b'RUNNING HOT AND COLDhorse the other direction, it will be hard to handle the heat, and he may need toBody-Clippingbe clipped. Then if theres a cold snap, he CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on themust be blanketed. Considerationsorder of a licensed veterinarian. For this reason Coleman says hed rather transport horses from hot to coldIf youve body-clipped your horse EQUIOXX (firocoxib) is indicated for the control of painclimates than from cold to hot. It takesto keep him cool in anticipation of and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in horses.traveling to a hot climate, keep an Firocoxib belongs to the coxib class of non-narcotic, non- the horse longer to adjust and acclimate eye out for skin issues. When you steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). to heat, he says. When you go south,clip, you abrade the skin, says Kent make sure the horse can sweat ad- Allen, DVM, FEI veterinary delegate CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity toequately. Some dont acclimate very well firocoxib should not receive EQUIOXX. and owner of Virginia Equine Imaging, and may not sweat enough, and somein Middleburg. The horse will also get WARNINGS: EQUIOXX is for use in horses only. Do not usemay develop anhidrosis (the inability tomore sun (which hes not accustomed in horses intended for human consumption. Do not usesweat). If your horse is not sweating nor- to) and may sunburn. He will encounter in humans. Store EQUIOXX Tablets out of the reach of dogs, children, and other pets in a secured location in order tomally, suffering heat stress, consult yourbacteria in the new environment that prevent accidental ingestion or overdose. Consult a physicianveterinarian for help. he hasnt been introduced to before. in case of accidental human exposure. You might have to keep the horse thatsHell also have new bedding and Horses should undergo a thorough history and physicaladapting to sudden heat indoors and outpotential allergic reactions, and more examination before initiation of NSAID therapy. Appropriateof the sun. Some of the well-built barnsskin problems, when going to a new laboratory tests should be conducted to establishin hot climates can keep horses cool place.Heather Smith Thomashematological and serum biochemical baseline data beforetheyre designed to take advantage of all and periodically during administration of any NSAID. NSAIDs may inhibit the prostaglandins that maintain normalthe natural ventilation possible, says homeostatic function. Such anti-prostaglandin effectsColeman. water that might get warmer than the may result in clinically significant disease in patientsFans, misting fans, or air-conditioninghorse likes and new bedding.with underlying or pre-existing disease that has not beencan also help.Your biggest concern when going from previously diagnosed.Fans create enough air movement tosouth to north in winter, on the other Treatment with EQUIOXX should be terminated if signshelp promote a little more evaporation hand, is whether your horse has an ad-such as inappetance, colic, abnormal feces, or lethargy areto cool the body, says Connally. Anotherequate hair coat.observed. As a class, cyclooxygenase inhibitory NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, renal, and hepaticbonus is they can deter insects, which canHis body has been coping with heat toxicity. Sensitivity to drug-associated adverse events variesbe both a nuisance and a disease threat,(with the blood vessels beneath the skin with the individual patient. Horses that have experiencedexposing horses to insect-borne patho- dissipating body heat rather than con-adverse reactions from one NSAID may experience adversegens they might not have encounteredserving it), and it takes a while to adjust, reactions from another NSAID. Patients at greatest risk for adverse events are those that are dehydrated, on diureticpreviously. While you should already besays Connally, adding that these horses therapy, or those with existing renal, cardiovascular, and/ using core vaccines for mosquito-borneprobably wont grow hefty hair coats and or hepatic dysfunction. The majority of patients withdiseases such as West Nile virus and East- truly thrive until theyve experienced the drug-related adverse reactions recover when the signs areern and Western encephalomyelitis, workfull transition from fall to winter.recognized, drug administration is stopped, and veterinary care is initiated. with your veterinarian to find out if he orExtreme temperature fluctuations (50 she recommends a booster before goingdegrees or more between daytime and Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugsto a warm climate.nighttime extremes) any time of year, should be carefully approached or avoided. Since many NSAIDs possess the potential to produce gastrointestinalIn a cold climate a horse may onlyhowever, can be hard on horses. Tem-ulcerations and/or gastrointestinal perforation, concomitantneed boosters once a year, but there mayperature swings are a stress, especially use of EQUIOXX with other anti-inflammatory drugs, suchbe mosquitoes year-round in the warmfor foals, says Connally. It can lead to as NSAIDs or corticosteroids, should be avoided. Theclimate, and his immunities may be inad- scours (diarrhea) or pneumonia in young concomitant use of protein bound drugs with EQUIOXX has not been studied in horses. The influence of concomitantequate, says Allen. foals, but is not as hard on adults, he drugs that may inhibit the metabolism of EQUIOXX has notAs for riding horses that have movedsays. Multiple stresses combinedsuch been evaluated. Drug compatibility should be monitored infrom cold to hot weather, Connally saysas if a horse is undernourished, travel-patients requiring adjunctive therapy.to pay close attention during work anding, and working hardcan add to the The safe use of EQUIOXX in horses less than one year ofrecognize they might not be able to exer- burden of weather changes.age, horses used for breeding, or in pregnant or lactatingcise during the heat of the day.mares has not been evaluated. Consider appropriate washoutExercise adaptation (coming fromTake-Home Messagetimes when switching from one NSAID to another NSAID or corticosteroid. a hot climate to a cold one) is actuallyHorses are very adaptable and typi-pretty easy for the horse, adds Allen.cally can handle significant temperature The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contains more detailedThe reverse is more complextaking aswings. Its when we alter their natural occupational safety information. For technical assistance,to request an SDS, or to report suspected adverse events horse from a cool climate to a hot one. Itscondition and confine them (or dont pro-call 1-877-217-3543. For additional information aboutmuch harder for the horse to adjust. vide them with a windbreak) or haul them adverse event reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA atIn addition to the heat and insects, hefrom one climate to another that they 1-888-FDA-VETS, or http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary. says the horse must acclimate to othertend to struggle. Its up to us as respon-hRev 10/2016 changes, as well, such as different-tastingsible horse owners to help them adjust. 34November 2018The Horse|TheHorse.com'