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  Discussion on Naproxen
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Member:
sodmonst

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - 7:47 pm:

First question: I suspect that my horse is a bit uncomfortable when his hind feet are trimmed. He's got no obvious problem, but the trimmer thinks that his problems with trusting him with his hind feet is counter to his nature and might suggest some low grade pain. OK, cut to the chase: Would it be OK to dose the horse with Naproxin (Aleve) before trimming to see if it helps him?

Second question: According to my calculation, 5 mg per pound for a horse means that a 900 pound horse would get 20 220 mg Aleve pills. That's a lot of pills, and I want to double check before acting. Am I correct that a 900 pound horse would get 20 220mg pills?

Aleve pill=220 mg

"Though not approved in horses there is some preliminary data to suggest that at 5 mg / lb. / day the drug is more effective than bute and has a much wider safety margin."
Member:
kpaint

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - 8:52 pm:

I use the generic naproxen 220 mg from walmart.

It is 20 pills for the weight. I crush mine (25 of them) with pestle although I have used rolling pin and put pills between wax paper in a pinch! I mix my naproxen "dust" in 1/4cup unsweetened applesauce and mix that with feed.

As far as should you use it before trimming? I don't think it's going to hurt but if there is pain, perhaps finding the source?

Does he have pain on the front feet and reluctant to pick up hind as it puts more weight on front feet? Lameness?

Has the farrier used a hoof tester on the hooves?
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009 - 9:26 pm:

that is the correct dosage. I didnt crush mine but feed them with a handful of grain or calf manna. She ate them happily...basically swallowed them whole. I was afraid if I crushed them it would taste like 'asprin' powder.
I think Naproxen does best with a 3 day loading dose...not sure though, but DrO has a article strictly about Naproxen.
Best wishes
Leslie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 - 8:13 am:

Hello Susie,
We have more information on naproxen dosage use in horses at Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Naproxen.
DrO
Member:
sodmonst

Posted on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 - 9:00 am:

Yes DrO, I read it.

Leslie and Vicky, thankyou for your replies to my specific questions. We are workin at getting his feet just right, Leslie; I am told that the previos guy, a farrier, used to simply beat the stuffing out of him. That was before I had him. It is a challenge to tease apart his anxiety from other possibilities. His way of going shows no overt problems.
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 - 10:19 am:

hmmmm, Does he have any problems when you pick his feet? If it truly is from pain, I would use the loading dose...starting the morning the day before , the evening the day before and the morning the day of the trim. Atleast then you would know it had a chance to truly get into his system.
Even though its pretty safe...make sure to NOT give any other nsaid like bute for several days after. It stays in the system awhile. DrO talks about it in the article

...but Suz, I am more incline to think its behavioural/fear.

Merry Christmas
Member:
sodmonst

Posted on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 - 10:48 am:

Thanks, Leslie. I'll let you know how it goes.

I believe that in his mind it is "human lift hind foot, me get scared and try to get foot back, human yell and hit with hard thing, rump and back hurt, me know game, me not like game." He's much better with me. With his front feet, he hands them to me while I sit on a stool and whittle away with the Rider's Rasp. I haven't taught him to do that with his hind feet yet, but they are next on the list. I found the idea while watching "Hackney Horse William" clips on YouTube.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 - 11:21 am:

Hi Susie,

My mare knows that game too, there are three things I found work best with her so she does not jump out of her skin when asked for her hind legs.

The first is I make sure she has jogged/towed or trained before the farrier has to deal with her. Second, I put bandages on her. For some reason she is overly sensitive when asked for a hind hoof and her her leg is touched and third, I tell my farrier that all he needs is the slightest touch anywhere on her leg and she will pick up her foot( If you try and grab her leg, you will wind up splayed out on the floor). She is not a mare to be messed with and if you get rough with her she is able to give it back just as good. Since, I would rather not have a wrestling match, I try to keep the peace between the mare and the farrier. So, far it has worked and we can get this mare done in a much shorter period of time without a whole lot of hoopla and arguments.
Rachelle
Member:
sodmonst

Posted on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 - 11:56 pm:

Rachelle, sounds like your mare and my horse are a lot alike. I am intrigued by the idea of bandaging the legs. He is so touchy, this could help. Grabbing his leg will get you a flying lesson! Luckily the trimmer has patience and can read him well. Thanks for sharing your experience with this, and I shall report back about how it goes. This trimmer is doing a series of clinics so that we can maintain the overall hoof balance between his visits. We are doing "hoof mapping" in early January.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Friday, Dec 25, 2009 - 8:14 am:

Susie,

Here is another thing I used on another mare of mine who was not quite as bad as the one described above, but would not hold up one of her hind feet for any extensive period of time.

The chiropractor told me to do this and for the most part it did work. It acts as a release for any muscle spasms in the sacroiliac area of the horses back. Its a stretching exercise.

Pick up a hind foot and slowly bring it forward a few inches off the ground, then while making circles with the foot slowly bring it back to where you started. If you do this a couple of times with each foot it has several benefits. It sort of preconditions the horse for a pleasurable experience since the tension is released in his back it feels good( endorphin release) and if done at times when you are not doing anything else with his feet eventually he will quit associating the picking up of his feet with either pain or work.

Then if you can get your trimmer to do this before he starts to work on him, you might find that you have an easier time with him.

Rachelle
Member:
sodmonst

Posted on Friday, Dec 25, 2009 - 1:18 pm:

Thanks for this too Rachelle. I'll see if my horse will cooperate with this. The trimmer's a great guy, and I'm sure he'll be happy to try this out after I've started the ritual.
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