Senneville Hunter Jumper Farm

03/02/2026

Diarrhea in adult horses can be life-threatening, so it is important for horse owners to know when to call their veterinarian.

03/02/2026

💊 It is Medicine Monday! And today we are going to cover, phenylbutazone (Bute) and firocoxib (Equioxx and Equicoxib), two common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or commonly referred to as the acronym NSAID’s. NSAID’s act by inhibiting a class of enzymes called cyclooxygenase (COX). COX enzymes are involved in the inflammatory process which are responsible for inflammation, pain and fever.

💊 What is the history of bute?
Believe it or not in the early 1950s, bute was actually a medication prescribed for humans with rheumatoid arthritis; however, due to the dangerous side effects and more effective less dangerous medications on the market phenylbutazone fell out of favor. Around the same time, veterinary medicine administered bute to treat lameness in horses due to it being affordable, easy to administer and minimal side effects.

💊 What is bute prescribed to treat?
Bute is prescribed for musculoskeletal pain and inflammation.

💊 What are the available formulations of bute?
Fortunately, bute is available as an oral tablet, paste and powder. And an intravenous formulation is available that must be administered carefully to avoid perivascular administration. Do NOT administer phenylbutazone intramuscularly due to the risk of clostridial myositis. Most commonly phenylbutazone as an oral formulation is dosed in grams. Bute IV is 200mg/mL. Bute has a 91% bioavailability when administered orally or IV. Dosage and frequency of administration may vary.

💊 What are the negative side effects of bute?
Bute has been shown to cause renal damage, gastrointestinal disease (stomach ulcers or right dorsal colitis), ulceration of the mouth and lowers total protein (TP). It should be avoided in neonates and minimized in pregnant mares.

💊 What is the history of firocoxib?
Firocoxib was first approved for small animal use in 2004. And in 2007, a paste and injectable formulation were approved for use in horses.

💊 What is firocoxib prescribed to treat?
Firocoxib is prescribed to treat pain or inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. It is a COX-2 inhibitor.

💊 What are the available formulations of firocoxib?
Firocoxib is commonly available as an oral tablet and liquid. It is administered once a day for up to 14 days. It is available as a 57mg tablet or 9mg/mL as a liquid. In some cases, a loading dose may be administered to increase serum levels of firocoxib. Firocoxib has a 70% bioavailability when administered orally.

💊 What are the negative side effects of firocoxib?
In general, firocoxib is more well tolerated than bute for some patients. Firocoxib has a decrease incidence of causing gastrointestinal disease; however, like with most NSAID’s firocoxib can cause right dorsal colitis. Other side effects include renal damage and sores/ulcers of the mouth, tongue and lips.

🩺 We always recommend following your veterinarian’s directions regarding the administration of an NSAID. Always discuss with your veterinarian before administering an NSAID to foals, young horses, pregnant or lactating mares. And to follow the medication’s label for storage recommendations.

03/01/2026

11/15/2025

Trotting across the green expanse of the Dublin Horse Show Grand Prix field this August, Laura Kraut and Bisquetta—head up, ears pricked—seemed to know there was something on the wind.  Alan Wade’s towering Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin course had so-far decimated the starting list, with no shor...

11/12/2025

10/28/2025

10/23/2025

Say it louder!

10/21/2025

10/08/2025

🌿 𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 #2: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗼 🌿
Keeping your pastures — and your horses — safe from the plants we most often see causing trouble in North Florida.

🍃 𝗔 𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 🍃

Creeping indigo thrives almost all year in Florida’s sandy soils, but it’s often easiest to spot when grass thins out — along driveways, fencelines, or parking areas where it’s carried in on tires or equipment. 🚗

🐴 Horses can actually develop a taste for it and seek it out — but don’t panic, toxicity usually comes from repeated ingestion over time, not a single bite.

⚠️ Signs of chronic exposure can include:
• Weight loss
• Depression or dullness
• Eye discharge
• Neurologic changes

✅ Control tips:
Pulling it up often leaves roots behind. For long-term control, treat with GrazonNext® or another pasture-safe herbicide labeled for creeping indigo.
Recheck the area after treatment before turning horses back out.

If you’re unsure whether that plant creeping along your fenceline is the real thing, snap a photo and send it our way — we’re happy to help.

🌿 This is the second post in our 𝗧𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 — helping you spot the hidden pasture hazards we see most often in North Florida.
Catch up on last week’s post on 𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱, and stay tuned for 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 (𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘅) next week. 👀

09/17/2025

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Corticosteroid injections are one of the most reliable ways to manage joint inflammation and keep performance horses feeling their best. Different options are used depending on the joint, how it moves, and the demands of the horse’s workload.

Common corticosteroids:
*Methylprednisolone acetate – effective in joints that don’t have a lot of motion and provides longer relief
*Triamcinolone acetonide – often selected for high-motion joints where smooth movement matters
*Betamethasone – a balanced option that provides both quick and steady relief

Each steroid has its own strengths, and the right choice depends on the individual horse, the specific joint, and long-term soundness goals. What matters is not just reducing soreness but helping joints stay comfortable under the stress of training and competition.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐗 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
xxvets.com ◦ (940) 514-9500