My vet is recommending that I do either Adequan or Legend for my 6yr old barrel horse who I recently found out has collapsing hocks. One joint in his left hock is in the process of collapsing and fusing and the right is starting to show signs that it's going to do the same thing. Once he's fused the vet gave him 75% chance of being 100% sound. I did have his hocks both injected and he is on Cosequin ASU for a supplement. They are also recommening the injections of Adequan or Legend. My vet said that usually she recommends Legend for younger sport horses. Does anyone know which one does work better for the younger sport horse? The legend is also the more expensive of the two and if I go with that I want to make sure it will help him more then the Adequan does. Also how often after the first month do they need to get it?

The question was answered by :
Jessica R :
I use to inject both every six months on my old show horse. It really helps a lot. If you can afford it I feel like they help eachother do their jobs so you get the best possible results.

yes i know i should ask a vet but she fused like 2 years ago and i didn't really jump her much then because i was doing dressage so i didn't think to ask. I don't have the money to get her a vet check either and its kinda pointless because she is almost 20 and i have owned her for 3 years.

I have to horses and my other mare is out of jumping for a while because her back is roached. My mare that fused used to jump alot when she was like 5-7 then she was a brood mare for 10 years and produced 2 babies and was just in the pasture the whole time.

I got her when she was 17 and i jumped her some. She wasn't staying sound and i had her hocks injected and she fused in the rt. hind. I know that means is doesn't hurt anymore but isn't very mobile.

She has been sound for like a year and a half and is doing well. I gave her adequan and she daily gets HA.

Would it be unreasonable to do cross rails and maybe 2 foot verticals with her? Will she be in pain?

Thank you for your answers

The question was answered by :
K F :
Disregard the first snarky answer. The hock is comprised of 3 sections; there is NO similarity to a fused hock joint and fusing an elbow.

Having said that, as you know, your horse will have less mobility with a fusion of the hock joint. But it is a natural occurrence in older horses. I see no reason that cross rails would be out of the question, but would you really sacrifice the health & safety of your horse AND yourself by listening to a bunch of strangers? Do yourself a favour and ask your vet to be 100% certain..

Edit: Reynie: You obviously don't have much experience with o/f work either. Many a schoolie in VERY well reputed places are still used in the SS program, with a nod from vets who service several big names.. like? Oh.. the USET..

Educate yourself before you chastise. OP is talkin' about under 2'. So long as *her* vet approves, no sense curtailing the horse's career unnecessarily.

And, in looking for similarities btwn the stacked hock joint/s and the human: Try vertibra. Or does everyone with fused vertebra have to resign themselves to a life as a couch potato?

We have a 8 year old Newf with arthritis in his hips. He has been on Rimadyl for about a year. It has worked, but has caused a bleeding ulcer. We are looking at starting him on Adequan injections. Anyone have success with this?

The answer is provided by :
Sound Bay Newfoundlands :
Adequan shots can work wonders for some dogs. It does not do much for others. But is well worth a try. It is given in a series of shots, but if you do not see improvement after the first few shots, then you do not need to continue. If they are going to work, you will see improvement after the first couple of shots. Good luck.

What was your level of success?
Who recommended Adequan (or a comparable injectible)?
Did you perform radiographs first, or simply go on your dog's age and activity level?
At what intervals were the injections given initially?
At what frequency is the dog maintaining his comfort?
Do you give any other type of medication for those 'bad' days? If so, which type?

Thanks in advance. I'm trying to determine if this is worth the cost before I procede. I have access to wholesale pricing of this, and am very tempted to try, however if the general consensus is negative, then I may try other products first.

This is was answered by :
ÅŅÑΣŦŦΣ™ :
Yes, I have a 16 year old miniature schnauzer, whom I give adequan shots to twice a week. She weighs 9 lbs and gets .4 cc. We first did x-rays to make sure what was going on with her and realized she did have arthritis and two bad discs in her neck.

We give the shots at home on Mondays and Thursdays, before the shots, she would and could not go up steps, but now she will walk up the steps without even thinking about it.

My vet actually gave us the Adequan for horses instead of the one for dogs because it is cheaper and it is less painful for the dog when injected.

I highly recommend it and this is the only drug I give for her arthritis.

Of course check with your vet and see which one is best for your little one.

Good Luck!!

The question was answered by :
Brrrr :
Hmm.
I don't understand your opening statement, but I suspect I don't want to know.

I can answer your question, however.

I'm familiar with Adequan because this question has come up on Y!A before, so I did literature searches for it on PubMed.

Adequan is a veterinary-grade GAG (glycosaminoglycan).
In plain English, it is synthetic synovial fluid.

The human versions of GAGs are Hyalgan and Synvisc.
We inject them into arthritic joints to lubricate them.
Kind of like oiling a rusty hinge.
Yes, not a scientific description, but clear enough.

Adequan is very similar to the human GAGs. It just hasn't been tested in humans.
In all probability, it would work just as well in humans as it does in dogs and horses. We just don't know/can't prove it.

I wouldn't try to inject a human with it. Why?
It is just as expensive as the human GAGs but untested.

