Im in Colorado and it seems like most trainers have most of their horses on isoxuprine. Vets seem ambivalent on this issue. Trying to decide whether to jump on the isox bandwagon?
Why would you put a horse on it? I don’t think it does much. Supposed to increase blood flow. Not many studies I am aware of and probably reason for the vets opinions of it.
We have a navicular pony here who was so unsound we were talking denerving or euthanasia. He went on isoxuprine and had changes made to his shoeing 4 years ago. He is barefoot and med free now and ridiculously sound. (Now that said he’s retired - putters around a couple of times a month, but free jumps to avoid being caught/ get to green grass regularly and happily does flying changes if I ask when on him).
That said I have no reason to think just being on it has any merit.
The only time I had a horse on vet-prescribed Isox was when horse had cellulitis in his knee.
I can’t believe a vet would prescribe for a healthy horse.
(vets on here, correct me if I’m wrong)
Sounds to me like trainers looking for a Magic Wand, adding another pharmaceutical to their Quick Fix armory.
Just NO :no:
i can’t imagine feeding it supplementary with no reason behind it; i have only ever used it in founder/navicular cases.
in some horses there is no difference. in others the amount of new growth is astounding.
it’s cheap, so if a vet prescribes it i’m happy to feed it as long as they think it is beneficial.
Jeesh…why??? Don’t know where you are in Colorado but do know “most trainers” and “most horses” in Colorado are NOT on Isox judging from posters on here and several IRL friends based there.
It used to be a common treatment for navicular due to its blood thinning effect. Other treatments have taken its place.
I had one on it for diagnosed navicular (along with wedgies and rim pads) about 20 years ago. Vet suggested a trip to the drug store for a jug of aspirin was cheaper and both had the same effect. IMO, I don’t think either one did much for the navicular other then the NSAID effect of the aspirin. Both can upset the tummy and cause more bleeding from minor wounds…why anybody would use that as a preventive is…an odd and scientifically questionable choice. Unless those vets sell the stuff and just bought a new truck.
I’m not much of a bandwagon person, and definitely wouldn’t choose to use a prescription medication just because everyone else was! I have used isoxsuprine for horses with specific issues where the drug might be beneficial (most recently, for laminitis) and have felt it helped some. I would use it again if vet and I agreed that it was called for, but not because everyone in Colorado was doing so. :rolleyes:
My guy had issues with excess fluid in his navicular bursa, Isox is the wonder drug that keeps him comfortable and symptom-free.
He went off for about a month last year when smartpak stopped carrying it and I could get some from my vet and his symptoms returned. Nothing awful, he just didn’t look as comfortable and happy jumping around as before.
I’m not sure what exactly it would do for non-navicular horses, but I don’t think I would hop on the bandwagon either unless your horse specifically needs it.
