I would also be very concerned about the anticoagulant properties with a horse out. I wouldn’t want them to bleed excessively if they got cut. I can’t think of a good reason to use the aspirin. It has little effect, and there are more effective nsaids, so I wouldn’t do it.
[QUOTE=kcmel;7342492]
Aspirin has a typical half life of 30 min in horses. Not worth the bother IMO. Bute is not that expensive.[/QUOTE]
Do you know where I can find info on how long aspirin lasts, how long it takes to “kick in”, etc? I don’t know if I’m searching for the wrong terms, but I can’t find anything like that.
searching ‘efficacy aspirin horses’
http://vetmed.tamu.edu/common/docs/public/aavpt/aspirin.pdf
Pain (treatment); or
Fever (treatment)
1
—Horses: Due to the rapid elimination of salicylate by
horses, it is questionable whether therapeutic yet nontoxic
concentrations can be maintained in the horse using conventional
dosage intervals.
Previcox is very inexpensive especially if you get the 227mg tablets and break them in quarters for the horse dose. It ends up being like 60 cents per dose or around $18 per month if you gave it daily, and I hear of many people being able to give it more like every other day after you do loading dose. Maybe the best option for using during the winter months if your vet is willing to give you a script. I get it from Allivet http://www.allivet.com/p-1661-previcox-chewable-tablets.aspx - my horse is very ulcer prone and I don’t see any of his ulcer symptoms when he’s on previcox whereas I DO seem them start up if he’s on bute for more than a few days or so (though I know you weren’t planning to give bute, just showing that I don’t see any GI effects in my trial of N=1 :))
ETA - I saw that you are currently feeding a glucosamine supp to her - my vet won’t write a script for the compounded pentosan so I have to buy the $50 per month PentAussie version, but maybe she would benefit from pentosan if your vet will write you a script (instead of the glucosamine)? Sounds like it’s also very inexpensive to go the Wedgewood route.
FWIW,
I have used aspirin in the past for periodic hock stiffness as well. I can’t say I noticed a big difference. I have also used previcox but not for longer than a period of probably 8 - 10 days and also did not notice a big difference with Previcox, however, lots of people DO see a difference so it is worth trying. Especially if your horse experiences regular stiffness and you want to use something long term on a daily basis.
I don’t want to use previcox more than periodically at this time for my 22 year old gelding because he really does not need it more than once, possibly twice a week max and I just don’t see results with giving it on an occasional basis . Bute works better for occasional use.
He can sometimes be stiff/slow to warm up undersaddle (which is when I notice the stiffness) but more times than not he feels great. I can usually tell while I am leading him to the barn if he is going to be stiff, as he is lazier than usual walking. As a result, I have had the best luck with using Voltaren gel or Surpass. I rub it on his hocks thoroughly before I begin grooming on the days I think he is feeling stiff and about 30 min later he feels good.
I also use Pentosan or Pentaussie IM once monthly (you must do a 4 shot series loading dose first) and it helps tremendously with arthritis. I wish I had known about it years ago. There is another 22 year old gelding with hock arthritis in my barn that also gets huge benefits from the Pentosan. If your vet will write a script for Pentosan from Wedgewood, I would absolutely try that first. If you just need something for before your rides you could also try Voltaren which can be ordered w/o an RX from Canada via feelsbest.com and it is around 27.00 a tube.
I wouldn’t waste my time with aspirin. In terms of risks for the GI, Pentosan or Voltaren are both significantly lower risk in comparison to BOTH Previcox or Bute (although I completely agree previcox is safer than bute for the GI).
Good luck!
[QUOTE=sublimequine;7342557]
Do you know where I can find info on how long aspirin lasts, how long it takes to “kick in”, etc? I don’t know if I’m searching for the wrong terms, but I can’t find anything like that.[/QUOTE]
This has been discussed on this board before. I believe Deltawave posted some info regarding the topic… Perhaps try a search? I do remember it was very short term acting …not sure how long it takes to start acting but I want to say similar to bute, but don’t quote me on that!
Here ya go.
http://vetmed.tamu.edu/common/docs/public/aavpt/aspirin.pdf
Due to the rapid elimination of salicylate by
horses, it is questionable whether therapeutic yet nontoxic
concentrations can be maintained in the horse using conventional
dosage intervals.
Oops, just saw Katy already posted this link.
My old pony is getting 28mg Previcox every other day and it has helped her immensly. Quite inexpensive and easy to feed.
I give Previcox to my almost 30 year old TB and we really see a difference. He feels and moves much better but we only give it to him when we start to see him get a bit stiff. He does not need it year round but only when it starts to get cold and damp. He gets one 57mg pill a day. Very affordable and it works. Hope this helps. 
I have had 3 senior horses on Previcox for 3+ years with no GI issues. With a script, it costs me less than $20/month/horse, which is a lot cheaper than dealing with GI problems from other meds.
[QUOTE=atr;7342120]
Never had much luck with aspirin, and most horses don’t want to eat it as it tastes vile and you need to get quite a lot down them for it to be even potentially remotely useful.
I have a 5lb bucket of the stuff in my feed room that has been there for at least 10 years. I have no idea how to safely get rid of it at this point.[/QUOTE]
At least around here, you can take your old medicines to the pharmacy and they will dispose of them.
My 13 yr old gets stiff in winter also. He currently gets gets Pentosan, and I just added Devil’s Claw Plus to his joint supplement.
I have never found MSM to make a difference one way or the other even at larger doses. I also must be one of the few who has never seen a benefit from Previcox in my horse (though Equioxx does seem to help). I’ve stopped using Previcox.
