Nobody knows your horse like you do. You are the most important element when it comes to recognizing issues in both health and performance with your horse. Was he slow to move? Did he barely clear that last jump? Was the last time around the barrels much slower? How long has this been going on? Unfortunately, horses can't tell their owners if and where they help. However, we do know that perception is common to both humans and animals, so a guideline to follow is, if you think a certain activity would cause you discomfort, you can assume it will do the same to your horse.
Recognizing the signs
The key is to look for a change of behavior in your horse. Since the signs become more apparent as the concern worsens. It is important to observe horses closely for signs such as:
If you notice any of these changes, consult your veterinarian. The sooner the condition is recognized, the sooner your horse can be active and flexible again!
Understanding joint anatomy
To understand your horse, one must become familiar with the anatomy of a healthy functioning joint. Let's start off with understanding the joint capsule. The joint capsule is a thick fibrous tissue that connects the bones, provides the outer layer of the joint and holds the fluid inside the joint cavity. The muscles serve to support the joint capsule and to provide joint movement. The tendon is an elastic cord that attaches the muscle to the bone and assist with movement. The synovial membrane is the inner lining of the joint capsule. It is highly vascularized and therefore is responsible for carrying nutrients to the joint and most importantly, producing the synovial fluid. The synovial fluid is a clear viscous fluid that lubricates the joints. It consists of blood plasma and hyaluronic acid. Without it, joint movement would be extremely painful and articular cartilage becomes damaged. The cartilage covers the ends of the bones and absorbs most of compression and stress in the joint. Because it is a slippery material, it allows the joints to move smoothly and easily. Overall, the parts of the joint have to work together, but the two most important parts are the synovial fluid which provides the lubrication for the joint and the cartilage, which absorbs the stress.
Veterinary validation of joint concerns
Validating joint concerns can be very difficult. Your veterinarian will have his own protocol, but listed below our some of the tools that you and your vet might use.
Deterring joint issues
Older horses have a variety of joint issues due to a number of environmental stressors, but you can help some of these stresses by:
In summary
Joint issues can be very difficult and horse owners should become very familiar with recognizing them. Because joint issues are progressive, early action on your part can give your horse a better chance at getting back to their normal activities such as walking and running. If intervention is not started early, often times the joint is far past repair and it is quite likely that the horse will never regain normal movement.
Description
Patented Hyalun® is a solution containing hyaluronic acid for oral administration. The hyaluronic acid in Hyalun® is one of the purest and highest in molecular weight.
Chemical name
Sodium Hyaluronate (COO Na) (CH2OH)
Chemistry
Hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan, can exist in the following forms depending on the chemical environment in which it is found. As the acid, hyaluronic acid; and as the sodium salt, sodium hyaluronate. It is composed of repeating subunits of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine linked together by glycosidic bonds.
"Nature's moisturizer"
Hyaluronic acid is muco-polysaccharide that occurs naturally throughout the horse's body. It is one of the most hydrophilic molecules in nature and can be described as "natures moisturizer". Backed by thousands of clinical trials in the fields of orthopedics and eye surgery, one of hyaluronic acid's most important functions in the body is to lubricate joints as an integral component of synovial fluid. While hyaluronic acid is in the "family" of glycosaminoglycans, it is unique in its restorative ability, and will often provide improvement, where glucosamine and chondroitin have failed to do so.
Benefits of hyaluronic acid
Comparing Hyalun® to Other Hyaluronic Acid Supplements
High quality
The hyaluronic acid in Hyalun® is one of the purest and highest in molecular weight of any oral hyaluronic acid product on the market today. Higher molecular weight acid can hold more water, has better lubrication properties and better shock absorbing properties than low molecular weight hyaluronic acid1
Easy-to-administer
Hyalun® is a tasteless liquid solution that your horse won't even detect or resist. Simply administer Hyalun® once daily with the convenient administrator.
Directions for storage and warnings
Store at room temperature. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. DO NOT USE IF SEAL IS BROKEN. FOR SMALL ANIMAL ORAL USE ONLY – NOT FOR INJECTION USE.
Further directions
To avoid contamination of product, use caution when removing the dropper from bottle avoiding contact with any surface or other object other than the inside of the bottle.
What is Hyalun®?
