In many regions, winter means a difficult few months for owner managing horses, but it brings its own set of challenges to horses with osteoarthritis (OA). Plunging temperatures, deep snow, and freezing rain are difficult enough for humans and horses to deal with, but did you know that even a change in barometric pressure can trigger joint discomfort?

When a horse suffers from OA, the cartilage, bone and soft tissues in the joint deteriorate. These changes cause pain, deformity, loss of motion, and decreased function.

Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, senior equine professional service veterinarian for Boehringer Ingelheim, points to these clinical signs to watch out for:

• Decreased activity or mobility;
• Stiffness or decreased joint movement;
• Heat;
• Swelling;
• Pain; and
• Lameness.

There is no cure for OA, but clinical signs can be managed