Osteoarthritis - What exactly is it?

Like humans, horses can suffer from osteoarthritis (commonly known as arthritis). And, as with humans, it doesn’t just impact the very elderly. Horses of all ages can also suffer from this incredibly painful condition. 

So, what exactly is osteoarthritis? As the name suggests, ‘osteo’ refers to bone, and ‘itis’ refers to inflammation. A degenerative disease, it progressively gets worse over time if left untreated. 

How common is Arthritis? 

Arthritis is the number one cause of lameness in horses. It can significantly impact their quality of life, dramatically reducing their capacity to be exercised and can even reduce their mobility in the paddock. 

What causes Arthritis? 

The number one cause of arthritis is wear and tear on the protective layer of the bone, called cartilage. This wear and tear creates inflammation within the joint, leading to pain and further degradation of the cartilage cells. 

Developmental issues in younger horses, such OCD, poor conformation or bacterial infections, are other common causes of arthritis. That’s why it’s so important to ensure your young horse maintains a healthy weight, is fed a high-quality diet and is allowed to mature sufficiently before being broken in. Keep an eye out for our next post where we’ll talk about identifying the early signs of arthritis, and what to do about them. 

If you think your horse may be suffering from arthritis, please call us for a check-up