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HorseAdvice.com » Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Aspirin »
  Discussion on Problem with aspirin/supplements
Author Message
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 9:01 am:

My horse has DJD/arthritis. Vet has suggested 1 tablespoon aspirin / 2 x day. He also gets Cosequin - 1 scoop / 2 x day. The aspirin is bitter. I put this combo in small cups to be given at feed time with his grain. I started mixing this with brown sugar to see if it will hide the taste. Unfortunately, it seems the stuff just falls through the grain. His feed bin is metal and this mixture just builds up at the bottom of the feed tray (it looks like black sand after about a week - I think due to hay falling in the mixture). He is not eating all of his grain - eats around the mixture. Any suggestions as to what I can do on a twice daily basis? Molasses is too messy to try to deal with - don't want a build up of that in his bin. I am out almost every day - 4-5 days/week. I am willing to try to do liquid shots in his mouth - but he would only get them when I am there - once a day at most. If I go with a liquid, would it be ok to give him a double dose to catch up on the days he misses?
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 10:27 pm:

I've had good luck with adding water to the feed ration and letting it soak until it all turns to mush. Actually, all the horses seem to like their rations this way, with or without medication.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 24, 2003 - 6:57 am:

As a general rule when you miss medicine just give the standard dose Nadia don't try to catch up. There are a few drug exceptions but for the vast majority this rule works.
DrO
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004 - 9:16 am:

Since I am not feeding him, I am not able to soak his grain (barn staff won't do it). He's picky about what he eats - he won't eat it if he doesn't like it. I tried Corta-Flx - he doesn't like that much. I reduced the amt to 1/2 tsp per serving to see if it's not as bitter and try to increase gradually. It seems like he might be a little sore.

Is this aspirin really helping him- even this small amount?
How long does it take to work?
How long does it last?
Would adding a little powdered Jello to this mixture be harmful long term (trying to hide the bitterness)?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004 - 8:14 pm:

It seems unlikely to be of benefit so the other questions become moot. Concerning the jello you can try, no it won't hurt.
DrO
Member:
Ribbons

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004 - 6:55 am:

You might try using Aspirease.My mare refused to eat her food with regular aspirin so I switched to this product and we no longer have that problem. Easier on the barn staff, too!
Member:
Christos

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004 - 8:32 am:

Nadia,
You can try diluting whatever powder you want to supplement in plastic cups with a little bit of water and ask the barn people to wet his ration with it.
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Monday, Feb 9, 2004 - 9:31 am:

I bought some Aspirease. I started putting 1 scoop in a bran mash (~1 c. wheat bran with about 1/2 c. hot water). He loves the wheat bran and I hope he'll get used to the aspirin-molasses flavor. The cup of wheat bran weighs 1 oz. I plan on feeding him this treat when I am out there (once a day - every day or every other) Is this ok? So far, he doesn't seem to notice the aspirin in this, but I plan on trying to include this in his daily supplement soon (dry). I think he'll figure it out as soon as I do it and avoid it again.

Could he have any kind of a problem that the aspirin irritates his stomach?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 - 9:55 am:

At the dosage levels you see commonly recommended it seems unlikely the aspirin will cause harm but it is possible that it would irritate preexisting ulcers.
DrO
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2004 - 10:20 am:

Thanks for the reply. I asked my vet about ulcers - he said he wouldn't have them because he is not skinny (he looks very good physically) - poor absorption of nutrients. I'll have to read the ulcer section to see if that is always true.

Aspirease suggest feeding 1 scoop twice a day (each scoop contains 2500 mg aspirin).

Aniprin F says to feed 4-8 Tbls 2-3 times a day (Package info say 2.5 Tbls = 1 oz and 1 oz= 14,100 mg aspirin)

If I gave him the Aniprin - 2 oz (5 Tbls) twice a day - that would be 56,400 mg per day. This seems like a huge difference between the 2 brands. I have no idea which amount makes sense. Am I off here on my calculations?

In either of these brands, how long does aspirin last in his body - how long does it take to work?

I have also started giving him 10mg Conquer oral gel when I am there. He seems very happy and energetic, but it could just be the temperature in general (finally got above freezing this past week).
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 20, 2004 - 7:10 am:

I addressed some of these questions above but the others should be in our article on aspirin, Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Anti-inflammatories: NSAID's, Steroids, and Arthritis Treatment » Aspirin.
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