Adequan Helps Joint Problems in Foals

A trial was conducted with 75 Thoroughbred foals in central Kentucky to evaluate the effects of a preventive regimen of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG, Adequan) injections starting at 8 weeks of age.

Injections were given twice a week for alternating 4 week periods until the foals were 1 year of age. The occurrence and clinical significance of osteochondrosis (OC) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) were compared between treated foals and the historical experience with foals on the same farm within the previous few years.

Administration of PSGAG had no significant effect on the incidence of OCD of the hock, stifle or fetlock. However, the incidence of proximal dorsal P1 chip fractures seemed to decrease in treated foals and the clinical significance and need for surgical treatment of joint lesions seemed much lower. 

The authors recognized the limitations of using historical controls and subjective assessments in this unblinded study. They also acknowledged the extended period of intensive treatments with injectable PSGAG may not be economically feasible for most breeders. Nevertheless, the study suggests injections of PSGAG in growing foals may help with the seriousness of OC and OCD joint lesions, and future work may identify an effective and more practical treatment regimen using PSGAG.

—White GW et al. J Equine Vet Sci 2007;27:107-111.

Arthritis Treatment Found to be Beneficial

An experimental model of arthritis was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of an oral avocado and soybean extract product. Arthritis was induced in 16 horses with half…