Long-term previcox/equioxx safety? Experiences of people who have used it long-term?

[Scarlett_100]

My horse’s particular lameness issues in his hock (very stubborn long-term arthritis problem) do best with a combination of previcox/equioxx and hock injections. My horse’s left hock is still sore without these treatments and so I cannot see an end to hock soreness in any hurry. My concern is that he has been on previcox longer-term already and he may need it quite a lot longer to keep him comfortable (I have tried many times to wean him off of it). I know that there has been discussion of previcox/equioxx safety in past threads and I’ve done a lot of homework on this drug. I know that long-term use can potentially cause ulcers (though not so great a risk as bute) and can possibly harm the kidneys etc.

My question is this. I want to hear from long-term Previcox users to get a feel for any issues people have had. Now that Previcox/equioxx has been around for many years, there are probably more horses who have been on it longer term than in previous years. I would be interested to hear from people how have used long-term previcox/equioxx on their horses (by long-term I mean multiple years)? How many years was your horse on this drug? Did your horse ever develop ulcers or kidney damage? In your mind, how did you come to terms with using it long-term even though it does have risks - it is a quality of life thing for you?

[cayuse]

I had two large ponies on previcox. One was on it for almost three years and the other for about two years. Neither one developed kidney damage or digestive issues. Both of them were aged when started on it, one being in the mid twenties and the other 28 or so. It worked a miracle on one pony (hock and stifle arthritis) and moderately helped the other. It was a quality of life issue. I wanted to keep them happy and comfortable as long as possible and at their advance ages the long term risk was not much of an issue.
I have tried previcox on my current elderly pony and this time around I was not as happy with it. After a week or so he went off his feed a little and seemed not quite right so I stopped it. I am not sure if it was coincidental or not. He also seemed a bit looney on it. Spooky and bug eyed over the usual mundane stuff. My vet is coming out next week and I am going to ask her about the behavioral change that I saw and see what she thinks.

[Scarlett_100]

I understand how at an advanced age, the quality of life issue is paramount. It is a good decision. In my case, my horse is about 15 years old, and much happier and more comfortable when kept in work moving - he moves comfortably riding and also in his field (24/7 turnout) when on Previcox. I had hoped by now that his left hock would fuse (his right one did fuse and is totally sound) so I could take him off of the Previcox, but the hock continues to be very stubborn - but it is better now than it used to be - the light dressage work that we can now do with hock injection/previcox combination has rebuilt his muscles which all help to support the hock even more and he is very happy and very comfortable. But the long-term use which I had come to terms with, seems to have no immediate end in sight.

[SMF11]

One of the retirees here has been on previcox for about 3 years with absolutely no issues. He has arthritis in his stifles and cannot tolerate bute.

[hunterjumper98]

I am very familiar with Previcox. My older gelding has been on Previcox for a little over two years now to allow him to stay in light work after having a neurectomy about four years ago. I tried to retire him, but he was so unhappy without some type of job. Previcox keeps him happy and pain-free for low impact work, and I haven’t had any issues with it so far. It is considered to be relatively safe for long-term use per my vet. It doesn’t have the same side-effects as bute, so I wouldn’t be too concerned about keeping your horse on it.

[Gainer]

I have had 3 horses that have been on Previcox/Equioxx for 10 years each and none have developed any issues. It has definitely improved their quality of life.

[leheath]

My Dad’s horse has shoulder arthritis and she has been on previcox for at least 5 years with no signs of issues or side effects. I has kept her ridable (gently!) for all that time and she would have otherwise been put down, so obviously major quality of life improvements. We immediately notice if the BM forgets to give her the previcox even for a day or two.

[keysfins]

My senior was on it for 3+ years, and I discussed long term use with our vet. He said if I wanted to be super careful, I could do 2-4 weeks on, 1 week off. But it was also ok if I wanted to use it continuously, it just might be considered off label dosing if I did that. (I do not have the dosing info conveniently at hand, so can’t tell you if a break in dosing is suggested/recommended.)

We also have several horses in the barn who are on a daily dose, and have been for several years.

If OP wants to be extra careful, she could have her vet do a blood draw for liver and kidney function and see what those look like, at whatever frequency her vet suggests.

I agree with the others who believe that the Equioxx has been a good addition for their horses’ quality of life. I saw the same with my senior.

