Understanding ArthramidVet®

ArthramidVet® has a 15-year legacy in equine medicine in Europe; however, veterinarians in the U.S. tend to be conservative when adopting new therapies once they become available stateside. Williams was an early adopter of ArthramidVet®, a 2.5% intra- articular polyacrylamide gel (iPAAG), using it to manage joint disease in horses since it launched in the U.S. in 2020. The gel functions as a “bio-scaffold,” bonding with inflamed tissue to strengthen the joint and leading to better function of movement. Like many vets cautious about new treatments, Williams initially limited its use to severe cases in which other interventions had failed—specifically, postarthroscopy in racehorses with severe joint damage.

“They had significant degenerative changes and cartilage loss,” he explained, “but we were really pleasantly surprised by a number of those cases with these horses significantly improving and not seeing any problems as a result of using it. Then we were more confident in being able to use ArthramidVet® earlier in lots of different cases.”

As more research emerged revealing the benefits of this therapy, Williams could give clients science-based reasons to choose ArthramidVet®, particularly over steroids.

“Because I specialize in sports medicine and I’ve been doing this for a long time, my clients look to me for good advice, and they know that I tell someone what I tell them based on what I would do for my own animal,” he said.

Adding Diagnostic Imaging

But what truly guides Williams’ therapeutic recommendations for horses with joint lameness is diagnostic imaging. Because of his extensive background in ultrasound imaging, he has an intricate understanding of the cartilage and bone surfaces in equine joints—insights he will be sharing with Sunrise Session attendees.

“Ultrasound is the most accurate tool for bone surface detail,” Williams said. “Just like using sonar to map out the ocean floor, ultrasound gives you a direct view of what the bone surface looks like.”

Using ultrasound—in combination with radiographs or other imaging modalities—to visualize and evaluate the integrity of the joint structures “allows you to more fully elucidate diagnostically what’s going on in a given region, whatever joint it may be,” Williams explained. “That way, you can be more accurate about your treatment and what you may or may not be able to accomplish with that treatment. You can give the client information on the chronicity of what’s going on in that joint and give them a better idea of prognosis. It also allows you to get a really good baseline and use serial examinations to know how something evolves, devolves, or stays the same with a given case.”

When he’s teaching other veterinarians about advanced ultrasound imaging, Williams said he tries to hammer home the importance of using the diagnostic tool to its full capacity so they can get as much information as possible for themselves, their clients, and the patients. “You need an accurate, full diagnosis to be able to treat, rehab, manage, and give a prognosis,” he said.

Dec. 9 Sunrise Session

Finally, Williams emphasized the importance of taking a multimodal approach to managing horses with joint diseases like synovitis, capsulitis, and osteoarthritis. In addition to injecting the joint space with ArthramidVet® hydrogel, this includes weight management, proper hoof care and nutrition, and therapies such as underwater treadmills.

Don’t miss Dr. Williams’ presentation at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9.

Written by:

Alexandra Beckstett

Alexandra Beckstett, a native of Houston, Texas, is a lifelong horse owner who has shown successfully on the national hunter/jumper circuit and dabbled in hunter breeding. After graduating from Duke University, she joined Blood-Horse Publications as assistant editor of its book division, Eclipse Press, before joining The Horse. She was the managing editor of The Horse for nearly 14 years and is now editorial director of EquiManagement and My New Horse, sister publications of The Horse.