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Yucca Supplements

I have an older 21 yr old Morgan Mare with mild arthritis. She has Cushings and is Insulin Resistant so I am very careful about what I feed her.
My farrier has recommended feeding her Yucca to help with the joint pain.

Has anyone used it? Is it a problem to use with her other issues?

She is on Thyro L, Pergolide and Cyproheptadine already to manage her cushings,IR.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Francesca Miller on December 10, 2008 at 5:52pm

Hi, Stephanie,
I can give you some information about yucca which might be helpful. Yucca contains salicylates which are the same active components found in aspirin. If the yucca is a whole product, and not a by-product of an extraction process, it also contains other enzymes and properties which have an anti-inflammatory effect. It does not "build up" in the body (animal or human), however, so must be fed on a regular basis, like daily. Depending on the quality of the yucca, an effective daily dose might start at 500 mg, with a dose range from 500 mg to 2 g (a little less than 1/2 teaspoon ). More is not necessarily better with yucca, consistency is more important.
Here is an important factor if you show your horse: yucca will show up on a urine test because of the presence of the salicylates I mentioned earlier. Also, be aware that rather than easing restrictions on yucca as expected at the last AAFCO yearly meeting last Summer, Feed Officials actually tightened restrictions on it. Yucca supplements will soon be difficult to find. If that happens, find a reputable herb supplier ( human ) which sells in bulk, anything over 8 ounces, and buy it from them. While the ruling seems arbitrary, and is not based on health risks fro yucca, it will not go away any time soon. Depending on where you are, I can recommend three: Herb Products Company, Nort Hollywood, California, Taos Herb Company, Taos N.M., and San Francisco Herb Company in S.F, California. In the Midwest, try NOW Foods, Glendale Heights, IL.
Hope this helps. By the way, you may want to investigate ArthroFlex. Its active ingredient is New Zealand Greenshell mussel. It is made by Equilife Products ( www.equilifeproducts.com ). I know Equestrian Collections sells it, and K V Vet Supply.

Best regards!
Francesca Miller
(Mother of 11 mostly senior equines)

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Permalink Reply by Stephie on December 14, 2008 at 10:04pm

Thank you very much, that is very helpful. I tried the arthroflex, but since she gets very little grain, she wouldn't eat it. I am hoping the yucca will be more palatable.

stephanie