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  Discussion on Effective Alternative to Adequan?
Author Message
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Sunday, Aug 4, 2013 - 10:41 pm:

Our 17 year old stallion suffered a breeding accident years ago when he came down hard on the mount and injured himself under his rt. shoulder. Apparently in a very unusual place because the vet said A & M have seen very, very few cases of this particular injury. Because of this injury, he has been on Adequan for years, gets a joint injection one time per year, and has been on low dose Bute as needed. (He has a few small areas of calcification despite shock wave therapy). He is followed annually at A & M. Anyway, on that treatment he has remained sound and serves as our lesson horse/ school master in addition to having a pretty heavy breeding schedule each spring. He is a wonderful horse with no other health or lameness issues.
We want him to continue to thrive and remain sound. Since we cannot access Adequan - possibly until next Spring - what do you suggest? We have a call into A & M but were told that they were already back ordered. Our local equine vet clinic - which is also a tertiary care center - is also out. We are worried about this. It really seems to have made a difference in this horse. Is Adequan available in Europe? Any ideas at all?

Help is greatly needed and appreciated!

Blessings,

Judy
Member:
juliem

Posted on Monday, Aug 5, 2013 - 4:40 pm:

Dr. O, what do you know about ICON? I'm told it has a similar makeup to adequann. I have a two year old filly that had a stifle OCD scoped and corrected. The recommendation post surgery was the loading does and then every two weeks adequan. Appreciate your thoughts. Judy, it may be something you might want to look into and discuss with A & M. It's approved for joint lavage, but is being used around here IM for a substitue for adequan. I have one more vial of Adequan and will probably try the ICON.
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 - 4:03 pm:

Hi Julie! After posting my question and BEFORE receiving your comment, my husband spoke with the lameness specialist at A & M. She said they were using ICON and recommended we use it until Adequan becomes available. We just ordered 10 bottles. Hope it works! Thank you very much for your response!
Member:
juliem

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 - 5:20 pm:

You're welcome Judy. I don't know where Dr. O is. AWOL I guess! I'm going to use the ICON too. The press release regarding Adequan stated they wouldn't have product until the first quarter of 2014. I heard an internet rumor (not a great source) they could have production by late August, but that's not substantiated. Please post if you see any noticeable results with ICON one way or the other. And good luck!
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 6, 2013 - 5:45 pm:

I just looked it up online and I think it is ICHON. Will follow up when we use it. Just never expected an Adequan shortage. I guess if the stallion stays sound on the ICHON we will know that it works..... We can but hope (and pray)!

Have a great day!

Judy
Member:
martina

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 7, 2013 - 9:57 am:

I too use Adequan for my gaited horse. I had never heard of ICHON before now. My vet suggested Pentosan. I'm curious Ito know of others' experiences who have used either ICHON or Pentosan for their horses.
Member:
tasia

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 7, 2013 - 10:32 am:

I received a notification from the Center of Veterinary Medicine (FDA)yesterday saying that Adequan will again be available at the end of this month. I thought some of you might like to know.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - 1:37 pm:

Hello Everyone,
You are right I am currently AWOL though I will be checking in more regularly now that we have regular internet service.

I have not used ICHON but it is (taken from their ad) a sterile polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, PSGAGs. Ichon is used for sterile post-surgical lavage, to prevent adhesions, and to strengthen post-surgical scars. Instill as the final lavage prior to surgical closure of abdominal incision. (100mg/ml) Sterile Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. This is also the description of Adequan. There are some unanswered questions of molecular weight the amount of sulfation etc... However the word above from Texas A&M is the best referral I have heard.
DrO
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Saturday, Aug 10, 2013 - 4:01 pm:

Hi,
I hope Adequan does become available. We are now the proud owners of 10 vials of ICHON so we will give it a try regardless. At least we may have an alternative (Adequan) soon if this doesn't work. Tina, I haven't heard of Pentosan. Is it for lameness?
Thanks,
Judy
Member:
martina

Posted on Monday, Aug 12, 2013 - 4:04 pm:

Hi Judy, after I posted I did a search on Horse Advice for Pentosan and found a few posts. I've also searched the Web and read about it (it appears to have very positive results). After a year, my horse showed no improvement on Adequan, so I'm hoping for better results with Pentosan. He just got his first injection.
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Monday, Aug 12, 2013 - 5:12 pm:

Good luck with the Pentosan. Hopefully it will work well for you, especially since the Adequan did not. Keep us posted on your results. I think perhaps some horses respond better to one thing than the other, maybe depending upon the specific horse and also on the specific pathology. Our vet, for example, said that Adequan is better suited for our stallion's problem than Legend. Not sure why....

Let us know what happens!

Blessings,

Judy
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