A kind reader wrote to me suggesting that I might have some success with Mama Tess by using Liquid CoQ10.
Here were her words:
This past time a FB friend did a little research and sent me a link that was interesting…I have attached an excerpt of that article for you here, along with the link.
It recommended trying CoQ10enzyme…which I just happen to take myself. I buy mine at Costco in the liquid form and I believe the bottle is 60 days (for a human) worth for around $30. So…I thought, “heck, I have some of that here, I’ll just take a bottle outside and give him the same dose I take”….well, the results were almost immediate and what I would call miraculous.
Hmmmmmm. A message from an angel? Or too good to be true?
So, I started doing research on this. And, it ends up that there is no official research. But, there is a lot of speculation and opinion. Does it help laminitis, or doesn’t it? Does it really help with hoof circulation?
WHAT IS Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)?
In short, it is an antioxident that goes after free radicals. They say it really helps with circulatory health and vascular areas in humans and animals … which would greatly help MT – if it worked.
Here is the definition from a medical website:
What is CoQ10? Coenzyme Q10:
A compound needed for the proper functioning of an enzyme, a protein that speeds up the rate at which chemical reactions take place in the body. Coenzyme Q10 is used to produce energy to fuel cell growth and maintenance. Coenzyme Q10 is thought to improve the function of mitochondria, the “powerhouses” that produce energy in cells. Coenzyme Q10 is also an antioxidant, a substance that protects cells from highly reactive chemicals called free radicals that can damage cells and their DNA. The highest amounts of coenzyme Q10 are in the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas and the lowest amounts are in the lungs. The levels of coenzyme Q10 normally decline with age.
COQ10 AND HORSES.
It is said that CoQ10 helps with laminitis… because it attaches to free radicals and directly supports the vascular systems and circulatory systems (link to original article).
Laminitis is a classic example of free-radical damage. High levels of anti-oxidants are needed until this process is reversed, then lower maintenance levels can be used. Using low doses of antioxidants over time is like trying to put out a forest fire using a garden hose. Over the counter, combination antioxidant products rarely have enough of any one ingredient to reverse free-radical pathology.
Coenzyme Q10 is very valuable in reversing free radical damage. The therapeutic dose is 300-600mg per day for the first week or two, then the dose can be decreased slowly to a maintenance of about 100 mg per day. Coenzyme Q 10 clinically seems to be one of the best antioxidants for use in the horse, and in laminitis cases can be so effective that the horses become more comfortable rapidly. Co Q 10 is most effective in laminitis cases when non-steroidal anti inflammatories such as phenylbutazone (NSAIDs) are not used. However, in many cases the owner is using the NSAIDs because the horse is at home and the attending veterinarian prescribes them. Co Q 10 can be used with the NSAIDs but the results are not visible clinically.
MT has quite a bit of damage to the circulatory systems in her feet.
Click to go to website
OPINION out there on the Internet… varies widely.
There was so much back and forth on CoQ10 enzyme for laminitic horses that my mind started spinning. Some said it was ‘a miracle’! Others said they found no results. Some said use liquid, others said to never use liquid… it went on and on. There was no absolute.
However, there was enough positive feedback, that I thought I would try it on myself. If I felt better, then I’d try it with MT. I feel this supplement falls under the category, “couldn’t hurt, could help.”
Caution: Most articles did say to not use it with NSAIDs. They didn’t say adverse effects… only to say ‘ineffective’.
CONCLUSION
My conclusion was that I’d try it on myself. By that time, Tess will be off of her NSAIDs. If I felt that it helped me, I’d try it on her. Since the results are supposed to be very fast, I would know quickly.
Costco has it on sale!
HAS ANYONE TRIED THIS ON THEIR LAMINITIC HORSE? Please let me know!
