Long term Equioxx vs Pentosan vs Adequan

[dani0303]

My 27 year old pasture puff is starting to need a little extra help getting around. He’s been on an oral joint supplement (SmartPak Smart Combo Senior Ultra) for years now but that’s no longer quite cutting it. When the vet was out last week we discussed some options and she said she recommends Equioxx, Pentosan, or Adequan.

I have used Adequan in the past (many moons ago) and remember it being a pretty expensive option but it worked well. I’m not as familiar with Equioxx but long term NSAIDs scare me in regards to gut health. My 20 year old jumper mare is on Pentosan and it’s pretty affordable but I’m not sure it’ll be enough for the old man.

Any other insight I might be missing? I’m leaning towards Pentosan right now because it’s something I’m familiar with and the price is reasonable.

[Renn_aissance]

My 25-year-old has been on daily Previcox and monthly Polyglycan for the last several years.

Previcox is a different type of NSAID than bute. It’s easier on the gut but in long-term use can have effects on the kidneys. However, my vet and I both feel that when a horse gets to a certain age, long-term side effects are often not worth serious consideration because of the odds of the horse living to an age where those effects could come into play. Previcox made him more comfortable while his hocks fused and continues to help an old man with lousy circulation go about his day and have age-appropriate exercise in a way that he enjoys.

He never responded particularly well to Adequan but showed a measurable improvement on Polyglycan (you could tell if he’d had his monthly Polyglycan by whether or not he could swap right to left on the first try.)