Summer 2021 - Special Issue: Joint Health

A note from the Center for Equine Health director Dr. Carrie Finno about the Summer 2021 issue of the Horse Report.

Sarah Shaffer received the 2021 James M. Wilson Award, which recognizes a graduate student or resident who significantly advances equine health through publication of the year’s most outstanding research report.

Equine athletic potential and subsequent performance, success, and longevity hinge on healthy joints. Joints are essentially where two or more bones meet, yet they allow the body to perform complicated functions.

Owners are increasingly proactive about horse health, performance and longevity, which is clearly reflected in the ever-growing market for equine supplements, also known as nutraceuticals. In a 2017 survey of owners in the U.S., 84% reported giving supplements to at least one horse. Despite the high use of supplements, there is little scientific evidence to back many products’ claims.

Joint health can be a confusing topic. We collaborated with Dr. Sarah le Jeune of the UC Davis Equine Integrative Sports Medicine and Equine Surgery and Lameness Services and Scott Katzman of the Equine Surgery and Lameness Service to provide some clarity.

The Transfusion Medicine Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital provides an array of specialized blood products for many species in addition to horses, including dogs, cats, cows, llamas, sheep, goats, and pigs. Through this service, the veterinary hospital also offers different options for equine joint therapy, all of which are made using the horse’s own blood.