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Expert
Posts: 1611
  
| I have already asked two different vets one of which is researching and getting back to me. The other I haven't heard from yet but he is helping write the current studies going on with the drug...
What goes on with the white blood cell count?
If no osteoclasts are present is it a bad thing long term? I know it decreases "bone turnover" which would be a problem in young horses but we've never used it in anything younger than 10 yrs so far.
If you read the drug insert the part that scares of and has me wondering is: " Increased bone fragility has been observed in animals treated with bisphosphonates at high doses or for long periods of time. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and decrease bone turnover which may lead to an inability to repair microdamage within the bone. In humans, atypical femur fractures have been reported in patients on long term bisphosphonate therapy; however, a causal relationship has not been established."
Anyone asked these questions yet and got answers? The reps do not have answers I've called.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | I have some of the same concerns you just expressed and have discussed them with 2 different vets with pretty much the same response.....shoulder shrugs...I guess a person will have to decide if the risk outweights the potential to have a sound horse. Just an FYi, studies also show that Omeprazole causes bone fragilty. I think all treatments have the possibility of negagtive side effetcs. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| ampratt - 2015-07-08 1:45 PM
I have some of the same concerns you just expressed and have discussed them with 2 different vets with pretty much the same response.....shoulder shrugs...I guess a person will have to decide if the risk outweights the potential to have a sound horse. Just an FYi, studies also show that Omeprazole causes bone fragilty. I think all treatments have the possibility of negagtive side effetcs.
Thanks for responding!
Yes I know everything has neg side affects but this Osphos has seriously been a miracle drug for an older gelding. We will be keeping him on it every 6 months on the dot. But he has had a broke leg in the past, so i'm concerned a bit. I'm just concerned that when he's hopefully 30 or so hobbling around in retirement that we don't regret giving this drug.
BTW this is a new drug for most vets and only the ones currently involved in performing studies on it will have the info. Josh Harvey at Outlaw equine is one that may be able to answer questions. I'll report when I hear something!
Edited by astreakinchic 2015-07-08 1:13 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | astreakinchic - 2015-07-08 1:11 PM
ampratt - 2015-07-08 1:45 PM
I have some of the same concerns you just expressed and have discussed them with 2 different vets with pretty much the same response.....shoulder shrugs...I guess a person will have to decide if the risk outweights the potential to have a sound horse. Just an FYi, studies also show that Omeprazole causes bone fragilty. I think all treatments have the possibility of negagtive side effetcs.
Thanks for responding!
Yes I know everything has neg side affects but this Osphos has seriously been a miracle drug for an older gelding. We will be keeping him on it every 6 months on the dot. But he has had a broke leg in the past, so i'm concerned a bit. I'm just concerned that when he's hopefully 30 or so hobbling around in retirement that we don't regret giving this drug.
BTW this is a new drug for most vets and only the ones currently involved in performing studies on it will have the info. Josh Harvey at Outlaw equine is one that may be able to answer questions. I'll report when I hear something!
I have given both Tildren and Osphos to my geldiing who otherwise would have no career or probable pain free life. I am like you, he will continue to get the treatment and I can only hope it will not have any serious side effects. I can definitely see your concerns regarding your horse and if he reaches 30 or so I think you will have done the best by him. BTW, my much younger niece used to work for Dr. Harvey. He published an article on Osphos a while back that I found to be an interesting read. Please do report back what you learn. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Yea Josh was who got us using it LOL
He's busy busy but I'll report back when he does! |
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 Night Watchman
Posts: 5516
Location: Central Montana | I have the same concerns. Obviously the drug isn't going to pick and choose which bones in which parts of the body is is going to affect, it will be all of them.
The horse I used it on is 9, he has severe navicular. He was owned and started at 2 as a reining futurity prospect by one of the top 15 trainers. I'm guessing he was in heavy training as a 2 and 3 year old due to the fact that is when his papers show he was sold. I don't know the whole story behind him, probably never will, I don't know when his issues first started. He was 7 when I bought him.
I have given two doses of it. It took about 30 days to see much improvement, between day 40-65 or so I saw them most, then it started to go back downhill again. IMO it is very expensive for the amount of time that it is most effective. There is a chance mine won't make it to old age but the comparision between the Osphos and coffin joint/navicular bursa injections........the injections are pretty immediate, seeing great results in a few days and lasting up to a few months. The Osphos takes a long time to work and doesn't work very long. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| GoinJettin - 2015-07-08 2:27 PM
I have the same concerns. Obviously the drug isn't going to pick and choose which bones in which parts of the body is is going to affect, it will be all of them.
The horse I used it on is 9, he has severe navicular. He was owned and started at 2 as a reining futurity prospect by one of the top 15 trainers. I'm guessing he was in heavy training as a 2 and 3 year old due to the fact that is when his papers show he was sold. I don't know the whole story behind him, probably never will, I don't know when his issues first started. He was 7 when I bought him.
I have given two doses of it. It took about 30 days to see much improvement, between day 40-65 or so I saw them most, then it started to go back downhill again. IMO it is very expensive for the amount of time that it is most effective. There is a chance mine won't make it to old age but the comparision between the Osphos and coffin joint/navicular bursa injections........the injections are pretty immediate, seeing great results in a few days and lasting up to a few months. The Osphos takes a long time to work and doesn't work very long.
We are on day 80 some? and still see results but he's about new for the next shot. Another thing that was pointed out is be aware that if they get her this could "mask" pain depending on when you time the shot. I was advised to take him for a maintenance visit at the end of the 6 months for a check up. The price tho is very reasonable in my opinion for the time amount it works. Much cheaper than legend! (I know legend is not the same but its what we were giving him before) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | GoinJettin - 2015-07-08 1:27 PM
I have the same concerns. Obviously the drug isn't going to pick and choose which bones in which parts of the body is is going to affect, it will be all of them.
The horse I used it on is 9, he has severe navicular. He was owned and started at 2 as a reining futurity prospect by one of the top 15 trainers. I'm guessing he was in heavy training as a 2 and 3 year old due to the fact that is when his papers show he was sold. I don't know the whole story behind him, probably never will, I don't know when his issues first started. He was 7 when I bought him.
I have given two doses of it. It took about 30 days to see much improvement, between day 40-65 or so I saw them most, then it started to go back downhill again. IMO it is very expensive for the amount of time that it is most effective. There is a chance mine won't make it to old age but the comparision between the Osphos and coffin joint/navicular bursa injections........the injections are pretty immediate, seeing great results in a few days and lasting up to a few months. The Osphos takes a long time to work and doesn't work very long.
Each horse can respond differently. Some only need the treatment once, some need maintenance treatments, in which the timeframes can vary. I have gone as long as a year and a half between treatments. I have learned for my guy to get the treatment done before he gets sore so there is no down time. Some just do not respond as well as others. In the beginning I opted for the coffin joint injections, did 2 before I realized they weren't very effective for my horse. It's kind of a hit and miss trying to decide which works better for your horse for sure. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Thanks for the info... Please update if you know anything |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| I was going to update back.
Basically there is not enough research to know the affects down the road. But I did find out you can give it with no down time in-between treatments meaning giving Osphos before the length of it working quits so that your "over lapping" into the two month period before the new shot you just gave begins to work. CBCs and Chem panels have stayed normal in all horses in their study.
To sum it up the jury is still out on how it affects aged horses on down the road and both vets I spoke with said they would only have reservations giving it to something younger than 5 yrs old because it will affect "bone turnover" which can really impair the growth process. |
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