Administering Hyaluronic Acid to Performance Horses

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Administering Hyaluronic Acid to Performance
Horses

• Karey L. McPhee
• December 4, 2008
• ANSC 590

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Performance Horses

• Racing, endurance, cutting, rodeo, etc
• Susceptible to joint issues like any athlete
• Weight vs. Joint Size
• Success administering H.A. for joint problems
• Essential for joint health
• Bodies produce less H.A. after 4 years old
  (Engstrom-Laurent, 1989)
• OCD, DJD, Epiphisitis, Arthritis

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Healthy Joints
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Hyaluronic Acid

• Ubiquitous in vertebrates
• Naturally occurring
• Sodium Hyaluronate
• Combined with blood plasma ? synovial fluid
  (Nizolek and White, 1981)
• Lubricates joints
• Highly viscous
• Provides nutrients to cartilage and surrounding
  tissues

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Three Common Administration Methods
Direct Injection
Intravenous Injection
Oral Administration
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Direct Injection

• Draw out existing fluid and inject
• HA
• Legend (Bayer)
• Cortisone
• Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycans (PSGAGs)
• Adequan (Luitpold)
• Invasive
• Downtime
• Expensive
• Destructive? (Treiber, 2007)
• Masks problem
• Pierce, 2003 suggests HA goes elsewhere

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Intravenous Injection

• Maintenance practice
• Distributed via blood
• Circulating H.A. lasts 2-3 days (Pierce, 2003)
• Painful
• Invasive
• Expensive
• IV Legend 25/shot
• Not as effective as oral H.A. to increase H.A.
  serum levels (Pierce, 2003)

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Oral Administration

• Several Forms
• Powder
• Easiest to administer
• Gel
• Cost effective
• Nutraceutical/mineral package
• 1-3 days as needed
• Non-invasive
• More effective method for maintaining H.A. serum
  levels (Pierce, 2003)

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Prevention!!!!!

• More cost effective to prevent joint issues
  rather than treat
• Best way to prevent
• Oral H.A.
• Consistent
• Increase performance
• Horses protect themselves
• Pain decreases performance
• Maximize days in training
• Less days out due to soreness
• On average 5 more days in training (Pierce, 2003)
• Extend competitive career
• Sound horses last longer!