Horse Joint Supplement Ingredients Explained
Posted January 9, 2015 in Equine Blog by Ron W Hamilton
Trying to find a horse joint supplement can be a daunting task if you don’t already know what you want (sometimes, even if you do). Don’t let the choices overwhelm you. Below, we explain some of the more common ingredients used in joint supplements for horses and how they are supposed to help. Once you understand the ingredients and their function, you can browse through Jeffers Equine’s extensive line of joint health products for horses with confidence.
A few of our favorite joint supplements for horses include Jeffers Motion Potion Pellets, which contains Glucosamine, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin, plus Vitamins C and E. Motion Potion is also available in a powder or liquid form. Advanced Cetyl M by Response Products contains Cetyl Myristoleate, Glucosamine HCl, MSM, and Vitamin C. Cosequin Optimized contains MSM, Glucosamine HCl, and Chondroitin Sulfate. These are only a few of the quality supplements we carry.
Many joint supplements use multiple ingredients for the best results. No one can tell you what is right for your horse. Be sure to give whatever solution you try enough time to work. Joint problems don’t typically go away overnight. Most supplements will require anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months before showing signs of improvement.
If you have further questions about a supplement or ingredient, call and speak to one of our helpful operators, or Kim, our equine specialist. If you have concerns about your horse’s health or his/her sensitivities to a product or ingredient, please call your veterinarian.
Common Ingredient | Function:
| Hyaluronic Acid (HA) | Plays an important role in tissue hydration and lubrication. HA works (in part) by binding to water to lubricate movable parts of the body, such as the joints and muscles. |
| Glucosamine | Used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. |
| Chondroitin | Helps cartilage hold water and inhibits cartilage metabolism. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates the production of cartilage and hyaluronic acid. |
| Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) | An organic form of sulfur that supports healthy connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, and muscle. MSM also decreases the pressure inside the cell which may assist in alleviating pain and inflammation. |
| Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO) | Functions in four different ways – lubricating joints, as an anti-inflammatory, as an immune system regulator and as an analgesic or painkiller. |
| Ester-C | Strong pH-neutral form of Vitamin C which is essential for the immune system function and tissue growth and repair. |
| Perna Canaliculus | Works as an anti-inflammatory agent. It comes from the green-lipped mussel (an edible shellfish). |
Want more?
See this post about VitaFlex supplements here.