After a recent lameness exam, we put my mare on equioxx for arthritis. Are there any supportive supplements that would be helpful for her? I’ve read a lot of posts here about equioxx and feel comfortable with long term use but wonder if a supplement could help or prevent side effects.
What other supplements is your horse on? There are known supplements that help reduce inflammation. Do you do any injectables? Adequan? Legends? Pentosan?
I’d look into some good gastric support supplements to minimize gastric side effects, along with general good practices, like keeping forage available as much as possible.
MSM is a good and inexpensive supplement to try for the joint pain.
I’ve had her on a joint supplement for the last year that has Glucosamine, chondritin, MSM, HA, and a few other things. It wasn’t (or stopped) helping. The only other thing she gets is a vitamin/mineral supplement for horses on hay only. Called Micro-phase.
I use 56 mg Previcox on my two and it helps a lot. Both are on daily mashes and a GI support supplement from Samrtpak.
2 Likes
A year later, and I have another question about this, Mare is still on Equioxx and does well. A different vet recently told me that he recommends taking a day off once a week, to avoid possible GI issues. The original vet who did the lameness exam didn’t mention this. Has anybody heard of this? I am giving Outlast for GI support.
I can’t imagine 1 day off an NSAID is going to significantly reduce the risk of ulcers. But, if you haven’t already tried this, see if you can find the minimal dosing to get the desired effects. This might be every other day, every 3rd day, or (ew) every 36 hours or so.
I’m curious why you went from feed through supplements which are unlikely to help, right to an NSAID, without seeing how Adequan would work. Usually, the NSAID route is the last thing, after Adequan and/or direct joint injection, or both.
1 Like
I have heard of this. My vet told me to give my pony Equioxx five days and then skip two in order to avoid the possibility of GI issues.
Right now pony is on Adequan once a month and Equioxx about three times a week and is maintaining well (21 year old welsh pony with a bit of arthritis here and there).
1 Like
Absolutely a day off a week or even every 3-4 days is a good idea. My mare has been on 57mg Equioxx every other day for ummm 6 months maybe and recently got loose and ran all around so went on it every day for 2 weeks. She just started acting off…not acting staaarrrrvvvvvinnngggg and eating food like it was going to run away but rather eating like a “normal” horse, little touchy about her tummy, manure a little softer and she just had this look of “I am sooo bllllaaaaahhhh and don’t know why but I know I don’t feel so gooood”…in emails with the vet I said even though she was still somewhat lame I went back to every other day of Equioxx…his reply was “It might not be a bad idea to give her a break from it all together if she would be comfortable just hanging out” Now about 2years ago same vet said “Equioxx is safe so I have no problem with her being on it for life” when we were doing it for a few weeks at a time whenever she got sore. Ssssoooo I suspect even though it is still probably the “safest” option for an NSAID as it has been in use longer more horses are showing side effects. She has perked up back to her normal self and will just hang out until vet sees her next week.
@JB could the day off to be more to help the liver? Give the body a chance to detox a bit? I agree cutting out just one day every six would not make a huge difference in ulcers
After the lameness exam and discussing the findings, Equioxx was presented as a good option for my mare. She’s mostly retired (because I don’t ride much any more). This vet did not mention giving a day off (said blood work in a year is a good idea), it was another vet that floated her teeth in February.
I’ve had 4 retired horses on Equioxx daily for about 12 years now. None have had ulcer or liver problems (or any other problems for that matter). Might be different for horses already prone to ulcers, but overall, I think Equioxx is pretty safe.
I don’t see how taking them off one day a week would make any difference.
It sounds like your initial vet (the one who prescribed the Equioxx) has a good understanding of what your horse needs. I’d stick with her/his advice.
1 Like
If so many vets are prescribing long term use of Equioxx, why does the package say to not exceed 14 days of usage?
You might find this thread useful 
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/horse-care/9708594-equioxx-why-do-vets-prescribe-long-term-instead-of-recommended-14-days
1 Like
Thank you. Very interesting.
