MUSCULOSKELETAL

EQUINE PRODUCTS—EQUINE BACK PAIN

Background: Back pain is very common in horses of all sports. Lower leg lameness may contribute to back pain, and vice versa. Poor shoeing is an important and often overlooked aspect of back pain, as is trauma.
Symptoms: Include resistance to training, refusing to jump, hollowing of the back, slow out of the starting gate, reluctance to make sliding stops, crooked movement or taking a long time to warm up.
Diagnostics: History and physical examination, including acupuncture and chiropractic examination, if possible.
Special Notes: Nutritional deficiencies or imbalances, or mineral imbalances can result in muscle, tendon or ligament weakness and pain.
Principles for Supplementation: Improve circulation, reduce pain, supply mineral nutrition to the muscles.

EQUINE PRODUCTS—EQUINE BACK PAIN

Formulas:	Dosage:	Mechanism/Purpose:
ABC Plus1	4 oz sid	Provides trace nutrients.
CurcuVET-EQ12	1 scoop sid	Down-regulates the pro-inflammatory substances, tumor necrosis factor, alpha (TNF-a) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-?B), supports normal joint function in the back.
Limber Up14	4 tsp bid	Arthritis and stiffness, especially that worsens in cold and damp weather.
Sore No More18	Apply topically as liniment	Relaxes muscles, contains Arnica to help relieve pain.
Hilton Multi-flex Gold2	10-40 cc sid, depending on size of horse	Anti-inflammatory, maintains mobility of joints, improves back pain.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bluplerum Combination)14	4 tsp bid	Immune stimulation at a deep level, improves circulation, expels Wind Pathogens from deep, tonifies Souce Qi. Esp. useful with pain over hip, stifle and hock.
Move Freely14	4 tsp bid	Moves Blood, expels Wind, clears chronic pain in muscles.
Xiao Huo Luo Dan14	4 tsp bid	Moves Blood, clears significant pain and stiffness.
Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Persica and Achyranthes Formula)14	4 tsp bid	Moves Blood, clears pain esp. from the thoracic area from poor fitting saddles.
Hilton Releaf2	10-40 mL sid	Provides herbs with anti-inflammatory action.
L-CarnitineVET12	6-12 capsules sid	Aids with muscle pain from overexertion.
Rush Creek Minerals1	Free choice	Provides minerals needed for proper muscle function.
Traumogen12	8-12 capsules sid	Herbs and nutrients that help heal injured muscle and collagen.