I have a 23yo draft cross mare with articular high and low ringbone in both fronts, significant bows to DDFT and SDFT on both rears. She started on quarter tab of Previcox every other day 4 years ago, and we had to up it to daily 2 years ago. My vet does a complete blood work every year, and my mare’s kidney and liver functions have remained in the excellent range. My mare is a VERY easy keeper, and mostly retired, so we really limit senior feed and lush grass (she has mostly unlimited access to first cutting orchard grass hay). She’s in the best weight of her life now and on 14-16 hours turn out daily Nov to March, 24hr t/o the rest of the year. My BO sees her trot, canter, and play every day. Quality of life is definitely in use here - if I ever get organ failure or poor bloodwork on her, I will euthanize rather than take her off the meds.
Bumping up this thread as I have an 18 year old on 56mg (1/4 tab) daily for about 1 1/2 years. We tried 3 day a week dosing but my farrier commented he was stiffer behind (I had not noticed under saddle but he is stoic) so went back up to daily dose. He is a TB eventer turned dressage horse. I have a coming 8 year old Holsteiner who has been off work for 2 years (change of life stuff for his previous owner) who we are getting back into shape as an eventer and is on a daily dose to help with getting back into shape. He has known hock arthritis and is getting hock injections. So one is long term (my older working TB) and one is quite young but Previcox seems like a good choice to help with the aches and pains that come with going from couch potato to LL eventer. I guess my question will be what happens in 6 months and it’s going great and I try to wean him (the young one) off the Previcox .
It sounds like you are giving the young one Previcox simply to help him get back into shape?
Personally, I would not give a horse medication unless they need it. Sure, if he needs it for his hocks, fine. But “getting back into shape” is not a NEED in my mind. He’ll probably be a little sore the first week or two but that’s about it. So I would not be giving it to the young one at all.
JMO
I’m laughing as if I went from couch potato to 10K, I would be sore for a solid 6 months! Who am I kidding, my inner thighs WERE sore for 6+ months when getting started eventing. But he has hock arthritis. I am not sure how far we will get but it helps him not feel as sore (subjective) so he can move easier, build muscle and get over the fitness hump and it is working. He looks and moves 1000% better than 6 months ago. People frequently take NSAIDS at the beginning of a workout program that you don’t need, hopefully, when you are in shape.
But sore vs pain are two different things. Sore muscles you can work through and will loosen up as you warm the muscles up. Pain, from say hock arthritis, not so much.
The literatute even supports that sore muscles from exercise are helped very little (to no help at all) from Celebrex (human med that is similar to equine Equioxx), and actually could inhibit the recovery process.
It’s Your horse, so do do as you see fit. But I would not give one medication for that. Nor would I give myself medication for that.
My (now gone) 32yo was on a double daily dose (half a 227mg tablet) for a good 10 years before he died (of unrelated causes), to help with pain from ringbone and other arthritis, and general creakiness. My 18yo has also been on a double dose for 4-5 years, to help with discomfort from degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis. Neither has had any issues - though on the vets’ advice I do (used to in the case of the old guy) get regular blood tests, at least yearly, to make sure they aren’t developing renal or other issues, especially because of the higher dose.
