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  Discussion on DJD confusion
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Member:
nito

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 - 1:04 pm:

I read the articles concerning djd and treatment along with the adequan and oral joint supplements....

My question is... after reading about adequan I still want to try the 7 shots every 4 days for 28 days on my gelding and see what will result of it. Now if my vet were to inject his hocks or stifles, which he has done in the past, with hyaluronic acid and a steroid this is going to just suppress inflammation and ease pain for a short period of time as the same with the adequan?.... and it will have no real benefit to the destruction DJD does to the joint other than just Anti-inflammatory responses?

My next question is I know DJD is a chronic disease that progresses over time... but on order to slow it what is the best route to take... I know you state some suggestions in the articles but it still seems unclear what route to take because there are so many unanswered questions about the things to try…. Like considering joint injects over a period of time may break down the joint faster then the disease itself and adequan is to expensive to keep the horse on a 4 day IM injection routine for the rest of its career? Lastly I feel oral joint supplements maybe a big waste of money because there are no scientific studies to back their claims so in your opinion the use of them might not even worth my time or money?

I just feel like there really isn’t any easy way to manage DJD that is cost effective and anything that with long term use of it will really scientifically benefit the horse either as a preventative or maintenance of the already occurring disease.

I feel it is like cancer there are so many things that can be tried to make it better but there is no sure bet it will actually help the disease. I am not looking for a cure just to slow its degeneration.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 11, 2010 - 9:17 am:

Hello jamie,
The benefit of the Adequan injections are decreasing inflammation and the effects of inflammation in the joint but these effects are not permanent.

We lay out a clear and detailed plan for the long term management of DJD in Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Joint, Bone, Ligament Diseases » Arthritis and DJD: An Overview check out the "Long Term Management of DJD" subtopic. But you are right to the degree there is no cure for this progressive disorder it can be a frustrating problem at least until you set realistic goals for you and your horse. This is covered in the topic I reference above.
DrO
Member:
nito

Posted on Thursday, Feb 11, 2010 - 2:24 pm:

Thank you for your insight. I do have more questions...

In regards to the NSAIDs I was wondering about surpass. bute, banamine, and equioxx a little more then what I read in the articles. Now If I locally apply surpass to the hocks can I do a regimen of that for a few days or even a couple of weeks? I was also told by one vet that surpass can be over used and when this happens the horse can become resistant to it causing it to no longer reduce their pain and inflammation. Have you ever heard of this?

I know I could try another bute regimen for 2 weeks giving 2g a day but instead I want to use equioxx for a little less of a risk of gastric ulcers... but what about dog previcox? I heard from a friend that uses it instead of bute to give 1/4 of a pill which is equivalent to 1 tube of equioxx and it would last 24 hours... is that another option besides bute?

Also I always thought banamine was for soft tissue inflammation.... why do I hear people giving it to their horses instead of bute for OA?

Lastly. DMSO. I read you can use dexamethasone with it but I also heard you cannot mix dexamethasone with NSAID such as bute... is this correct?

Thanks again for your time,
Jamie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 11, 2010 - 9:58 pm:

As to the application of Surpass, you should follow your veterinarian's advice but I don't believe there is a problem with resistance development.

As to using the canine product Previcox you will find discussions on this very subject under the article Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » EQUIOXX (firocoxib).

Flunixin has no soft tissue predilection that I am aware of.

We do not recommend blending anything with DMSO then applying to the skin. For more on this see Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » DMSO.
DrO
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