Equine joint inflammation can be crippling to horses of all breeds and ages and speaks to a sometimes chronic and painful degradation of cartilage along the bones of your noble companion. Typically, the spine, joints, and jaw can each be affected, which may lead to lameness, aches, and an uneven giant.
In addition to regular rest, CBD may help ease the discomfort that comes with joint inflammation by interacting with your horse’s endocannabinoid system. This guide will discuss the causes and symptoms of equine joint pain and how to use CBD oil for horse arthritis relief.
Joint Pain Explained
Before we can talk about CBD oil’s potential for helping your horse feel more comfortable, let’s talk about why your horse might be experiencing cumbersome aches.
Joint pain occurs when one or more of your horse’s joints becomes inflamed, causing stiffness and discomfort. In many cases, you can ease chronic joint inflammation, and horses with acute inflammation can oftentimes make a full recovery.
Causes
Joint inflammation happens when the bones in a given joint no longer fit smoothly together.
This can happen if:
- An injury damages the bone or cartilage
- An infection damages the bone or cartilage
- A new, rough bone lacking in cartilage grows to replace a damaged bone
When an injury or infection damages the bone or cartilage, the roughened surface moving against other bones and cartilage can result in acute inflammation. When the bone itself re-grows roughly after an injury and causes inflammation, that’s referred to as chronic inflammation.
Symptoms
If your horse has an arthritic joint, its symptoms may include:
- Swelling of the joint
- Pain
- Movement restriction
If you think your horse might be experiencing joint inflammation, reach out to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Catching arthritis early can make it easier to treat.
Treatments
There are several different ways to treat joint inflammation, depending on your horse’s specific situation.
A vet may recommend any of the following:
