OA treatment and management

Question 1

What is the most commonly prescribed NSAID for OA

Answer 1

phenylbutazone

Question 2

what is the difference between phenylbutazone and suxibuzone

Answer 2

Suxibuzone is a prodrug for phenylbutazone in horses and is rapidly converted to phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone after absorption.

Question 3

when may you give suxibuzone over phenylbutazone

Answer 3

Suxibuzone and phenylbutazone had comparable efficacy, but suxibuzone had lower gastric ulcerogenic potential than phenylbutazone
Horses find Danilon (suxibuzone) more palatable than phenylbutazone

Question 4

Is firocoxib licensed for horses in the UK

Answer 4

Licensed in the UK for alleviation of pain and inflammation in horses suffering from osteoarthritis and associated lameness.

Question 5

Which part of the passport must be signed if a horse receives phenylbutazone and why

Answer 5

Section 9 to indicate the horse is not for human consumption

Question 6

If you went to visit a horse and wanted to administer an NSAID (no passport was available – the owner said they’d left it at a previous yard) what would be the best course of action when choosing a NSAID.

Answer 6

Find an NSAID licensed for use in the horse that is permitted for use in the human food chain and is listed in Table 1 of EC 37/2010.

Question 7

Can you mix NSAIDs – ie give an IV injection of flunixin and then follow on with phenylbutazone sachets?

Answer 7

Flunixin cannot be administered alongside other NSAIDs or corticosteroids.
When switching from phenylbutazone to another NSAID there must be a gap of at least 24hrs