[QUOTE=beowulf;8280612]
Whenever a vet suggests Previcox they always told us that Previcox can seriously damage the liver if used longterm and it’s important that bloodwork is done every time you run out of Previcox…
I am sorry you are dealing with this, but I am also surprised your vet didn’t warn you first hand.
I have never had it happen to a horse I owned but we had a pony on 1/4 tab management dose (20+ y/o lesson pony that used to be an Amish cart horse)… She had her bloodwork drawn every 3-6 months. It’s likely the GGT is related to the long-term previcox use…
I would pull the Previcox ASAP. If the liver is possibly compromised daily doses of Previcox is probably worsening it. What is your horse eating and what is his management/lifestyle?
Did you pursue injections before going to Previcox?[/QUOTE]
Damn, I just knew it. Not only did the vet not warn me but, when I asked him about it today, he said “no, previcox does not affect the liver.” I’ve had this horse for 13 years and have shown him through PSG in dressage. Adequan doesn’t help him at all and Legend only worked for a year or so. There are no vets in my area willing/able to do Pentosan or IRAP but I can probably haul out to have that done if need-be. I started injecting his hocks two years ago when he began missing all his flying changes and the injections have worked beautifully but the vet really doesn’t want to inject his fetlocks unless he absolutely has to due to the high motion area in which his arthritis is located. He suggested Previcox as a relatively “safe” way to manage the inflammation and the horse has done well but I have repeatedly questioned using it long-term. It has made me uncomfortable all along and I probably should have trusted my gut. Unfortunately, this is the first time we’ve drawn blood in several years so I don’t know when the GGT became elevated.
The horse was eating Tribute’s Kalm N EZ and first cutting grass hay. He has always been an easy-keeper but not “metabolic” looking – he’s been quite fit for most of his life. He was becoming increasingly reluctant to eat and eventually quit eating the Tribute completely in July. When he went on his hunger strike, the only thing he would even try was Triple Crown Senior so that’s what he’s eating now and is eating it fairly well. All along, he’s been eating last year’s hay because I had excess so there have been no changes on that front. I actually added some of this year’s hay hoping it would be more palatable but that change was made after the problems started. Ulcers have been considered and he is finishing up 30 days of treatment but it has made no difference. I probably should have scoped him before treating but there is nowhere close to have it done and I didn’t want to stress him.
Otherwise, his lifestyle is the same as it has been for a while. He lives with a pony and a yearling filly and they get along wonderfully. He really likes his herd. They are in for 9 hours at night because none of them can stand the mosquitoes and then they are out the rest of the time. Their pasture doesn’t have a lot of grazing but it’s not dirt and they get hay outside and always have something to eat. The pasture is kept mowed and seeded, as needed. For what it’s worth, I didn’t give him his Previcox today…
