[Kiwayu]

My vet was just out for spring shots and to give Kiwi his monthly Legend shot. He's 24 this June and his arthritis is definitely getting worse. I mentioned trying Adequan with his Legend and the vet said "don't bother try Pentosan". It's MUCH cheaper, and the 50ml bottle will last me 3 months including the the first month's loading dose. The bottle cost me $230.

Anyone ever use the stuff??? I haven't given Kiwi his first injection yet, but will tomorrow.

Here's some info: http://www.horsemedsonline.com/pento...00ml-p-59.html

[marta]

i searched the web (and these forums) and found only one online pharmacy that sold it in the US and it was at some ridiculous price.
$230 for a 3 month supply including a loading dose is frickin' awesome (providing it works ). please keep us updated on how it's working for kiwi. i'm going to re-visit this as an option with my vet again.

[marta]

found it here:
http://www.horsemedsonline.com/pento...-6ml-p-80.html
at $70/vial (one dose for an average horse).
they suggest 4 injections at 5-7 day intervals. which apparently is intended to last 6 months. then it says if during the 6 months the horse becomes sore to administer another dose.

what were your vet's directions for the use of this product?

[Fharoah]

I have been told it works better than adequan but have never used it.

[Kiwayu]

My vet's directions were 1-6ml dose every week for a month, then 1-6ml dose every two weeks. I paid $230 for the 50ml bottle from my vet (no scripts, etc.). If you do the calculations, the bottle will last me 3 months at that dosage. My horse just got his spring shots & legend Wednesday so I was waiting to start the Pentosan until after a few days god forbid any reactions. I think I might start tomorrow (Saturday) when I'm around all day to watch him. I don't for see any issues, but you never know.

My vet claims it's highly used in other countries. I think my vet said Australia, but I don't remember.

[DMK]

last I checked "pentosan" was hard to find in the US - I'm betting the cheaper versions are compounded versions (sort of like injectable robaxin isn't made anymore, but pharmacy compounded robaxin is)

[t. nason]

Wedgewood think I pay $100 for 50 ml bottle.

[TheOrangeOne]

I have used it before, and didn't see any effects from it. Adequan was not helping either in this case, though. I'm sorry I don't have any better input, but I know it's not a common thing to use. It's more popular abroad, especially in Australia and New Zealand. I don't know that it's necessarily any better than Adequan, and I think they are pretty similar in how they work, but I think that on a horse who adequan is not helping, pentosan very well might. If it is cheaper than adequan, then I would for sure go with it.

[GotSpots]

Our sport horse vets (USET caliber eventing vets) are encouraging it as a maintenance in place of regular adequan. Much cheaper (at least in the states). I've seen very good effects with its use on one of the older guys with high mileage; will be switching one of mine over to it once we finish off the latest round of adequan.

[pharmgirl]

Have not used it myself yet, but I hear that a certain top notch lameness clinic is recommending it (also saying much more effective than Adequan or Legend, even).

It is not currently approved in the US for arthritis in animals, but is approved for OA in dogs and horses in Australia.

FYI- it apparently can inhibit clotting, so I would be careful using it on anything that is on a blood thinner of any kind, etc.

[Frizzle]

Yes, I used it last year on my 23 year old TB gelding. He had his front coffin joints injected, was started on Conquer HA gel, and had a round of Pentosan injections all at once (one IM shot per week for 4 weeks). Of course, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what made the difference, but he was noticeably better and more comfortable. He still wasn't 100%, so we started him on Equioxx and had an appointment scheduled for X-rays of his front feet. Unfortunately, he died of a (completely unrelated) torsion colic before we could get everything straightened out. But I do feel that the Pentosan helped, and it's certainly cheaper than Adequan.

[asterix]

I assume GotSpots and pharmgirl are talking about the same clinic, which has me trying Pentosan for my big coming-15 year old who has arthritic hocks (and I wouldn't be surprised if there are other areas we haven't managed to pinpoint yet).

I got a 250 ml bottle to give 1xwk for 5 weeks to start with; from Wedgewood, and I think it was something like 170 bucks (I paid for it along with a bunch of other things so I am not exactly sure, but definitely a good bit cheaper than adequan).

My guy just got his second shot. All I can say is that about halfway through the week after his first shot he began to feel quite seriously good under saddle -- not just by my reckoning, but his own, judging from the exuberant sets we did this morning. This horse wears his feelings on his sleeve, as it were; he is feeling GOOD right now.

We'll see how the 5 weeks go.

[pharmgirl]

Hey asterix- you may want to double check the dose for Piks. I think it might be 6mL and not 5mL...(you were doing 5, right?)

[asterix]

I was, let me check...pretty sure they said 5 ml for 5 weeks, though...and I think we have 5ml syringes that they gave me....

[Kiwayu]

You guys are giving me some hope!!! I pray this stuff works. I find my horse doesn't lay down as much as he used to (he has an in/out stall attached to his paddock), and sometimes has trouble bending his knees to roll and flex for the farrier. His joints went down hill after his 4th bout of Lyme. I tried injecting his knees last fall, but 5 days after his injections he had a 1+ MONTH long colic/virus/ulcer battle. I don't know if it were just bad timing or the injections stressed the crap out of him, but I'm afraid to inject him again despite having good results.

[IfWishesWereHorses]

Ive used it a lot, as do many many horse owners down here in Nz. It is a very popular jab ;-)

It is also HUGE in the doggy industry. My vet goes through a truckload of it on arthritic older dogs etc.

Very very very good product.

[pharmgirl]

I was, let me check...pretty sure they said 5 ml for 5 weeks, though...and I think we have 5ml syringes that they gave me....

I think they are actually 6cc (can't remember the last time I saw a 5cc syringe ).

Just letting you know b/c the dosing according to the label where it is approved is 6cc at that concentration. But, they might think that 5cc is enough. Based on the way he has been feeling, it sounds like Piks thinks it is .

IFWishes- thanks for the info. I like to hear the real accounts of use and people's opinions of a product where it has officially been approved for use.

[Kiwayu]

I gave my first shot this morning! Here's for hoping it works great on my 24 year old OTTB that raced until he was 7 years old!!!

[t. nason]

My vet has horse on 5cc

[baylady7]

folks- is Pentosan used off label? I cannot find it in any of the vet catalogs. My vet won't prescribe things off label.