabolism. Equine Veterinary Journal, 37(3), 227–231.https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164054530687
Gupta, R. C., Canerdy, T. D., Skaggs, P., Stocker, A., Zyrkowski, G., Burke, R., Wegford, K., Goad, J. T., Rohde, K., Barnett, D., DeWees, W., Bagchi, M., & Bagchi, D. (2009). Therapeutic efficacy of undenatured type-II collagen (UC-II) in comparison to glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic horses. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 32(6), 577–584.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2885.2009.01079.x
Harlan, R. S., Haut, R. C., & Orth, M. W. (2012). The effect of glucosamine and chondroitin on stressed equine cartilage explants. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 32(1), 12–14.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2011.09.004
Homandberg, G. A., Guo, D., Ray, L. M., & Ding, L. (2006). Mixtures of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate reverse fibronectin fragment mediated damage to cartilage more effectively than either agent alone. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 14(8), 793–806.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2006.02.003
Leach, R. M., Jr., Muenster, A. M., & Wien, E. M. (1969). Studies on the role of manganese in bone formation: II. Effect upon chondroitin sulfate synthesis in chick epiphyseal cartilage. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 133(1), 22–28.https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(69)90483-4
Meulyzer, M., Vachon, P., Beaudry, F., Vinardell, T., Richard, H., Beauchamp, G., & Laverty, S. (2008). Comparison of pharmacokinetics of glucosamine and synovial fluid levels following administration of glucosamine sulphate or glucosamine hydrochloride. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16(9), 973–979.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2008.01.006
Reginster, J.-Y., Neuprez, A., Lecart, M.-P., Sarlet, N., & Bruyère, O. (2012). Role of glucosamine in the treatment for osteoarthritis. Rheumatology International, 32, 2959–2967.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2416-2
Rodgers, M. R. (2006). Effects of oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates supplementation on frequency of intra-articular therapy of the horse tarsus. The International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 4(2), 155–162.
Yamada, A. L. M., do Prado Vendruscolo, C., Marsiglia, M. F., Sotelo, E. D. P., Agreste, F. R., Seidel, S. R. T., Fülber, J., Baccarin, R. Y. A., & da Silva, L. C. L. C. (2022). Effects of oral treatment with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in an experimental model of metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis in horses. BMC Veterinary Research, 18(1), Article 215 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03323-3
