Is he fit or still in the process of getting fit? Does he do hills/poles/etc.? He is probably sore from being weak. I would try MSM or Cosequin, flax/omega 3s, Back on Track products, chiro/acupuncture, and making sure his exercise program is sound before jumping to Adequan for a 12 year old horse who’s never been in work. I mean, maybe he needs it, but he doesn’t have the miles on his legs that horses who’ve been under saddle since age 3 do. If he’s brought along slowly enough, I’d think a basic feed-thru and some management will help.
Can someone clarify what the research on Adequan actually does vs. does not show? E.g. There’s no research on monthly doses (iirc), just on the loading protocol. What about use cases? Prophylactic? Prevention of further degeneration from prior injury? Repair?
The research on the Adequan website basically just indicates it’s beneficial for increasing flexibility of joints with existing arthritis? There also appears to be evidence that the HA reaches the cartilidge and bone?
I know a lot of people use a monthly injection for prevention and after injury, with the justification of it being scientifically supported - I’d love to know if anyone knows of research that it is useful in these cases.
The science is what was used to support the approval process. All the other uses are “off label.” They may be viable, they may not. But there has been no approved protocol to answer the question one way or the other. The reason is likely money. Properly done research on medications is very expensive. Who has an interest that would support such an expenditure? Find them and you might find the money to answer the questions. Until that happens you have to live with what was demonstrated in the original approval process.
G.
I have asked a lot of these same questions myself and as Guilheme states, I think it really does come down to a matter of money.
Because based on the current research, you could honestly give Adequan every 4 days all the year long. (But let’s be serious, because who could afford that???)
To my knowledge (so someone correct me if I am wrong) but I do not believe that monthly dosage after the initial loading does has ever been studied.
I bit the bullet and bought a big 10-dose bottle for my horse Red, since it is slightly cheaper per dose than the 7-vial set. He has gotten the loading dose and then I will still give him a shot every month thereafter. I don’t carry it through the winter anyway (maybe I should) so I will just give him the loading dose again in the spring.
I feel like it helped him move a little bit better right after, but it’s been almost a month since his loading dose and now I feel like he’s back to his old stiffness. I’ve had him on Adequan before, but before I don’t think I noticed any difference. So I think it helped this time for a little bit, but it’s just so hard to tell.
I’m trying ProStride for his front feet this week so hoping for miracles (but bracing for nothing, LOL). For the record, he has heel pain in both front feet but no bony (navicular) changes on x-ray. I’ve never taken him for an MRI to see which soft tissue is affected.
Little Mare had ProStride injected in her left front fetlock after the bone injury was found. It was nothing short of a miracle for her. Her two vets, both regarded lameness specialists, thought retirement was my best option. But we tried for one last shot. She’s been sound since.
I’m really looking for a maintenance for her. It seems as though a proven feed-through might do just as well as Adequan, or even better.
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I’m so excited to hear that. I don’t want to get my hopes up … but I would so love to have my horse back to his old self.
