United States Eventing Association

Convention Seminars: Not All Joint Products are Created Equal

Allyn Mann, Director of the Animal Health Division at Luitpold, held an educational seminar during the 2015 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention to educate attendees on degenerative joint disease and how you can combat this in your equine partners. Mann began his instruction by walking the audience through the components of a healthy joint including the synovial membrane, joint fluid, subchondral bone, and cartilage. Mann said that the majority of joint problems begin with the synovial membrane. As you can see in the photo below, the synovial membrane acts as a boundary lubricant, keeping out unwanted cells, removing waste and adding hyaluronic acid to form the synovial fluid. When a joint is working properly, it experiences a constant cycle of wear and repair, but this cycle is interrupted once the joint begins to become dysfunctional.

As previously mentioned, most joint issues begin with damage to the synovial membrane. Mann explained that although this can be caused by improper shoeing or poor conformation, often times it can be attributed to what he called, “use trauma,” which is daily exercise and movement which all equine athletes experience. Mann explained that this means that, “all horses are susceptible of joint dysfunction regardless of breed, age, discipline.” Use trauma causes the synovial membrane to become inflamed, which compromises the membrane and allows unwanted particles, like red blood cells, into the joint. These cells release destructive enzymes that break down the viscosity of the joint fluid as well as the cartilage itself. Mann described the biggest issue with this by saying, “once cartilage is gone, it’s gone for good.”

Next, Mann moved onto the topic of diagnosing degenerative joint disease. He mentioned that cartilage has no pain receptors, which means the tissue could be damaged and a horse owner may never know. Many horses begin to experience joint pain once joint pressures affect the subchondral bone at which point there will be severe cartilage damage. Mann then described that the best way to combat joint degeneration is constant vigilance on the health of your horse’s legs. The first sign of inflammation in the joint is heat, so any indication of a warm leg should alert horse owners to a potential problem. “The more you can pay attention to the signals your horse is providing, the better chance you can prevent damage,” Mann claimed adding that feeling their legs every day is your greatest asset.

In his final topic, Mann discussed the ideal therapeutic agent for degenerative joint disease. He explained that you want something that will both relieve the symptoms of lameness and produce disease-modifying effects. Disease-modifying effects would include inhibition of cartilage degeneration, stimulating production of cartilage matrix components, increase of synovial lubrication, and decrease of inflammation. Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) achieves both of these goals and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One of Adequan® i.m.’s greatest benefits is that “is the only FDA-approved treatment to stop the destructive disease cycle, stimulate cartilage repair and reverse the joint disease process.”

All photos via Adequan's Joint Education Webpage.

About Adequan® i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan)

Maintaining the health and soundness of equine athletes is one of the keys to their success. Adequan® i.m. is a veterinarian-trusted name in the fight against equine degenerative joint disease. Luitpold Animal Health is committed to advancing the cause of better animal health through scientifically proven and FDA-approved products. Adequan® i.m. is the only FDA-approved intramuscular polysulfated glycosaminoglycan for equine. Early treatment with Adequan® i.m. can stop the destructive disease cycle, reverse degenerative joint disease and improve joint function. If your equine athlete or companion horse is experiencing degenerative joint disease, speak to your veterinarian and find out if Adequan® i.m., “The Winning Formula for Champions,” can benefit your horse.

Adequan® i.m. Brief Summary

Brief Summary Indications: For the intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. There are no known contraindications to the use of intramuscular Adequan® i.m. brand Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan in horses. Studies have not been conducted to establish safety in breeding horses. WARNING: Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Each 5 mL contains 500 mg Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. SEE PRODUCT PACKAGE INSERT FOR FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION at www.adequan.com

Adequan® is a registered trademark of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ©LUITPOLD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., Animal Health Division, Shirley, NY 11967.

SEE PRODUCT PACKAGE INSERTS AT WWW.ADEQUAN.COM FOR FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION