Equioxx and USEF Drug Testing

[NilesKennyKora]

I have a horse that responds best to Equioxx over Bute or Banamine at shows.

We went to a show recently and after NUMEROUS calls to the USEF Drugs&Meds people for re-assurance I was told it is legal to give the Equioxx Paste once every 24 hours and 12 hours out from competition. We gave the whole tube since at this horses last vet visit he weighed in at 1,318 lbs.

I have not been drug tested in ages and wouldn’t you know it my horse is tested at this show where we have decided to try Equioxx vs Banamine or Bute. I know I followed the rules to a ‘T’ and he was not given any other drugs but still it makes me nervous!

Does anyone else use the Equioxx paste at shows and have you been tested?

[DMK]

Equioxx (firocoxib) is an NSAID and is permitted in non-FEI classes, I wouldn’t be worried about it, I would mostly be damn sure the withdrawal times for any other NSAIDs had been met since testing positive for 2 NSAIDs will not end well for you.

Here’s some links to info if you haven’t already seen it.

https://www.usef.org/_iframes/drugs/default.aspx

https://issuu.com/equestrian/docs/drugsmedsguidelines11_15?e=1346541/31408456

[joiedevie99]

Look at the chart on pages 11-12 of the second link DMK posted. It gives the maximum amount of Equioxx (firocoxib) that can be given by body weight, and states that it must be given 12+ hours before competition.

If you followed the rules, don’t worry about it.

[PonyPenny]

My horse is on a once daily 57 mg Previcox. He gets no other NSAIDS. He has been tested numerous times, but by State drug testers, not USEF, even at USEF shows. Never had a issue.

[EAY]

[QUOTE=PonyPenny;8876081]
My horse is on a once daily 57 mg Previcox. He gets no other NSAIDS. He has been tested numerous times, but by State drug testers, not USEF, even at USEF shows. Never had a issue.[/QUOTE]

I thought firocoxib was a banned substance in California.

[EAY]

[QUOTE=PonyPenny;8876081]
My horse is on a once daily 57 mg Previcox. He gets no other NSAIDS. He has been tested numerous times, but by State drug testers, not USEF, even at USEF shows. Never had a issue.[/QUOTE]

Also, I believe a horse is not supposed to have firocoxib for more than 14 consecutive days and show USEF, though I’m not sure how they can determine that.

[PonyPenny]

[QUOTE=EAY;8876822]
Also, I believe a horse is not supposed to have firocoxib for more than 14 consecutive days and show USEF, though I’m not sure how they can determine that.[/QUOTE]

They can’t, which is why I have not had a problem with drug testing.

[PonyPenny]

[QUOTE=EAY;8876774]
I thought firocoxib was a banned substance in California.[/QUOTE]

Nope. Here is the verbiage from the California Dept of Ag website.

The California Equine Medication Rule classifies drugs as prohibited substances and permissible substances. A prohibited substance is defined as any drug or medication that is a stimulant, a depressant, a tranquilizer, an anesthetic including local anesthetic, an analgesic, an anabolic steroid, a corticosteroid (excluding dexamethasone) and a soring agent. A prohibited substance administered for therapeutic purposes must be withdrawn 24 hours before a public competition or 72 hours before a public sale. A permissible substance is a therapeutic drug or medicine or a drug or medicine found in a sample within the established maximum detectable plasma or urine levels. There are nine (9) permissible drugs with restriction on the established maximum detectable plasma or urine levels. The nine (9) permissible medications, not to exceed maximum allowable levels, include: dexamethasone (Azium®), diclofenic acid (Surpass®), firocoxib (Equioxx®), flunixin (Banamine®), ketoprofen (Ketofen®), meclofenamic acid (Arquel®), methocarbamol (Robaxin®), naproxen (Naprosyn®), and phenylbutazone (Butazolidin®).

[johnwan]

Yes, it is an NSAID and is permitted in non-FEI classes.

[monalisa]

My horse is on it. I give him the tablets. When he horse shows I have to take him off the tablets as the dose is too big. You can get the dosage correct by using the paste which I get from my vet when he shows at the rated shows. But I know for a fact that the pills don’t work - they will test as they are over the allowed limit.

[Pennywell_Bay]

@PonyPenny

They can’t, which is why I have not had a problem with drug testing.

So you are admitting you show not abiding by the rules knowingly?

[inca]

Oh, please. What is the difference if at a show the horse is on Day 8 of 14 days of Equioxx or is on Day 20 of Equioxx. The horse is getting the exact same does of Equioxx while at the show. And if it’s after Day 3, it’s all the same. All the vets I know have no problem with a horse being on Equioxx for more than 14 days. Have been told to keep my horse on a daily dose for the rest of her life.

[inca]

@monalisa

My horse is on it. I give him the tablets. When he horse shows I have to take him off the tablets as the dose is too big. You can get the dosage correct by using the paste which I get from my vet when he shows at the rated shows. But I know for a fact that the pills don’t work - they will test as they are over the allowed limit.

Depends on what your horse weighs. I just did the math and if your horse weighs 1,260 or more, the pills are fine. But, you are correct that if your horse weighs under 1,260 the pill dosage would be over the limit.

[Pennywell_Bay]

@inca

Oh, please. What is the difference if at a show the horse is on Day 8 of 14 days of Equioxx or is on Day 20 of Equioxx. The horse is getting the exact same does of Equioxx while at the show. And if it’s after Day 3, it’s all the same. All the vets I know have no problem with a horse being on Equioxx for more than 14 days. Have been told to keep my horse on a daily dose for the rest of her life.

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/2Zp2…ons-guidelines

Apparently the difference is it isn’t allowed.

Page 8 For competition:

The maximum treatment time for any of the above permitted medications is five days, with the exceptions of diclofenac and firocoxib. Diclofenac can be administered for 10 successive days, and firocoxib can be administered for 14 successive days.

A vet approving is not the point, though it is surprising as it is not supposed to be used for more than 14 consecutive days- if you follow the rules. Firocoxib is Equioxx. Not only it is an anti- inflammatory it has analgesic properties. So you could be doing more harm than good exceeding the dose and/or competing. Plus those pesky ulcers, kidney issues but please- feel free to use it out of scope. Read the insert.

So- no- they “can’t tell”. Character is what you do when no one is looking ) or you are sure you won’t get caught apparently.

[society]

Vet here with drug testing experience in horses…

Labs most certainly can detect drugs that are given outside the guidelines. The guidelines are only there to assist when therapeutics are needed so that they can be withdrawn appropriately. If the guideline is 14 days, there is a threshold amount of drug allowed in the blood/urine based on studies for this time frame. The amount detected when given for 15 days or more is over the threshold and the sample is positive. Any medication given by mouth is risky if given in the feed because you don’t know when they actually eat it or if some of the drug remains in the feed tub for the next few feedings.
It is best to strictly follow the guidelines and not cut it too close.
Just because you have not received a violation for not following the guidelines does not mean that the drug will not be detected in a future test. The labs are so much more sophisticated and can detect tiny metabolites. So, if your horse needs Equioxx at a show, give it at least 12 hrs prior and make sure he gets the whole dose at the time you give it. If your horse is on daily Equioxx, you will need to withdraw it prior to a show. I don’t know if there is a guideline for how long they should be off if it before a show, but I believe it is in there system 48 hrs and probably need several days before another dose is given.