My vet, and I believe others around here, have quite a number of horses on Previcox. My friend just recently checked with our mutual vet and he has no problem with long term use. I’ve got to admit we haven’t had bloodwork done so I’m going to request it. But I’m curious whether other vets are doing? Are other vets allowing it for continuous use?
Our son’s horse is on it indefinitely. I suppose it would depend on why the horse is on it. For ours, it’s DSLD and he’s in his teens. The good outweighs the potential bad. If it were a younger horse, bloodwork might be a good idea. If I see any changes, I’ll let the vet know. He gets a good physical twice a year when he gets his vaccines. Other than that, I suppose it’s watch and see for us. Maybe your local vet school can advise you further?
We have the same situation with our cat. He is on gabapentin indefinitely. He’s only four and he’s been on it for a year and a half. I’ve asked about necessary bloodwork, but there doesn’t seem to be enough information on what to watch out for, so no bloodwork is suggested at this time. It might change as more data is collected, and I certainly will ask if I see any changes.
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Lots of horses are on long-term firocoxib. It’s less likely to cause ulcers, but is also less effective in general at pain management. My vet doesn’t suggest it as a first course for a lot of things, but will suggest it for sure if a horse is prone to ulcers.
It’s never a bad idea to check blood every 6-12 months at least for a few years to see how that dose is affecting that horse, and then maybe every other year or so if things have been fine, but he’s getting older.
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My Old Man Horse has been on it for over 10 years straight for non-fusing hock arthritis.
No other issues, no side effects.
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Oh, that’s good to know. Thanks.
My horse was on it a couple of times, more than14 days for soft tissue problems. After he was on it for a while I was able to give it every other day. He nibbles it out of the palm of my hand and I stuff a few treats in right behind it. My theory is that he is chewing on some larger stuff and the pill won’t be dropped.
He is 27 now and is on it daily. I don’t anticipate stopping. He has significant lameness in the left front, and the arthritis is rearing its ugly head elsewhere. His left knee was injected in mid-July with steroids and antibiotics. He is still comfortable but we just did a course of Adequan. It has helped loosen him up in the past. I’m hoping to minimize the joint injections.
The farrier put him in Avanti shoes a couple of years ago and they are amazing. He was in Natural Balance Light with little toe drags and occasional stumbling. This totally stopped in a couple of days. She has tried them on quite a few older horses. The ones that swapped back were usually doing dressage - it cut down some on their flashy moving. The shoes are contoured differently, which most of us can’t see. It doesn’t move the breakover. It gives them a little more room…
Merial is the manufacturer. They were purchased by Boehringer Ingelheim. Consider how Previcox spread like wildfire. Thousands of horses have taken it long-term. Merial has plenty of anecdotal research to consider. If there were problems giving it to horses we would have seen them.
Firocoxib is firocoxib whether you give to your horse and/or your dog. They knew what was happening in the marketplace. They didn’t get an approval for 57 mg tablets for Previcox for horses. They redesigned the delivery vehicle, called it Equioxx and set higher prices. The Equioxx paste in the tube is down to $6 for one dose per day - 57 mg, just like Previcox. Vets have touted how much cheaper Equioxx is now. That’s true if you were using the paste. Take it out of the equation. Equioxx is more expensive than Previcox. I don’t have a problem if Previcox is off-label. He has taken it before without problems. The FDA has a lot more to do than track down vets who still prescribe Previcox off-label for horses.
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My horse has been on daily Previcox for over eight years to help manage discomfort related to his arthritis. Started when his hocks were fusing, tried to take him off of it when they fused, saw a difference in his comfort, put him back on it and kept him there ever since. He will be 27 in March. Nothing unusual on his annual bloodwork in that time.
Not to minimize the potential for adverse effects with any medication, but my vet’s view on this is that by the time the horse’s condition is such that they benefit from a daily NSAID, the side effects are either likely to be of least concern, or well worth mitigating in other ways given the way the medication improves quality of life.
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My mare with DSLD was on it for many years. Then I switched to Sodium Naproxen. It was cheaper and more effective than the Equioxx. She did have some tummy upsets towards the end but at that point the pain control was more important than possible ulcers or diarrhea.
My elderly horse was on it for about 6-10 months but the vet’s instruction was that blood work would be needed after 6 months as it could apparently cause some organ issues. Liver maybe?? Can’t remember.
Unfortunately I had him euth’d. He’d started swaying/staggering, it seemed to scare him that he was losing balance during those periods that he’d then just bolt and eventually stop with all 4 legs out wide. He developed so much nervous energy that he was semi-dangerous to be around or even leave in the paddock, if someone was in the direction he’d chosen to bolt, he would have gone right over top of them.
I’m not sure if it was a side effect from the previcox or a deterioration of his existing neurological issues.
As others have said it’s super common for long term use.
One of my horses has been on it 3 years, the other for 2.
I personally have never heard of a negative effect from it (minus the possibility of ulcers, though it’s significantly lower than using bute).
In my opinion it’s a miracle drug. It keeps older horses happy and healthy for many more years than they would get naturally. I wish it worked/was approved for humans, as I know some people who would benefit from it too!
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I should say, a negative effect someone has reported happening to their horse. There are of course possible side effects. I just haven’t met anyone who actually has encountered on in the real world.
I have a horse on it long term. I only give it to him during the competition seasons though, which is roughly May to October. He has never had any problems with that. Of course, the Equioxx is in addition to other therapies and treatments to keep his issues managed.
While it is much less likely to cause GI problems like bute will, IT CAN. While most horses won’t have a problems, always remember that one can. I have known other horses that did develop ulcers and other GI problems from it, so it’s something to always be aware of.
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