ADDENDUM

Warning all: Paul G is a Troll.
He has asked this same question 12 times in different Y!A sections.
He's either selling the stuff or he's nuts (or both).
Ignore his questions hereafter.
I want my 5 minutes back.

I currently have my 13 year old QH gelding, Kobi on platinum performance complete joint (platinumperformance.com)
When was 3 he was started in cutting by his breeder. He apparently was a very nice cutting horse (his sire is zips chocolate chip) and was successful until they sold him to a lady who decided he would be better off as an elgish, hunter/jumper. for about four years(4-8) he was an extramly successful hunter/jumper/eq/dressage horse. VERY successful, his show records are impressive to say the least. Anyway, being that he has shown most of him life in demanding areas he has joint problems. Whe ni got him he was my first real competition horse and i trusted my trainers to do right by him and me (ha, a hunter trainer doing the right thing…crazy, i know!!) anyway, every 4 months they had us pay $800 to have his hocks injected. (i know that should be the last resort but this is what i was told..i paid people for their opinions, they gave it to me, i listened…bad idea) anyway, i now am more educated and hate that i did that to my guy. he measn the world to me but he reall has trouble with his hocks. i have him on platinum performance complete joint and its affects seem to be wearing off (for $200/month…it is not worth it) i have done the legend/adequan inections and same thing…affects wars off after so long. we started with a basic joint supplement then got the more expensive, more helpful JS then the legend/adequan and now i am at a loss. the next step is injectingg…that is why i am here writing this silly question. does anyone have any other alternative? i know i named basically EVERYTHING out there and most people will agree that injections are next on the list but if anyone has any recommendations please please please share. he is comfortable overall and sound…but he could use some help.
thanks, kelsey

This is was answered by :
galloppal :
Are you saying he has been injected with steroids? There is a big difference between that and injecting with hyaluronic acid which just lubricates the joint. Conquer is an oral form of hyaluronic acid that can be effective in some cases as well. If he was helped by injections with it, then the oral form would be worth trying. A second opinion from another vet might also be a good idea.

I’m posting this for a fellow horse friend who isn’t familiar with YA. I have my personal opinions on joint injections, even I.M. ones…however my friend would really like to get as much input as possible as she continues to research it herself. Thanks.

The answer is provided by :
galloppal :
Well, knowing you, you already know anything I'm going to tell you. I can't find anything to put up a red flag over. Used as advised, it shows no toxicity, no contraindications, and is effective. It hasn't been established as safe for use in breeding stock, and should not be combined with other solutions/drugs. It is used for a period of time the vet prescribes, then either discontinued, or given as needed after that. NSAIDS can be given while on it, and that's about all I can find that matters. It is supposed to go beyond the usual joint supplements and actually inhiit destructive enzymes. I have no personal experience with it to go on.

My 8 yr old TB/QH was diagnosed with arthritis (DJD) & it has progressed very quickly. his worst joint is the left front coffin joint but also affects hocks & right coffin joint. Has had joint injections, Adequan & Legend shots & gets bute as needed but wondering if anyone has had any luck with other treatments or oral supp??? I have him on glucosamine, chondroitin, msm, flax seed.
he lives out on pasture 24/7 & I do still ride him on his good days so he moves around constantly.

The best answer is by :
Ponygirl :
You seem to have a good handle on how to keep him as comfortable as possible. The only other supplement I used was devil’s claw, but I have mixed feelings as to whether it was really helpful. I’ve also been in this unfortunate position with my older schoolmasters, and you’ve just got to be patient. You ride on the “good” days, and just groom and love on him the others.

I tried all the magnet blankets, wraps and boots. Very expensive and of no help at all. On one very special guy we did nerve him, but then the turnout is dangerous, and so is riding anywhere except an arena, and you shouldn’t jump or canter.

Bless you for trying. My young guy who progressed fast was a quarter horse, foundation bred. They are prone to fast progressive hoof based DJD. Mine was put down at 9 as we couldn’t keep him comfortable and he started colicing weekly due to pain and bute.

My 11 Y/O T-Bred hunter gelding is currently on Cosequin ASU. When I ask people which joint supplement they prefer, I get mixed reviews. What do you think? Pros and cons on both? Do you use one of these or something different? Thanks!

The best answer is by :
Amy S :
I use Adequan because my mare won’t eat Cosequin. Most of the horses in my barn get both. I think it’s more of a personal preference. The Cosequin is more expensive, but good as gold and constantly effective. The Adequan is very effective in the first few days after treatment (more-so than Cosequin), then not as effective for the remainder of the 30 day cycle. So ideally, it’s Cosequin daily and Adeqaun monthly (as close to show days as possible).

Anyone know anything about adequan shots for horses?

This is was answered by :
Greg B :
My friend just got her horse a shot of adequan. It worked so well for him that she called me the next day to say that she now had so much horse under her she didn’t know what to do with it all. She compared it to giving him methamphetamines.

Adequan is supposed to help with general joint lubrication so it helps with stiffness. It can be a good treatment for older horses, but you can use it in younger horses as a preventative or if they have a specific issue.

Apparently it works very well for some horses and hardly at all for others.