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  Discussion on Ideas other than heating pads
Author Message
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 10:04 am:

I have a horse with arthritis in his knee. In the summer I use Absorbine Jr. and it truly makes a difference.

Now it is -20 degrees and he needs heat to help with the stiffness. I tried a heating pad and at that temperature it does not get warm enough when being used outside. It is barely luke warm.

Does anyone have any ideas how to put heat on his knee when it is that cold?
Member:
cheryl

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 10:29 am:

Have you tried insulating the outside of the heating pad? Doesn't have to be anything really heavy - just something to block heat loss. Another heat source is rice in a tube - heat in the micro - just be sure you don't get it too hot - a sock would work fine - and again - it would be a good idea to insulate the outside to avoid heat loss - The blue jell pads would work too - Good luck -
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 11:23 am:

They have gel packs that can be used frozen or heated in the microwave. I think we got ours at Wal Mart for our daughter's many basketball injuries.

Ours has a fleecy cover plus another outer cover with velcro. I've used it on the horses by adding another wrap (polo wraps or vetwrap, or maybe both, can't remember) over it to hold it in place. If it gets dirty the outer covers can be washed and the inner part can be wiped clean.

Not very expensive either and lasts a long time if you don't puncture it!
Member:
lynnland

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 12:56 pm:

Hi Debby,

Just looking for a little clarification. Are you looking to keep the knee warm while he is turned out all day? If so, I'm having a hard time visualizing something that will stay on if he jogs around a bit.
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 1:56 pm:

Hi Lynn,

I am looking to put it on for about 15-20 minutes.
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 1:57 pm:

Good ideas Cheryl & Angie!

Thank you!
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 7:21 pm:

Hi Debby,

I have several suggestions.

1'd try a topical dressing on him. Such as Blue lotion or Ben Gay on both knees.

For a longer lasting effect, you might try painting Ball Solution on with a soft tooth brush. I think the Blue lotion and the Ball Solution are Made By Mc Tarnans(sp) and you can get them both at www.bigdweb.com.

I have a soft adjustable magnetic boot that fits any joint (including knees) and stays on. You might try Big D's for that as well.

I used to be into leg paints and all sorts of boots, but since my horses started OCD pellets years ago, I haven't had to do much with boots or paint.

Good Luck
Rachelle
Member:
scooter

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 7:50 pm:

I was considering getting the whinny warmers for my arthritic mare, but she seems to be doing fine so didn't. Would something like that help?

https://www.whinnywarmers.com/
Member:
paul303

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2010 - 8:56 pm:

Have you tried DMSO on the knee? I found good results with arthritis when applied twice a day. Don't shave the knee, and follow guidelines here.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 2:08 am:

Something that brings relief and might be worth a try is Arnica. You can get it in a lotion or tincture. A vet recommended it for a mate we had several years ago and it seemed to help her a lot.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 11:48 am:

There are also some new topical products that are supposed to help with arthritis pain.

Diane, those Whinny Warmers sound interesting.

I never worried about this issue before and now am concerned about this as none of mine are young any longer, and of course because of Perry who had laminitis last winter.
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 12:45 pm:

Thank you all for the great ideas!

I tried the rice last night. I also tried one of those sports packs. For some reason the microwave would not heat either of them when plugged into the barn at the stables. I went to the next plan.

I put on Absorbine Jr, followed by wrapping a heating pad around his knee, holding it there with vet wrap. Even though the heating pad would only get slightly warm I thought I would try it.

I gave him some hay to eat and left it on for 20 minutes. You could definitely tell he enjoyed it and it felt sooooo good. He didn't want me to take it off.

When I took it off he knee was warm but not hot.

I am going to try it again tonight when I go out to the stables. Hopefully a few treatments and he will be much better.
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 12:46 pm:

Dr. O,

Is it OK to do the Absorbine & heating pad treatment a few days in a row?
Member:
lynnland

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 12:52 pm:

Hi Vicki,

My concern with actually putting a wrap or covering of any type on the horse is what happens to it in wet snow or freezing rain. Soaking, half frozen knee coverings are likely much worse than nothing at all. I guess if you are home all day to take them off in bad weather then it could work well.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 1:22 pm:

Be careful about liniments and heated wraps. As you may be aware, it is possible to blister the skin if over done. Some liniments shouldn't have any wraps over them at all. Check on the labels to be sure.
Member:
rein

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 2:58 pm:

What about using Furosone as a sweat, will keep warmth in as I use it to reduce swelling and it should not harm them.

I slather it on, then put a quilt wrap, suran wrap, then a fleece over that. Can do the knee in a crisscross fashion.

Good luck.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 7:14 pm:

Michelle,

You should check into the research that shows that furazone is carcinogenic, particularly for women who are exposed to this product.

While I have and would again use this product (with caution and gloves) I would NEVER consider using it as a leg wrap.
Member:
rein

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2010 - 9:30 pm:

Really, I will have to check that out! Thanks

I have tried many other ways to get swelling down without a shot of dex and that was the only thing that I found to work. Any yes, it would eventually blister I would believe if you were to do it to many times in a row too.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 7:18 am:

Vicki Z,

There is a product on the market called Fura-Free which is the furacin paste without the carcinogenic product. It works exactly the same way as the furacin paste did and looks exactly the same.

I have had the same results using it as a sweat.

They do have knee sweats available as well, where you can put the fura-free on wrap with saran wrap, put the knee sweat over it and not have to worry about much of anything, however I would put a leg wrap or a polo wrap on the bottom portion of the leg when using it for more that a few hours or the knee sweat will slide down.
Rachelle
Member:
lynnland

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 7:33 am:

What about just simply putting a set of knee boots on her like the ones that Back on Track makes. I put the hock ones on my horse when I bring him in before a lesson in the winter. I give the hocks a good rub then toss on the boots for about 1 hours and remove then right before I get on.
Member:
hpyhaulr

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 8:49 am:

OK, this may sound stupid, but that's why I am throwing it out here. So you guys can stop me from doing a dumb thing before the need arises... If I had this problem, I would have used those little throw aways you get at Wally World.... those toe warmers or hand warmers which last a few hours. Surely you can incorporate them into a leg wrap for a few hours at a time.They are inexpensive and I have used them myself with great results, although that was just about keeping warm, not sure they have ANY therapeutic value, but they do keep the area toasty!
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 9:05 am:

All great ideas! Thank you!
Debby
Member:
rein

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 10:58 am:

I also have a pair of battery operated socks that have a very covered fool proof battery carrier/cover that would be fine on an animal. You could cut toe and slip them right up the leg to the knee and battery pack had a velcro to attatch on. Just warm enough without burning too.??? Never know, get enough ideas something should work. I actually wrapped magnets around our studs knee and that seemed to help some too.

Or also those back and knee pads that stick and are heated....
Member:
rgwromeo

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 11:29 am:

We clearly have some outside of the box thinkers. You're awesome!

I have both the hand warmers and battery socks on hand. I prefer to try the cheaper short-term approach first. Then if I need to move onto the other suggestions. They are all great!

I tried to put him on Plantinum Performance CJ to help as the vet recommended. I tried both flavors but he won't eat it - stinker.

He has a sore shoulder too from the cold. Tonight I will try the hand warmers on the shoulder and socks on the knee. He'll love this!


May God bless you for blessing me!
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 - 4:26 pm:

Thanks for that information, Rachelle.

Lots of good ideas here, as usual.
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