[tpup]

My first horse was on Previcox for hocks for years. No issues from it. He died from an unrelated cause. He had BAD hocks. FWIW, we had great success with IRAP. Also Adequan, but I’d say the most marked change was when we did the IRAP. My older Connemara has been on 1/4 Previcox for years for generalized arthritis. He has also done fine on it. It’s a great drug. I’m a big fan of it for the oldies.

[Bunnyd]

I have had 2 horses on it. One is 17 one 11. In as much as there is concern regarding gastric and kidney issues I keep them on an Aloe product from ABC Advanced Biological Concepts as a preventative approach. I guess I feel more comfortable knowing I am being proactive in their care and hopefully avoiding problems

[painthunter]

I have a coming 16 year old lower level hunter that lives on Equioxx and has for 2+ years. Liver and kidneys are confirmed fine via blood work, he is much more comfortable. He also is just stiff behind without it. He has had two cases of very mild grade 1 ulcers in the time I’ve owned him (always linked to some change that no would not have caused stress for a normal horse but stressed him… He’s an odd duck in the barn) and is very carefully managed for those.

[quietann]

My mare is nearly 20 and has been on it for 5 years for arthritis, with no problems. The vet does a blood panel including liver and kidney function on her once a year. When she has been off it for brief periods, I have definitely noticed a difference.

[beau159]

My horse Red has been on Previcox/Equioxx long term. He needs it both for heel pain in his front feet as well as issues with fusing hocks. He was first put on it the summer of 2014 through the end of the season. Here in North Dakota, he typically gets the winters off anyway (not competing - very light riding) so we can go without it during the winter. He was on it all of 2015 during the season, off in 2016 (wasn’t riding since I had a baby myself), and then on it all of the season for 2017 (had switched to Equioxx at this point). I’m due for baby #2 very soon, but once I start riding this year, he will be back on it the whole year. So this will be his 4th year on it (although not consecutively).

He will be 13 this year … so relatively young.

Fortunately, he has not had any problems with it as far as ulcers go. It does also probably help that he is on pasture 24/7 so he’s almost always got something in his tummy.

I’m going to also try Osphos for him this year for his hocks - vet said that can sometimes affect the kidneys (if I remember right) so we’ll be doing bloodwork to watch that.

Lameness is difficult. You do what you gotta do. I’m just glad that Equioxx is an option.

[Hunter_Mom]

Mare has been on it daily for three years and has had no problems. She had a DDFT tear before we got her. There’s been a couple of times we’ve lapsed (forgotten refills - oops!) and there was a definite difference in her soundness. We do give her aloe vera juice (the $6 per gallon stuff from Walmart) as she’s a nervous girl anyhow and figured it would help her tummy even though she wasn’t having any issues with that.

[Magics_Mom]

I have an Arabian gelding that is 31 years old and has been on it for 10 years - no issues. Just retired him 2 years ago due to a head injury which caused him to become blind in one eye. My dressage horse is 18 and has been on it for 5 years with no problems.

[x-halt-salute]

My horse is extremely sensitive to bute and banamine (as in complete loss of appetite, cow patty manure, sometimes full blown colic after just 2-3 doses) but was on a 57 mg of previcox daily for over a year without any GI problems.

A friend’s horse who has never had a noticeable problem with higher dose or more prolonged bute treatment was on equioxx for about 3 months, stopped eating, and was found on scope to have grade 2 ulcers.

In general it seems to be much better tolerated than bute for long-term treatment, but there’s enough individual variation in the response that occasionally you’ll encounter a horse it just doesn’t agree with.

[findeight]

Going on 9 years now with an almost 30 year old horse. Doesn’t get anything else. Never had a problem.

[vxf111]

@SMF11

One of the retirees here has been on previcox for about 3 years with absolutely no issues.

Same here

[Amy3996]

I started my horse on it on advice of my vet, when I bought him at 15. He was a Big Eq horse ready to take a step down, but his career before I got him meant that he’d had his fair share of wear and tear. He had some mild arthritis and we really just wanted to do what we could to keep him pain-free. I switched to Equioxx when the tablet form came out a year or so ago. He’s 18 now and still doing beautifully. I haven’t noticed any issues at all.

[Friend_of_Otis]

My 35 year old gelding has been on a daily dose for 3 years. Definitely a quality of life issue. He has free range of 41 acres and spends his time walking up and down our hills, grazing and keeping order.