"Silk"
17 y/o fox trotter gelding

NitrOxide

Veterinarian diagnosis: Severe arthritis, old bowed tendons (both front legs) L. front inflamed due to improper bandaging, very poor front end conformation, over at the knees, contracted tendons. 

Brief history:"Silk" was brought in to San Diego Equine Sports Therapy in 1999, to help heal a bowed tendon in his L. front. Diagnostic ultrasound showed an old bow in the R. front, and severe tendon and ligament damage in the L. front. This injury was approx. 2 months old. The owner had been treating by bandaging with a "Sports Medicine boot" pulled as tightly as possible, "to make the leg look good".

The initial injury according to the treating vet, had only involved the inferior check ligament. "Silk" had been on 1 1/2 gms. phenylbutazone 2x daily, and was on a daily walking routine to help heal the tendon correctly. The horse was unable to walk more than 5 strides w/out stumbling and nearly going down. His feet were shod with very long toes, extremely underslug heels, and weighted shoes. At the veterinarian’s recommendation, the shoes were pulled, feet trimmed w/ a 4 point trim, with toes cut way back. The horse stopped stumbling immediately.

"Silk" was treated with therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stim, laser therapy, poultices, massage, support bandages, and hand walking. His tendon was unresponsive to all therapies. The tendon was injected, and this also did not help. "Silk" was very arthritic, and according to his owner, completely normal for him to lie down until late morning, then take nearly 15 minutes to rise. First swinging his head for momentum, then sitting like a dog, and eventually trying to stand.

Then he would have to "walk it out". His gait was very stilted until he could loosen his muscles. He also colicked frequently, sometimes as often as every two weeks. He was treated with massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture therapies administered by veterinarians. He was put on joint supplements, had an Adequan series, all to no avail. His owner needed a sound trail horse, and decided to get another horse. 

"Silk" was given to the facility for back board due. Three different veterinarians felt there was nothing more that could be done to help this horse. He was still unable to rise without great difficulty, and his colic episodes were frequent. An enterolith was suspected. Upon new ownership, the phenylbutazone was stopped, as he had been on it for many months. He continued joint supplements, and Adequan, but they did not seem to help him. He was moved to a turnout area where he could move at will, and this helped a little.  

"Silk" was finally put on NitrOxide. The human formula "Hemoxide" had benefited the owner greatly with arthritis of the back, and wanted to try it on the horse. "Silk" was given 45cc powder two times daily for a month. Then backed down to one time per day. After 3 days on the NitrOxide, "Silk" was able to rise almost like a normal horse, and did not have to "walk it out" to get the stiffness out of his body. After 30 days on NitrOxide, The horse was consistently much more comfortable than he had been in months, and his colicking episodes had stopped. He became the pride and joy of the owner’s 3 year old little girl. She rides him with only a halter and lead rope, and he happily lets her lead him all over the property. He has become a million dollar/ $1 horse.

"Silk" remained on maintenance doses of the NitrOxide for 2 more months and was then weaned off of it. When he had appeared to be stiff and uncomfortable again, he was immediately put back on the NitrOxide, with excellent results every time. He has had zero colic symptoms in the 3 years since he first began the NitrOxide. Veterinarians suspect that he possibly had gastric ulcers that were causing his frequent pains. Nitric Oxide has been proven to heal gastric ulcers also. He and and his owner Hannah just went into their first horseshow, leadline, and won a blue ribbon.