Liniments & Poultices for Horses

             

   Horses are prone to receive injuries and develop aches and pains over time, especially if they are racing horses. Due to all the stress their bodies are put through during those races like any living being wear and tear to the body and age will most like develop an ache here or there. When it comes to injury a good rule of thumb is cold treatment for fresh trauma and as a preventative therapy after heavy work and heat treatment for arthritis and older, set injuries that are cold to the touch. Liniments are designed to provide temporary relief to minor aches and pains often associated with arthritis and overworked muscles. Poultices usually provide temporary cold therapy for inflamed tissues and are commonly clay based.

Liniments are a common substance used by trainers and owners of horses. They may be applied diluted or full-strength, usually added into a bucket of water when sponged on the body. Liniments are especially useful in hot weather to help a hot horse cool down: the alcohols help the product to quickly evaporate, and the oils they contain cause the capillaries in the skin to dilate, also increasing the cooling process. Liniments should always be applied according to the manufacturer's directions, and diluted as necessary. Many horse owners apply liniments to the legs as a brace, and then wrap over it. In this case, they should be sure that the liniment is not too strong, or it may cause blistering of the skin. Liniments may be used on the legs and body, but should not be applied to more sensitive areas such as the head, genitals or groin of the horse. The body may also be too sensitive to apply liniments if the horse was recently body-clipped.

The following is a list of some of the popular Liniments available in today’s market:

Absorbine Vet Liniment Gel

Absorbine Liniment

DMSO Gel 16oz

Equi-Block DT 16oz

Equi-Block Gel 8oz

Bigeloil

Equi-Block Tightener & Liniment

Therma-flex Liniment Gel with MSM

Therma-flex Liniment Liquid with MSM

Absorbine Vet Liniment Gelseems to be the most effective when it comes to Liniments due to the fact that it combines the same time honored blend of Calendula, Echinacea and Wormwood herbs which all aid in the relief of aching, swelling joints and muscles.

A poultice is a common treatment used on horses to relieve inflammation. It is usually used on the lower legs, under a stable bandage, to focus treatment on the easily-injured tendons in the area. Poultices are sometimes applied as a precautionary measure after the horse has worked hard, such as after a cross-country run, to prevent heat and filling. They are also used to treat abscess wounds, where a build-up of pus needs to be drawn out. Poultices may also be heated and placed on an area where extra circulation is desired.

                The following is a list of some of the popular Poultices available in today’s market:

Animalintex Poultice

Animalintex Hoof Poultice

Icetight Poultice 7.5lbs

Magna Poultice

Su-Per Poultice

Animalintex Poultice is a pad that can be used either as a hot wet poultice or a cold wet poultice, or as a dry wound dressing, its versatility is what makes it one of the more popular poultices.

Ultimately it is a matter of preference and which remedy works best for your horse and the current situation he or she may be in. Whether  it is a torn ligament or arthritis, trust that these items will bring relief to your horse as long as instructions are followed.