Some people say to give equioxx 3 days out from the show with the 3 pills the first day and then 1 the following. Others say to give the loading dose a week before a show and one pill each day after. I'm runnign saturday so would it even make a difference if I started it today?

Each horse responds diffeently BUT..... all my horses get first dose 2 days before but only a single dose , not double or triple. So mine get one thursday, one friday for a weekend race. And every day on the weekend etc. But mine are sound and have no real issues. I give them for general soreness, hope that helps! 

Why do you feel your horse needs Equioxx?

I asked for it in case he has any general aches or pains.

the loading doese of 3 pills the first day is a generally accepted recommendation.  

I had heard a 3 day loading dose back when the horse version first came out, no vet had ever suggested it. I called the company and they had never heard such a thing and said never give more than one pill in a 24 hour period. So the 3 pill is an off label suggestion, not recommended by the makers. But everyone is always doing off label things anyway so to each their own I guess. The 3 vets I have gotten it from just say start giving 3-4 days before I run is all. 

My guess is, its approved by the FDA for 1 dose a day. You can call all you want to the company and that will be their only recommendation because thats what its approved and licensed for. YOur vet would be the one to tell you to use it that way. 

I had other questions when I called them, it was one of many. My vets also won't recommend giving it more than the 14 days as they've had a few cases of toxicity with horses on it longer term. Plus with mine at least ulcers are an issue, 4-5 days on Equioxx & the old Previcox without giving omeprazole with it and I'm stuck with heavy bleeding ulcers on them. With bute I deal with them within 24 hours so at least the Equioxx provides me a few extra days. It's not as bad with their Gastro-Plex daily, but they'll still get them. I usually just end up doing bute with omeprazole for the cost factor & it does the job just the same. If I run the same horse next year we're going to try to injectable option and try to save his gut, he's the worst of them all. 

Yep, I had one horse on previcox daily for 2 years and sure enough it caused him to need to be put down, but I was trying to just make him comfortable anyway so it was time. I find bute makes mine hard in the face for some reason. Makes their mouth numb. I only use the previcox/equioxx for 2-3 days at a time anyway. 

BI actually does recommend to do the 3 pill loading dose now. I was at a meeting and it was recommended (By a BI veterinarian) after veterinarians continually gave feedback that the medication doesnt work. So they recommended, (veterinarians at this CE I was at) to try the 3 pill loading dose if you aren't seeing any results with equioxx. 

But I agree, talk to your vet about your horse in particular and get his or her educated opinion.  

And in regards to off label usage of medications, I would bet that 95% of horse owners are giving medications off label in some form or fashion. 

Also giving an NSAID as an injection will still affect the stomach the same way as giving it orally. 

Equioxx has less of a side effect for ulcers than bute, but of course, it can still absolutely cause them!

I think folks forget about that sometimes.

I went ahead and gave him the loading dose yesterday, so he will be on it for 4 days if you count the day of the show. I read some articles and some people think it does indeed kick in by 3 days. I never did the loading dose so I will see if there is a change. Next time I will do a week before and compare. In the end I don't think anyone is wrong, I didn't take into account that different horses will probably react differently. 

Do you just give 3 pills the first day only then one pill a day after?  I was always told 2 pills a day for 3 days then 1 pill a day after???