Evidence-based protocols for post-injection care and long-term joint health management in sport and companion horses.
Horses receiving joint injections need structured aftercare that balances immediate comfort with long-term joint health. The temptation to return horses to full work quickly after apparent pain relief can mask ongoing damage and accelerate deterioration. A welfare-centered approach combines appropriate rest periods, gradual return to work, surface management to reduce concussive forces, and regular reassessment to determine whether continued injections are truly improving quality of life or simply enabling continued use of a structurally compromised joint. Horses with severe joint disease may be better served by retirement or reduced workload than by ongoing therapeutic management that prioritizes performance over wellbeing.