Sarracenia / Pitcher Plant 0.5 mg/ml Dosages & Usages

Muscle strains resulting in soreness can occur in a muscle or any group of muscles in the horse. Apart from serious injury, arthritis or other degenerative joint diseases (DJDs) however, back soreness is one of the most prevalent chronic issues in horses. "[D]amage to the muscles is probably the most common cause of back soreness in horses. This most commonly involves the longissimus dorsi muscle, which acts to extend and laterally flex the vertebral column."1

Accidents or strenuous exercise can strain leg, adductor or groin muscles, while such things as a badly fitted saddle can affect back muscles.² In these cases, symptoms can run from mild to severe, with a horse trembling in pain or exhibiting lameness. Muscle strains are often due to an injury or an overworked muscle that is swollen or torn, giving rise to neurologic pain.

Symptoms of Muscle Strain and Soreness

Apart from the aforementioned trembling and lameness (which are often signs of more serious injury), performance issues and/or a reluctance to be ridden or exercised are clear indications that a horse is experiencing marked discomfort. Being observant of the horse's temperament and behavior will help the owner or manager notice any subtle changes that arise, so that action can be taken before the condition worsens.

Symptoms of muscle strain and soreness can include:

• Poor or altered performance
• Discomfort or Pain upon palpation
• Swelling
• Lameness
• Tender areas Lump or gap in muscle
• Muscle tightness
• Muscle spasm
• Loss of condition
• Weakness
• Trembling
• Attitude changes
• Lacerations or bruises
• Dragging hind feet
• Forceful tail movements
• Stiff tail
• Grinding teeth
• Refusal to jump
• Changes in gait
• Abnormal back and pelvis movements
• Shorter strides
• Refusal to be mounted
• Sinking when mounted or saddled
• Reluctance to canter or trot
• Elevated breathing rate
• Sweating
• Reluctance to move²

A variety of problems can contribute to muscle pain in horses, which is broken down into two types:

Primary muscle soreness will usually present itself quite dramatically. Symptoms can include muscle stiffness, sweating, reluctance to move, violent tremors, tucked-up abdomen, or even collapse. Primary muscle problems are often due to an improper function of muscle metabolism, sometimes linked to a genetic component. Primary muscle soreness can be due to a muscle condition such as Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) Type 1 or 2, or Equine Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP).

Secondary muscle soreness can stem from improperly-fitting equipment, foot soreness or arthritis. Symptoms can be seen in behavioral changes such as a reluctance to go forward, bucking, tail swishing, and changes in overall demeanor. While secondary muscle pain is more common than primary, it can be frustrating to diagnose its exact cause. The multitude of contributing factors include, but are not limited to: poor fitness, dietary deficiencies, improper saddle fit, shoeing problems, or altered movement due to joint pain.³

Causes of muscle strain and soreness (usually falling under the category of secondary muscle soreness) can include:

• Injury or damage
• Accidents causing direct impact to the muscle
• Overuse of muscle or muscle group
• Repetitive or strenuous exercise or movement
• Ridden exercise
• Tack or saddle that does not fit properly
• Poor condition
• Fatigue
• Poorly executed jumping
• Chronic leg lameness
• Damage caused by an uneven rider
• Injection site myopathy
• Sports activities
• Kissing spines, or the rubbing together of vertebrae
• Illness or disease causing secondary muscle damage²

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of muscle strain in horses can be complicated, due to the fact that many of its symptoms are similar to other conditions. Also, some muscles, such as the groin or adductor muscles, are difficult to isolate in a diagnosis.² It will be necessary to provide the veterinarian with a complete medical history, including any observed injuries or symptoms.

A physical examination should include palpation of muscle groups to determine any areas of pain, assessing muscle symmetry, and evaluating the range of motion of the legs and neck. the veterinarian may wish to observe the horse walking, trotting, jumping, or performing certain movements. "A lameness exam may also be used to rule out other diseases. Blood and serum testing can check for muscle enzyme levels, and help to rule out other conditions. Various imaging techniques are used to locate injuries and muscle issues, as well as to see the extent of the damage in order to create an appropriate treatment plan. These can include nuclear scintigraphy, or a bone scan, X-rays, ultrasounds, and thermography."²

There are several modalities of treatment the veterinarian might choose for muscle pain that is not caused by an underlying or serious injury. These could include rest, a decrease in hard exercise or training, and the use of medications. "Most muscle injuries are treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to relieve pain, and alternating cold and hot compresses on injured muscles. In cases of trauma, wounds are treated appropriately. Muscle relaxants can also be effective to relieve pain, as well as local anti-inflammatory injections."²

Due to the rising popularity of homeopathics and the often unwelcome side effects of some medications and long-term NSAID use, an increasing number of veterinarians, horse owners and managers have adopted the use of alternative therapies. "Some alternative therapies that may be suggested include massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment, magnetic blankets, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy."²

Among these are sarracenia, or the North American Pitcher Plant. Distillates of the pitcher plant have long been used in human and veterinary medicine for "regional analgesia." Pitcher plant derivatives contain tannins and other chemicals that are thought to help with some digestive tract problems and pain sensation. The mechanism of the reported analgesic response is unknown; however, the agent is purported to provide more effective analgesia for slow, chronic pain than for sharp, acute pain.⁴

Sarracenia's aqueous extracts have been proposed to exert analgesic effects by neurolytical action on peripheral nerves. Studies have shown that sarracenia is can be very helpful in the temporary relief of symptoms associated with neurologic pain in horses.