Tapering off equioxx

[ljc]

Did a 30-day trial of Equioxx on my 14-year-old Welsh mare. I’ve had her for nearly two years and she’s been incredibly sound but looked a bit off (really more like uneven) one day. Vet did flexions and looked at the last two sets of X-rays (most recent when I bought her) which never showed anything abnormal for her age, just some slight changes. Decided to see if Equioxx would help (note,her previous owner had her on Equioxx when they moved her up a level and thought she was struggling a bit with more advanced moves. Hence their decision to find her a softer landing, someone who wasn’t going to be pushing her in dressage). I transitioned her off Equioxx the first month I had her. As I said she’s been 100% sound and even when she was a bit uneven she was probably 98% sound.

So, 30 days after equioxx I’m deciding what to do next. She’s feeling great (a bit feistier and spookier than she was before equioxx, I must say,).

Obviously if she NEEDS a daily pill, I’ll do it. She’s already on daily prascend (along with my other welsh pony), which is incredibly expensive so if I can do without Equioxx I’d be most happy. I also worry about her stomach (did treat her for ulcers once),

I’d like to try cutting her back and my vet says there’s no real difference between doing a full pill every other day or a half pill daily. Any thoughts?

[Bonnie2]

I would go cold turkey. See if she shows a difference and proceed from there.

[Fruitarider]

If you decide to continue with the Equioxx there is a generic version called Firocoxib that’s slightly cheaper.

[FjordBCRF]

Im going through something similar with my gelding for neck issues. He’s been on a full pill now for 30+ days and has been as sound as Ive ever seen him. Rehab vet recommended to take him down to a half pill a day over a full pill every other to be consistent with dosing/timing etc. I do know someone that does a full pill every other day with success, but its easy enough to split the pills so thats what Im planning to try.

We had such a rough year last year Ive been reluctant to cut it back and play the wait and see game again, but know I need to get on it.

[beau159]

@ljc

Did a 30-day trial of Equioxx on my 14-year-old Welsh mare. I’ve had her for nearly two years and she’s been incredibly sound but looked a bit off (really more like uneven) one day. Vet did flexions and looked at the last two sets of X-rays (most recent when I bought her) which never showed anything abnormal for her age, just some slight changes. Decided to see if Equioxx would help (note,her previous owner had her on Equioxx when they moved her up a level and thought she was struggling a bit with more advanced moves. Hence their decision to find her a softer landing, someone who wasn’t going to be pushing her in dressage). I transitioned her off Equioxx the first month I had her. As I said she’s been 100% sound and even when she was a bit uneven she was probably 98% sound.

So, 30 days after equioxx I’m deciding what to do next. She’s feeling great (a bit feistier and spookier than she was before equioxx, I must say,).

Obviously if she NEEDS a daily pill, I’ll do it. She’s already on daily prascend (along with my other welsh pony), which is incredibly expensive so if I can do without Equioxx I’d be most happy. I also worry about her stomach (did treat her for ulcers once),

I’d like to try cutting her back and my vet says there’s no real difference between doing a full pill every other day or a half pill daily. Any thoughts?

Well, but what did your vet say is wrong with the mare?
What joints did the vet xray?
What was off?
What did the flexions indicate, specifically?

This is just my personal opinion, but if I can find another way to deal with my horse’s pain, I will. And I will exhaust other avenues before deciding to put one on Equioxx long term.

With that said, I have two older horses (they are both now 19) that both have navicular and both have fusing hocks. When I used to ride and use them more, I would give them Equioxx to help them out, in additional to Adequan, joint injections when needed, Osphos, etc. Equioxx was NOT my first line treatment. Now they are more retired for the kids, so I am usually doing the Equioxx only for short terms such as if we have a long weekend show coming up where I know they will get stiff.

I also did a month of Equioxx for my mare when I bought her at age 5, as she was already barrel racing and a bit sore. Nothing really showed up on the diagnostics so at that time (clean xrays), I chose to do a month of the Equioxx along with PEMF sessions. She flexed totally sound 2 months later at the vet and was good.

So I think it would be a lot more helpful to give you some advice, if you can be more specific about WHERE and WHAT the mare is sore with.

[mdp9]

You could do just an Equioxx (or, as @Fruitarider said, Firocoxib) pill on the days you ride.

I would not be concerned about ulcers from daily use.

Equioxx is like taking a baby aspirin. No need to taper off or transition or anything like that. I have used it for many horses in the school program and competition horses (in accordance with USEF rules, of course).

[Pico_Banana]

@mdp9

You could do just an Equioxx (or, as @Fruitarider said, Firocoxib) pill on the days you ride.

I always thought that it took a couple of days for Equioxx to kick in . . .