Patented Hyalun® is a liquid solution of hyaluronic acid for oral administration with horses. Hyaluronic
acid has been shown to support healthy joint and cartilage function
as well as maintaining normal, healthy joint function.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a mucoplysaccharide that occurs naturally throughout the horse’s body. Backed by thousands of clinical trials in the fields of orthopedics and eye surgery, one of hyaluronic acid's most important functions in the body is to lubricate joints as an integral component of synovial fluid.
How do I give Hyalun® to my horse?
Administer 1ml (full dropper) of Hyalun® one time daily. Hyalun is odorless and tasteless so your horse won't even notice. Each bottle of Hyalun contains a 30 day supply.
Where does your hyaluronic acid come from?
Our acid comes from an extracellular protein produced by natural fermentation. Our products are not derived from any animal source. Hypersensitivity reactions should not be a concern. The weight of the molecule directly influences its "moisture-binding" capability, and Hyalun® is the highest molecular weight HA on the market, which explains the results we have experienced.
Why is the molecular weight of supplemental hyaluronic acid important?
A study done by Wobig et al in 1999, compared hyaluronic acids of various molecular weights and found there are far more benefits derived from higher molecular weight acid. The higher molecular weight acid can hold more water, has better lubrication properties and better shock absorbing properties. The hyaluronic acid in Hyalun® is one of the purest and highest in molecular weight.
How does hyaluronic acid compare to glucosamine or chondroitin?
Glucosamine is a precursor of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid in turn makes the synovial fluid. Glucosamine must to combine with a glucoronic acid molecule to make hyaluronic acid. Often times the body is not able to join these two molecules together and the the production of the much needed hyaluronic acid is never achieved. By administering hyaluronic acid, you take away the risk of this integral process not happening and may see results with hyaluronic acid that you did not see with glucosamine or chondroitin.
Why would I want to give my horse a hyaluronic acid (HA) product?
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body as a constituent of synovial fluid that lubricates the cartilage between the joints. As the horse ages, it produces less HA and it becomes more and more difficult to replace the lost HA. Proper lubrication is lost and joints can become less flexible. HA products will pick up where the horse’s body fails them.
How does hyaluronic acid benefit a horse’s joints?
The HA in Hyalun® acts to help maintain proper joint movement, lubrication and cushioning. If we can compare the joints of the horse to an automobile engine; the joint mimics the oil in a car engine. At regular intervals we replace the oil in our car engines because the heat and friction of normal operation causes a breakdown of the oil viscosity. The oil becomes thinner and less able to protect the metal surfaces from excessive wear. Hyalun® acts the same way in the joints. With age the viscosity of the joint fluid breaks down. It becomes thin and is unable to cushion the joint, leading to increased friction and wear on the joints. Administering Hyalun® helps maintain the normal viscosity of joint fluid.
What if my horse does not have joint issues?
Because of the natural anatomical construction of the horse's limbs, all horses are susceptible. Just as we change the oil in our car to help problems, using Hyalun® can help by maintaining proper joint fluid viscosity. The horse's ability to produce hyaluronic acid slows down considerably with age. Results in the loss of lubrication and healthy movement.
Do veterinarians use hyaluronic acid?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid has been directly injected by needle into the joint for several years. This has yielded great results by immediately increasing the viscosity of the joint fluid and restoring proper lubrication and shock absorption in the joints.
Because it is an acid, will HA burn the skin or stomach of me or my horse?
Hyaluronic acid is often called an acid and this is a misnomer. Hyaluronic acid as a sodium salt (sodium hyaluronate)(Hyalun®) will have a neutral pH measurement not an acidic. Because of the water retention capacity of hyaluronic acid, it is actually a very good moisturizer for the skin and is being used in many facial cream and body lotions.
We are using a multi-technique approach to helping our horse's joints by using several different techniques and joint supplements. Should Hyalun® be something we try as well?
We always recommend that whenever you are helping your horse with joint problems, that you establish some baseline measurement before starting any new technique. This way you can at least measure whether or not there is a positive outcome. Pulling too many levers at once can cause confusion and you may never know which aspect is helping.
Hyaluronic acid is one of the most researched substances in medicine today and is backed by thousands of clinical trials in the fields of orthopedics and eye surgery. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid, the following resources will provide you with a starting point for further research.