If a horse is on a daily regimen of Equioxx for arthritis and experiences colic, can you still give banamine to the horse?
thanks!
Ask your vet. Bute, banamine and firocoxib are all nsaids. My understanding is that it is not wise to use them together as you increase the risk of ulcers and renal problems.
From https://www.drugs.com/pro/equioxx.html:
Can Equioxx be given with other medications?
Equioxx should not be given with other NSAIDs (for example, aspirin, phenylbutazone, diclofenac, ketoprofen or flunixin) or systemic corticosteroids (for example, prednisone, cortisone, dexamethasone, or triamcinolone).
Tell your veterinarian about all medications that you have given your horse in the past, and any medications you are planning to give with Equioxx paste. This should include other medicines that you can get without a prescription or any dietary supplements. Your veterinarian may want to check that all of your horse’s medicines can be given together.
I had this exact issue a few months ago when my horse mildly colicked (she’s on daily Previcox, the dog version of Equioxx). I called my vet and she advised that I could in my circumstance. It isn’t something you want to do every day, but on a one-off situation my vet gave me permission to do it. My mare ended up pooping shortly after I called my vet so I elected not to give the Banamine to her in any event.
However, I would check with your vet before doing anything like that as they know your horse best. My vet is well aware of all my horse’s medications and her health and is wonderfully available for text/phone conversations in situations like that.
Definitely check with your vet before administering it. It’s best to not administer two different NSAIDs within 24 hours, but in cases such as colic, the benefits of Banamine can outweigh the risks of stacking NSAIDs.
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You can, but need to monitor vital systems very closely. They can cause renal problems quickly if given high doses together. I wouldn’t unless under a vets supervision. Things can go bad quickly.
During my horse’s serious choke episode, my vet administered a shot of Banamine and he’s on daily Equioxx as well. All was fine.
If it is a mild gas/spasmodic colic (as often happens with a change of weather) Buscopan might be a viable alternative to Banamine.
If an unusual amount of NSAIDS are given ask the vet if something to prevent ulcers should also be given.
As others have said ask your vet, and perhaps have the conversation before the horse is in distress if it has a tendency to colic.
Here’s a good article that provides info on the different treatment options for colic.
https://hagyard.com/custdocs/Colic%20Pain%20Management.pdf
We had a mare that got equioxx at night (generally about 4 pm) and she would tend to have her colic like episodes in the morning (about 7 am). She was very old. We asked the vet about it and he wasn’t thrilled with the timing but it was okay on occasion. The one time it happened in the evening after she’d gotten her equioxx we didn’t use banamine. Also, if we gave banamine he would have us skip the equioxx that day.
This!
My horse is on daily Bute (yes, I know it is not Equioxx) and when we had his last colic issue the vet did not hesitate to to give him some Banamine.
Like Equiniphile said, stacking NSAIDs were low on the list of worries at that point.
I did call the vet before asking this question but didn’t receive a response until later. The response was: stop the equioxx and give a half dose banamine.
The reason I asked the question was a horse coliced the night before at my barn and nobody in the barn had any banamine.
When I picked up his Equioxx pills that are given daily, I also bought banamine,which made me think if he were to colic would I be able to give him banamine while he is also on daily equioxx.
THANKS For the replies!
If you are monitoring the horse’s kidneys with yearly bloodwork, and only doing it once in a great while - chances are Banamine in addition will not cause an issue. That said, I also keep buscopan around, and think its a pretty useful drug. We commonly use it alongside Osphos or Tildren (which carry a risk of kidney issues), to deal with the colic/cramping side effects of those medications rather than giving bute or banamine.
