What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a mucoplysaccharide that occurs naturally
throughout the horse’s body. Backed by thousands of clinical
trials in the fields of orthopedics and eye surgery, one of
hyaluronic acid's most important functions in the body is to
lubricate joints as an integral component of synovial fluid.
How do I give Hyalun™ to my horse?
Just add 1ml (full dropper) of Hyalun™ to your horse’s feed daily.
Hyalun™ is odorless and tasteless so your horse won’t even notice
it in his feed! Each bottle of Hyalun™ contains a 30 day supply.
What if my horse doesn't always eat all
of his feed?
No problem! Just apply Hyalun™ directly your horse's favorite
treat or biscuit. Hyalun™ will absorb quickly into the treat and
your horse will generally have no problem in consuming the full
treat.
Why is the molecular weight of
supplemental hyaluronic acid important?
A study done by Wobig et al in 1999, compared hyaluronic acids of
various molecular weights and found there are far more benefits
derived from higher molecular weight acid. The higher molecular
weight acid can hold more water, has better lubrication properties
and better shock absorbing properties. The hyaluronic acid in
Hyalun™ is one of the purest and highest in molecular weight.
Molecular weight is no less than 2.4 million Dalton’s.
How does hyaluronic acid compare to
glucosamine or chondroitin?
Glucosamine is a precursor of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid in
turn makes the synovial fluid. Glucosamine must to combine with a
glucoronic acid molecule to make hyaluronic acid. Often times the
body is not able to join these two molecules together and the
production of the much needed hyaluronic acid is never achieved.
By administering hyaluronic acid, you take away the risk of this
integral process not happening and may see results with hyaluronic
acid that you did not see with glucosamine or chondroitin.
Why would I want to give my horse a
hyaluronic acid (HA) supplement?
Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body as a constituent
of synovial fluid that lubricates the cartilage between the
joints. As the horse ages, it produces less HA and it becomes more
and more difficult to replace the lost HA. With osteoarthritis,
the cartilage and other structures of the joint begin to break
down as well. Because of this, proper lubrication is lost, joints
become stiff and movement is painful. HA supplements will pick up
where the horse’s body fails them.
How does hyaluronic acid benefit a
horse’s joints?
The HA in Hyalun™ acts to help improve joint movement, lubrication
and cushioning. If we can compare the joints of the horse to an
automobile engine; the joint mimics the oil in a car engine. At
regular intervals we replace the oil in our car engines because
the heat and friction of normal operation causes a breakdown of
the oil viscosity. The oil becomes thinner and less able to
protect the metal surfaces from excessive wear. Hyalun™ acts the
same way in the joints. With age the viscosity of the joint fluid
breaks down. It becomes thin and is unable to cushion the joint
cartilage, leading to increased friction and wear on the cartilage
surfaces of the joints. Administering Hyalun™ helps restore the
normal viscosity of joint fluid and prevents further damage to the
joint.
What if my horse does not have joint
problems?
Because of the natural anatomical construction of the horse’s
limbs, all horses are susceptable to joint disorders. Just as we
change the oil in our car to help prevent problems, using Hyalun™
can help limit the amount of joint damage due to aging and/or just
daily activity by maintaining proper joint fluid viscosity. The
horse’s ability to produce hyaluronic acid slows down considerably
with age, and accounts in part, for the joint discomfort and
cartilage degeneration.
Do vetenarians use hyaluronic acid or
Hyalun™?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid has been directly injected by needle into the
affected joint for several years. This has yielded great results
by immediately increasing the viscosity of the joint fluid and
restoring proper lubrication and shock absorption in the joints.
Side effects from needle administration however can include site
infection, trauma, transient heat or excessive bleeding. Some
vetenarians use Hyalun™ as a follow up protocol to injections to
complement and prolong the beneficial effects of hyaluronic acid .
Others have cut down dramatically on the frequency of the
injections and still some have totally stopped them.
Because it is an acid will it burn mine
or my horse’s skin or stomach?
Hyaluronic acid is often called an acid and this is a misnomer.
Hyaluronic acid as a sodium salt (sodium hyaluronate)(Hyalun™)
will have a neutral pH measurement not an acidic. Because of the
water retention capacity of hyaluronic acid, it is actually a very
good moisturizer for the skin and is being used in many facial
cream and body lotions.
We are treating my horse for joint pain
using several different techniques and joint supplements. Should
Hyalun™ be something we try as well?
We always recommend that whenever you are treating your horse for
joint pain, that you establish some baseline measurement before
starting any treatment. This way you can at least measure whether
or not there is a positive outcome. Pulling too many levers at
once can cause confusion and you may never know which treatment is
helping.
___________________________
Here's what one vet had to say:
"We have observed that
horses who are given Hyalun have improved performance because of
improved flexibility and range of motion. Hyalun decreases
inflammation and soreness, thus, making the horse less
susceptible to joint injury.
I would recommend
Hyalun for both post-event and preventative administration."
- Robert McFarlin DVM Equine Practitioner AR (20 plus years)
The above statements
have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any
disease.
