We’re starting Adequan. We’re still doing the loading dose, but my vet said that some people are just doing Adequan 2x a year in the loading dose and seeing good results. Where I boarded previously, the trainer was doing it 2x a week. What are your experiences?
I’ve used the normal 7 vial regimen when I thought my guy could use some help. I just use Pentosan now as I don’t feel Adequan helped my guy. Years ago I did monthly, and I may as well have given saline solution for all that did. Hope it works for you. If not, plenty of other options to try.
My vet followed the traditional loading dose followed by injections at set intervals…forgive me, don’t remember exactly what they were, a few months apart I think, sold that horse over 10 years ago. ETA…once a month sounds familiar.
Have a question, 2x a week for how many weeks???
Its increasingly common these days for some trainers use their own theories (and client money) going their own way. Since they are not vets apparently don’t care about long term side effects, do any independent research in drug interactions or over use causing the need for ever increasing doses? I prefer to consult an actual vet, possibly get a second opinion from another vet before starting anything like this.
Adequan is pricey and sometimes unavailable too…I like to follow the protocol that has proven successful. Not take a chance improvising for that kind of money. Don’t mind proven off label use of recommended by the vet, not because some trainer does it. Or based on barn gossip.
We can’t get Adequan up here in Canada (ever since the factory shutdown), so I’ve been using Ichon by Kinetic Labs (same active ingredient). I did originally follow the loading dose but then my vet did suggest doing a monthly shot. Of course I’ve read that even the Adequan makers say don’t bother doing this, but my vet said there have been some promising results using the monthly dose (sorry I can’t remember exactly where this was happening but I think it involved young racehorses, maybe Australia?).
I have had him on the monthly shot, doing a yearly re-load, and have been seeing good results, so that’s what I’ve stuck with.
1 shot ever 4 days for 7 doses then 1 dose every 30 days afterward.
I too use Ichon instead of Adequan.
Used on multiple occasions and ALWAYS IAW label directions. Always got a favorable result. Anything else is “veterinary experimentation.” If done under a vet’s supervision that’s one thing. Done because some trainer someplace said they did it and it worked for them is taking a risk. I choose not to take those risks with my stock.
G.
Edited: twice a month. Not twice a week. I’m an idiot. But twice a month permanently. One horse has neck arthritis and I can honestly not say for sure what the other was being treated for.
My big fear is not using it frequently enough for full effect.
That was my fear too, using it in the once-a-month method (after loading). However, my vet examined my horse after the loading dose (did a lameness exam including flexions) and then suggested adding in the monthly dose. He came back about 3 months later and did a re-examination and there was a significant and noticeable difference. I have since stuck with the monthly dose as in my particular case, we did see change. Nothing else was different in the horse’s care other than this, so I can be fairly sure it had a positive effect.
The more I’m researching, his pastern is the area of concern. Which seems to be Legend if I’m not mistaken. Has anyone used generic Legend (which seems to be CRAZY cost effective) vs. brand name? I know the active ingredient is different than adequan, but has anyone noticed a big difference with one vs the other?
Legend/other generic HA is given IV and has a much shorter effectiveness. I believe it peaks in 24-36 hours. It is generally used before showing or other hard work. Not the same mechanism or reason.
Not quite sure what you mean by Legend would be used if it’s his pastern that’s the issue? Adequan/Legend isn’t joint-specific. They’re systemic (assuming you’re talking about using them injected IM/IV and not IA into the joint itself). Are you maybe reading about joint injections?
The generic Legend is NexHA and has been unavailable for some time. What about trying Pentosan?
I am. This is what I pulled on legend:
Legend (Hyaluronate Sodium) is indicated in the treatment of joint dysfunction of the carpus or fetlock in horses due to non-infectious synovitis
Whereas Adequan noted hock arthritis in its info. Valid or marketing ploy?
I believe pentosan is the only one that stated use for. nonspecific joint damage.
:yes:I think Adequan is better for reducing inflammation and Legend helps the body with lubricating joints. Adequan worked better on my navicular horses. Legend worked better with diagnosed joint deterioration due to arthritis and age…creaky hocks.
Childish, simplistic version…there’s a little pillow of liquid, the bursa, between the bones in a joint and between vertebrae (discs) that cushions them, it’s called Synovial fluid (that’s where you get the term Synovitis). It can leak out and does dry up with age allowing the bones to rub. Hyalauronic Acid can be injected directly into the joint bursa to temporarily replenish the fluid. It can also be given IV, Legend, to stimulate the horses system to produce lubrication using the HA… They are not as effective but there are oral HA gels that help quite a few horses, LubriSyn and Hyalauronex, they are pricey but if they work for your horse, can save at least some of the monthly Legend injections and can reduce the frequency of joint injections. I never found the less expensive concoctions effective…and the oral HA gels worked great, until they didn’t, got about 4 years usefulness out if the gels.
Adequan/Pentosan and similar work differently but…I can’t remember, sometimes used together with HA but they have different actions.
When you inject the joint bursa directly (inter articular, IA) it’s typically HA to replace fluid combined with a modern steroid to reduce inflammation. Always interesting to see the amount of leaked out fluid and some blood the vet drains out of those joints tooo…no wonder the horse is gimpy.
When a joint fuses, the bursa has deteriorated and there is quite a bit of discomfort and often some heat until the bone faces sort of join up so there’s no more rubbing and no place to get a needle in. Good news, no pain, bad news, range of motion is reduced. Not all joints fuse on all horses, mines still got one that can get hot at age 28.
Whats also interesting is that human athletes have been getting the IA injections of HA+steroid for many, many years ( think it started with tennis players and pitchers) horses only recently benefitted. And HA is the main ingredient in all those wrinkle reducing, majikal “serum” skin care products which has driven the price of HA up. My horse shared her oral HA gel with me.:lol: It does work.
Well, this was hugely helpful and now my head is spinning. Hahaha! He does have arthritis, so anecdotally legend would be the way to go?
My older race horses get it weekly per the vet.
My vet suggest twice a year loading dose .
My horse got the loading dose, years and years ago now, and we started with a follow-up dose every 4 weeks, then 3, and now 2. But he’s 20, and I notice a difference before and after the dose, so I continue! His movement gets much more fluid after he’s had it. If he starts feeling a little less fluid, I’ll generally look at my calendar and either realize (a) he’s due for Adequan in a day or two, or (b) I forgot his last dose. :lol: I suspect he doesn’t need it as often in spring/summer/fall when he’s out most of the day and moving around, as well as in his regular program, as I tend to only see the 2 week shots being necessary in winter/early spring when it’s harder to keep him in his program and turned out, but at this point, it’s a small price to pay. I’d rather do Adequan than joint injections.
And for what it’s worth, our Olympic team vet, Dr. Mitchell, recommends weekly Adequan shots. I believe he said anything less and don’t bother giving it :eek: but I think that’s a bit extreme.
@Nestor I suspect what Dr. Mitchell was referring to was off-label maintenance doses between loading doses. Fairfield very much advocates for giving the loading dose as necessary. I do twice per year. They discourage monthly shots in between - unless you are going to give it weekly.
I would say the biggest thing is to do what works for your horse. All horses are individuals and what worked for one may not work for another.
With that said, both of the lameness vets I use both advised to do the loading does on Adequan, and then do 1 shot a month to maintain going forward. According to them, it’s not been 100% proven to only do two loading doses a year, although some vets do recommend that.
I had my horse on Adequan before and I can’t say with certainty that it noticed much of anything. So I am trying without this year and see what happens.
Yes, sorry I didn’t clarify that!