I actually just purchased some bute and talked to my vet about dosing over the winter. Said okay to give it over the winter at 1 gm per day/ no more than 2gm. Watch for signs of ulcers. I ordered U-Guard pellets to help when he is given bute. As of right now, I haven’t started it as I just started the Devil’s Claw. If needed, I may do 7 days of bute, but not give it consistently.
Are you riding your horse? Is she stiff just out in pasture or when put to work? If only when working, perhaps try paste bute only prn. You can also use Equioxx as it’s available much cheaper than it used to be and I find it easier to give. If I use it, I give a tube, wait an hour and work with my other horse for a while. It seems to work fine. Idk why people say you need a loading dose. It’s similar to Celebrex for humans and I only take that prn and it works fine. That’s been my experience.
If you go the aspirin route, I’d talk to your vet for dosing, and considering adding a gut soothing supplement like U-Guard or something to offset any GI side effects; also monitor her very closely for ulcer signs. For the benefit, I would pick bute over aspirin though as it’s a more effective anti-inflammatory. Sort of like Advil vs. aspirin for a backache.
[QUOTE=LookinSouth;7343539]
FWIW,
I have used aspirin in the past for periodic hock stiffness as well. I can’t say I noticed a big difference. I have also used previcox but not for longer than a period of probably 8 - 10 days and also did not notice a big difference with Previcox, however, lots of people DO see a difference so it is worth trying. Especially if your horse experiences regular stiffness and you want to use something long term on a daily basis.
I don’t want to use previcox more than periodically at this time for my 22 year old gelding because he really does not need it more than once, possibly twice a week max and I just don’t see results with giving it on an occasional basis . Bute works better for occasional use.
He can sometimes be stiff/slow to warm up undersaddle (which is when I notice the stiffness) but more times than not he feels great. I can usually tell while I am leading him to the barn if he is going to be stiff, as he is lazier than usual walking. As a result, I have had the best luck with using Voltaren gel or Surpass. I rub it on his hocks thoroughly before I begin grooming on the days I think he is feeling stiff and about 30 min later he feels good.
I also use Pentosan or Pentaussie IM once monthly (you must do a 4 shot series loading dose first) and it helps tremendously with arthritis. I wish I had known about it years ago. There is another 22 year old gelding with hock arthritis in my barn that also gets huge benefits from the Pentosan. If your vet will write a script for Pentosan from Wedgewood, I would absolutely try that first. If you just need something for before your rides you could also try Voltaren which can be ordered w/o an RX from Canada via feelsbest.com and it is around 27.00 a tube.
I wouldn’t waste my time with aspirin. In terms of risks for the GI, Pentosan or Voltaren are both significantly lower risk in comparison to BOTH Previcox or Bute (although I completely agree previcox is safer than bute for the GI).
Good luck![/QUOTE]
Agree with all of this.
There is also a supplement called Bute-Less that uses Devil’s Claw (known as nature’s bute), yucca, and B12 that might be an option. Less GI upset than bute/aspirin/NSAIDs that might be worth looking at. I used it on an older mare for over a year and it did help reduce her stiffness and stocking up. Comes in pellets, liquid, and a paste. I used the pellets (didn’t want the liquid to freeze) and she ate them right up. Valley Vet has a 10lb bucket that says it lasts 160 days for $63.95 so that’s about $0.40 a day.
Does anyone use White Willow Bark for mild arthritis as an alternative to Bute for my 34 year old? I have a neighbor who uses it and swears I’m the devil for using bute. When I ask my vet about the White Willow Bark, she just rolls her eyes.
[QUOTE=LookinSouth;7343539]
FWIW,
I have used aspirin in the past for periodic hock stiffness as well. I can’t say I noticed a big difference. I have also used previcox but not for longer than a period of probably 8 - 10 days and also did not notice a big difference with Previcox, however, lots of people DO see a difference so it is worth trying. Especially if your horse experiences regular stiffness and you want to use something long term on a daily basis.
I don’t want to use previcox more than periodically at this time for my 22 year old gelding because he really does not need it more than once, possibly twice a week max and I just don’t see results with giving it on an occasional basis . Bute works better for occasional use.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, the Previcox really doesn’t work as an occasional medication, it’s effects are cumulative.
OP, I’m another that’s going to tell you what you really want is Previcox. It’s cheap and it works great. Yeah, you need to get it from your vet, but if the vet has seen your horse recently he/she might even be willing to write you a script without coming back for a new call just for that if he/she has seen your horse’s hock stiffness.
My retiree Has improved greatly since I started her on previcox. Previously I had tried Asprinese or something, it was buffered… But really I saw only a slight difference.
gallopHer - willow bark contains a salicylate (or a very closely related chemical) so it would be very similar as using asprin in a horse
[QUOTE=kcmel;7343724]
Here ya go.
http://vetmed.tamu.edu/common/docs/public/aavpt/aspirin.pdf
Due to the rapid elimination of salicylate by
horses, it is questionable whether therapeutic yet nontoxic
concentrations can be maintained in the horse using conventional
dosage intervals.
Oops, just saw Katy already posted this link.[/QUOTE]
Thank you. OP be careful about taking medical advice from strangers on the internet. You can easily read up on this topic utilizing reputable sources, and then have a conversation with your vet about the options that you can afford.
Here is another vote for BL solution/pellets or Bute-less. I used it on an older, retired horse that would sometimes get kind of overall “achy” in the cold. The improvement was noticeable. I did not need to use it year round, just through some of coldest/dampest winter months.
It is relatively inexpensive and easy to get.