Suggest stopping butte 5-10 days prior to commencing COq10 therapy. Otherwise, clinician will have more difficulty in observing new therapy results, as butte may confuse asymptomatic changes. I cannot envision any chemical interference. Have used both Nsaids (phenylbutazone relatives) and co enzyme q 10 on myself. COq10 for 3 years with no observable changes and Nsaids for 35 years. Going to commence use of COq10 on pre-laminitic senior horse with EMS and Cushings just starting to “Rear Their Ugly Heads!”
Suggest stopping butte 5-10 days prior to commencing COq10 therapy. Otherwise, clinician will have more difficulty in observing new therapy results as butte may confuse asymptomatic changes. I cannot envision any chemical interference.
Keep us updated!
The way you dose the CoQ10 from the human bottle at Costco is 4 T for the 600mg dose.
Bottle says 200mg =4 teaspoon? Right?
400mg= 8 t
600mg =12 t Divided by a Tablespoon
Which is 3 teaspoons?
3 into 12 is 4 T
I just gave the first dose to my 13 year old Frisian Sports horse which I took off bute against the podiatrist DVM’s order’s 8 days ago, and have experienced horrible crippling increasing, much more and he is laying down a lot. SCARY!I did start him on Prevacox 1/4 of a tablet meant for a 50 Lb dog… weird that horses are that sensitive to it, and have not noticed it helping him, he has seemed much worse. I did five days ago start him on MSM and Smartpak Smart and Simple Vit C as well. I had been hearing so much about CoQ10 and have been so worried about his worsening condition after I stopped bute. Tomorrow the Drs at Rood and Riddle are doing a venogram and changing him out of the wedgeUltimate shoes after six weeks. We had a rotation of 3-4 on last X-rays, done 6-26.
I do not understand the conversion on the bottle of CoQ10. It says 2tsp/20ml and that is not scientifically accurate. How much of the liquid in ml for a 1,000lb horse? If it is 300mg-600mg at the onset, that would be almost the entire bottle!!! Help! Thanks!
Starting Nano Q-10 today on my mare that had steroid induced laminitis. She is now off all NSAID so I will
Begin gone Q-10
I have a minature horse vets wanted to pts rotated pedal bone lamiitis , I stop the vet drugs started her on human coq10 as well as rolled oats black sunflower seeds chia seeds , light honey chop fast fibre , she is now bearing weight and flirting with the gelding , before she couldn’t move or stand on back legs and rspca got called gave bute made her sicker , so try anything , , vets don’t know everything , also nettles dried are good antioxidents as much as u can get
I have a gelding that has laminitis for the second time, and this time is worse. I have him on Co-Q10 but have not taken him off of the bute. In statements above, it says “Co Q 10 can be used with the NSAIDs but the results are not visible clinically”. What does this mean? Is it not effective? Is there an issue with the NSAIDs and the Co-Q10 being fed together?? Also, we are ending week 2 of 600 mg per day. Does anyone have the suggested reduction the daily mg.? Is there a maintenance dose?
Yes, try Human grade! My article was about human grade. Also, get Softride boots!
I find it really difficult to find COq10 for horses here in Greece. Can i try the ones sold for humans?
My horse has a chronic laminitis and it is not going well! Please help me!
I’m sorry but I don’t know the answer… My guess is to be gradual with the NSIDs, but ask the vet.
How long should the horse be off the NSIDS before starting CoQ10? Could I just start it and quit the NSIDs the same day?
Yes I used it several years ago on a mare had, the results were astonishing. I would encourage anyone to try it.
I had the chance to try the Liquid Co Q 10 from Costco on my mule with an acute attack of Laminitis. I used it at 600mg, which was the top of the range recommended in the original literature. It did make a huge difference in her comfort level. I first started with some pills I got from Walmart, but they were not nearly as effective as the liquid. It works rather quickly, the next day she was much more comfortable, and I will continue this level for a couple of weeks, then see where we are at.
Have you tried the COQ10 on MT? I’m starting it on my mare which has chronic laminitis but has also recently presented with neurological problems.