Horse owners who compete in United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) sanctioned events need to be aware that effective December 1, 2011, horses will not be allowed to compete with more than one of the seven approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in their systems.1
The rule was adopted by USEF based on the recommendation of its Equine Drugs and Medications Committee. The first phase of the rule was implemented April 1, 2010, and required a disclosure for horses treated with more than one NSAID, also called “stacking,” within five days of a competition.1
NSAIDs are typically used to treat conditions such as the pain and inflammation associated with equine osteoarthritis.2
Hoyt Cheramie, DVM, Equine Specialist for Merial’s Large Animal Veterinary Services, says the decision to limit NSAID use in competition horses will help owners and trainers avoid some of the inherent risks associated with multiple-NSAID usage.
“No NSAID designed for use in the horse was ever intended to be used in conjunction with another NSAID,”3 he says. “There are potential side effects of stacking NSAIDs such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastric and colonic ulceration, large colon and cecal impaction, kidney damage and right dorsal colitis. Many of these conditions can lead to colic.”4
In addition to the risks involved with using more than one NSAID concurrently, there are potential dangers when administering even a single NSAID.5 “Most NSAIDs are administered with a notched syringe with one dose being just a small portion of the entire tube.
It is not unheard of for a horse owner to unknowingly give an overdose of just one NSAID, which can lead to health complications such as gastric ulcers, diarrhea, anorexia and renal dysfunction,”5 says Dr. Cheramie.
When trying to provide relief from the inflammation caused by osteoarthritis, especially with a product that has to be administered multiple times daily, owners can also inadvertently expose their horses to peaks and valleys in relief.6
Horse owners can minimize the possibility of an overdose, adverse reactions and inconsistent levels of relief by consulting closely with their veterinarian. Dr. Cheramie also recommends the use of a product that can be administered just once a day versus multiple times.
EQUIOXX®(firocoxib), is one of the NSAIDs approved for use in competition by USEF and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). EQUIOXX provides 24 hours of prescription equine osteoarthritis pain relief* in just one daily dose.7
Two formulations are available, injection and paste. Between the two, EQUIOXX is approved for use for a total of up to 14 consecutive days; of which EQUIOXX injectable should not be used for more than five days. Other oral NSAIDs are approved for only five consecutive days.
“Whether a horse is competing and needs relief from discomfort or at home recovering from an injury, owners should partner with their veterinarians to determine the best treatment option,” says Dr. Cheramie. “For that treatment to work, owners also need to be diligent about following dosing directions.”
For more information about EQUIOXX, go to http//:www.equioxx.com.
*Joint pain and inflammation associated with equine osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
As with any prescription medication, prior to use, a veterinarian should perform a physical examination and review the horse’s medical history.
A veterinarian should advise horse owners to observe for signs of potential drug toxicity. As a class, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be associated with gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal toxicity. Use with other NSAIDs, corticosteroids or nephrotoxic medication should be avoided.
EQUIOXX has not been tested in horses less than 1 year of age or in breeding horses, or pregnant or lactating mares. For additional information, please refer to the prescribing information or visit www.equioxx.com.
About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,600 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2010 sales were more than $2.6 billion. Merial is a Sanofi company.
For more information, please see http://www.merial.com.
1United States Equestrian Federation. Drugs and Medications Guidelines. 2011:2-3. Available at: http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/DrugsMedsGuidelines.pdf.Accessed October 4, 2011.
2 United States Equestrian Federation. NSAIDs and Your Horse. Available at: http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsmeds/nsaidandyourhorseweb.pdf. Accessed October 4, 2011.
3 United States Equestrian Federation. Single NSAID Questions and Answers. Available at: http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/NSAIDFAQS.pdf. Accessed October 4, 2011.
4 Horse Owners Urged to Use Pain Medications Wisely. North Carolina State University. Available at: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/documents/release_NSAID_research.pdf. Accessed October 4, 2011.
5 Reed SK, Messer NT, Tesman RK, Keegan KG. Effects of phenylbutazone alone or in combination with flunixin meglumine on blood protein concentrations in horses. Am J Vet Res.2006;67(3)398-402.
6The United States Pharmacopeial convention. Phenylbutazone. 2004. Available at: http://www.usp.org/pdf/EN/veterinary/phenylbutazone.pdf. Accessed October 4, 2011.
7 EQUIOXX product label.