I’ve heard how great Adequan is for older, arthritic horses, but I had a friend that recently suggested giving it to my 4 year old (hopefully FEI prospect) as a preventive. Has anyone done this? Thoughts? It’s not cheap, but if it will make a difference, then I’ll definitely do it.
Totally unscientific, non-veterinarian opinion here, FWIW:. I think that joints are naturally well lubricated at that age, and it is likely to be a waste of money. I think it is more useful at stages where early and un-detected signs of arthritis might be starting - say age 10 or 12 and up. My trainer says that if she could afford it she would put all of her horses on it starting at age 12. Personally, I have one horse that I just statrted on it at age 17. He is a great mover and seems like the type that will keep going forever, but we are just getting into fei at age 17 and I am becoming more aware that is a lot to ask, and want to do what I can to preserve him. I am starting my mare on it earlier at age 11 because she is a heavier type who takes a long time to warm up. There is nothing “wrong” but I just have the sense that the upper level work is not coming as easily for her.
Why not? I do put my young horses on it, to me the cost is a wash for good oral suppliment, I’d rather IM inject adequan and know they are getting it. In the scheme of things 45$ per month for adequan is nothing for a young FEI prospect.
I guess the question is, why wouldn’t you do this to possibly protect your investment?
Now I do have clients who haven’t done adequan on their young horses. However when the horse hits 3rd or 4th level or around 11 years or so and they start to struggle, they support their horses immediately with very good vet care.
I have had a few clients who bury the heads in the sand; don’t do preventative, are reluctant to support when the horse starts to struggle. These horses have had the most health concerns and rockier training progression.
Now, this was from the Cosequin (Dasuquin) sales rep at my clinic, but what was said makes sense. Start joint support early because once the joints break down, there’s no going back. You can’t replace what’s been lost. So, if you can swing it, I would. Especially for a potential FEI competitor. Good luck to you!!
Disagree.
I spoke at length with Alan Mann from Adequan, and the only proven way that it works is in the full 28 day (1 shot every 4 days, 7 times).
He said that thw “once a month” shots do NOTHING , because the formula is based on a cumulative effect.
I started my boy on Adequan last month. He just turned 8. He has some minor arthritic changes in his pastern with no gait changes (knock wood). He is an FEI prospect. We have started piaffe work.
Vet recommended loading dose of Adequan every six months, and nothing in between. She also recommended Glucosamine, Condroitin, and MSM along with the Adequan.
Small price to pay to keep my boy sound as long as possible and hopefully till we reach GP (cross fingers).
Ok, I am going have a different opinion about it… I do not believe in giving anything to a sound horse. My current show horse is 18 and she is on nothing. She never had her joints injected and doesn’t get any medication. I started her on serious work 2 years ago after we weaned her foal and she improved and improved.
Now everybody who sees her cannot believe how she moves regarding her age.
I believe in correct warm up and cooling down after work in good turn out which keeps the horse moving all day. Maybe if a horse is stalled all day and only ridden for an hour a day it is necessary, otherwise I would never do it.
I have a 23 year old pony which had a pony jumper career in her teens. She is also not on anything.
Yes if there is something wrong I would of course treat it but giving something as a prevention never…
Interesting. I too had thought Adequan had the one-month loading procedure, and then a follow up of monthly dosages. It looks like the current thought on this is to just do the loading procedure, and then skip the monthly dosages, and then do another 1/4/7 monthly dose if needed.
http://www.highlandhillvet.com/blog/adequan-im-147-protocol
I am with Manni in thinking that correct exercise and horse management goes a lot further than assuming that training will cripple a horse by age 8, and acting to prevent that. Your training should be making your horse stronger, fitter, more capable. If it isn’t, something is really wrong.
Also keep in mind that Adequan only works on the joint cartilege, that is the stuff between the joints. Yes, when that goes, it is painful and limits motion (I say looking at my seized-up thumb). But there is so much else that can go wrong with a horse in training that is being rushed or trained badly, for instance the tendons. I’ve seen several nice horses retired young for tendons after fairly light work and not getting past training level.
I’ve seen Adequan really help older horses who specifically have arthritis, at least for a while, and I can see why you would want to give it to a useful or valuable older horse to extend its comfortable working life. It’s much less intrusive and obviously less damaging than injecting corticosteriods directly into the joint (which also really helps in some cases).
I’m actually curious as to whether it would work as a preventative. I Googled around and the company itself is not marketing it as such. I would expect that if they had data to get it approved as a preventative, they would, since that could certainly expand sales! I’m not seeing strong claims from reputable sources on line that Adequan works as a preventative, and indeed the claims for it working at all are weaker than I had expected.
Anyhow, I e-mailed customer service at the company to ask if they recommend it as a preventative. Will share if/when I hear back.
I do not believe there is any data that shows Adequan (or any other drug helps prevent arthritis.
How you choose to spend your $$ is up to you.
Here’s an article from a vet who is skeptical. About many things, I might add, but I like his point of view.
http://www.doctorramey.com/adequan-fails-a-test-8211/
http://www.doctorramey.com/horses-arthritis/
Here is the FDA data on Adequan used in horses with arthritis:
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/Products/ApprovedAnimalDrugProducts/FOIADrugSummaries/ucm054843.htm
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Remember, what you are told by the manufacturer HAS to be what it is labeled to do for sale and at the dosages studied and at what intervals. Manufacturers nor representatives can tell you other indications or dosing other than what was studied in the clinical trials. Doctors can utilize products off label and at other dosages. However, a pharmaceutical product cannot elude or speak to anything that wasn’t directly studied in a clinical trial. As for additional indications, the additional sales from that indication would have to be great enough to justify a company spending the money (not to mention the risk if it did not perform) on that clinical trial. Since many people use Adequan off label, I doubt they would spend the money or take the risk for not that much more profit. Just food for thought.
I’ve been told Pentosan works better as a preventative and much cheaper
