Last Updated on September 1, 2020
Are you searching for the best cosequin for your horse?
Cosequin has the potential to improve your horse’s joint health. With this in mind I have reviewed the top options available on the market and after reading this article you will know my recommendations.
Check the quick list below for links to customer reviews and prices, or read on for my full review:
- Nutramax Cosequin Equine Powder
- Nutramax Cosequin ASU Equine Powder
- Kentucky Performance Elevate Maintenance Powder
Cosequin is a powder that is used to help improve joint health and offers joint support to horses. It is commonly used to treat joint conditions and contains chondroitin and glucosamine to offer horses the best joint health and support possible.
There are a number of different formulas to choose from, depending on the type of support that your horse needs.
Table of Contents
Why Is Cosequin Important for Your Horse?
Horses tend to have problems with their joints due to completing exercises that are stressful on the joints and can cause wear and tear.
Even mild exercise can cause damage that can be incredibly painful and cause a lot of inflammation. If you have noticed that your horse has a limited range of motion or is stiff, then you will want to consider using Cosequin to improve their joint health.
Joint pain usually begins with mild discomfort, but can quickly worsen, depending on the type of exercise that the horse is doing. Allowing the horse to rest helps, as does providing them with the right medication or supplement.
What Are the Signs of a Deficiency?
If your horse has an uneven gait, is reluctant to change lead, or has recently shortened their stride, then you may be seeing the first signs of cartilage breakdown, and you will want to begin supplementation right away. Other signs include swelling and heat in the joints, as well as the horse walking tenderly.
Horses can suffer from many types of deficiencies. Vitamin deficiencies, for example, can manifest as trembling, difficulty standing, weight loss, and even low energy.
What Benefits Will Your Horse Enjoy When You Supplement Cosequin?
Cartilage breakdown can occur at any age, which is why you want to make sure that you are paying close attention to the health and condition of your horse. Supplementing Cosequin right away is important if you want to prevent more damage from occurring and ensure that your horse is able to heal. Once the cartilage in a joint is damaged and gone, it can be very difficult to repair it.
Supplementing Cosequin helps to prevent further cartilage breakdown. It also helps to stimulate cartilage matrix production, which helps new cartilage form without the dangers or high cost of cartilage transplant or stem cell therapy.
How Much Should You Give Your Horse?
It’s important that you follow dosing directions when giving Cosequin to your horse so that they experience the best results. It’s normal to give higher doses for the first month of supplementation and then to decrease the dose given to the horse for long-term administration.
If you know that your horse is going to be competing in an event or experiencing strenuous exercise, then it is a good idea to consider increasing the dose to compensate for the damage and stress that can occur.
Top Rated Cosequin for Horses
Nutramax Cosequin Equine Powder
This is the perfect product if your horse is involved in light work and has shown signs of cartilage damage even though they are not involved in very heavy work. It consists of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which work together to help improve joint health. It’s suitable for all classes of horses and will generally show incredible results within four weeks of beginning supplementation.
Because there isn’t a flavoring included in this supplement, you won’t have any problems with your horse refusing to take it, as it can be sprinkled on their food during feedings. This makes this supplement one of the easier ones to give and helps to prevent the horse from refusing it.
Pros
- Perfect for senior horses who need additional help moving during the aging process
- Improves joint health quickly, allowing horses to enjoy improved mobility
Cons
- Can be difficult to use the scoop to get out the correct amount of supplement
Nutramax Cosequin ASU Equine Powder
If you have a horse that is involved in heavy work, then you will want to opt for this Cosequin product, as it is specifically designed to meet the needs of horses who put more stress on their joints on a regular basis. Not only does it contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, but it also has methylsulfonylmethane and soybean/avocado unsaponifiables, which help to make the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate much more potent.
Not only does this product help to stimulate the body to produce more cartilage matrix components, which is imperative to improve joint health, but it also inhibits the body from breaking down any existing cartilage. This means that you enjoy comprehensive joint support for your horse and don’t have to worry about them wearing out their remaining cartilage in their joints.
Pros
- Helps to decrease inflammation and pain in the joints
- Supports existing cartilage while helping the body make new cartilage at the same time
Cons
- Requires a larger dosage than other products, which can get expensive
- Some horses do not care for the flavor
Kentucky Performance Elevate Maintenance Powder
Horses need to have ample vitamin E in their diets to ensure that their cells are protected and healthy, but since horses aren’t able to make their own vitamin E, it is important to supplement their diet on a regular basis. This product is a fast, easy, and affordable way to supplement your horse’s diet and ensure that they have all of the vitamin E that they need to be as healthy as possible.
No matter if you are simply keeping your horse healthy or actively dealing with a neurological disorder, this product makes it easy to add vitamin E to your horse’s food without also adding other minerals or vitamins that they do not need. Being able to quickly adjust how much of this supplement that you give your horse makes it easy to provide them with the vitamin E that they require.
Pros
- Makes it easy to supplement vitamin E without any additional ingredients, so there isn’t any concern of creating an imbalance
- Ample vitamin E helps improve a horse’s overall health
Cons
- Does not always help improve horse health, especially if there is another health condition that is not being addressed
For more guides and tips read these articles:
- Great Quality Biotin for Horses
- What Joint Supplements for Horses are the Best
- Here are The Recommended Mineral Supplements for Horses
- How to Maintain Horse Joint Health
- Maintain Gut Health with the Top Probiotics for Horses
Conclusion
Maintaining your horse’s joint health will improve their performance and more importantly, their quality of life. By supplementing a quality Cosequin to your horse’s diet, you can help make sure their joints are in tip top shape.
Fred is the editor of Equine Ridge. He grew up raising horses and has been riding, training, and competing for almost four decades. Fred started out performing on the AQHA and PHBA circuits. Fred trained other competitors in English and Western riding disciplines and today offers free riding lessons to youth who would otherwise not be able to afford lessons. When not working with horses he can be found backpacking or trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee. Email Fred at fred@equineridge.com