Is Aloe Vera of any benefit to horses with osteoarthritis?
We often refer to this condition as degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can occur through age-related wear and tear of a joint or it may be as a result of repeated trauma. Whatever the cause, the end result is changes to the joint cartilage, the synovial membrane and the fluid it produces as well as damage to the bone under the joint cartilage. In horses particular names are given to different areas where arthritis occurs. So you will often hear people referring to ‘ring bone’, ‘spavin’, ‘pedal osteitis’ and ‘navicular disease’. These horses require a combined integrated approach to keep them comfortable and to try and hold back the progression of this disease. This usually involves support for the limb, corrective farriery, rest, physiotherapy, complementary preparations and sometimes drugs. I have found that some cases respond beneficially to the addition of 250mls of Aloe Vera Gel to their diets daily. As they improve this can be reduced gradually to a maintenance level of 60mls p
