Useful Information About Pain Relief For Horses

By Marie Moore


Horses like people and many other animals also sustain injuries and experience pain. There is also a wide range of medical conditions that can cause horses to experience pain in various parts of their bodies, especially bones and joints. Over the course of years, veterinarians have been able to undertake research to determine which of the many painkillers in the market are the most effective for pain relief for horses.

There are a number of medications that have been developed to manage pain in horses and some will be discussed in this article. The most common pain management options include opioids, NSAIDs, ketamine and a- 2 Agonists. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the ones commonly abbreviated as NSAIDs. For a long time these drugs have been used to support horsey numbness. Phenylbutazone and fluxin meglumine are the two main drugs under this category of drugs.

These two drugs have been used to successfully treat various numbness conditions. They are mainly used to treat diseases such as ocular, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal pains. Other drugs categorized under NSAIDs include carprofen and ketoprofen. These two drugs are however not commonly used by veterinarians.

Composition of chemicals in each drug categorized under NSAIDs is unique even though they are categorized in one group. These means that levels at which toxicity is caused are different in each drug. Generally, medication overdose in equines is the main cause of toxicity. Kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and livers are usually affected by toxicity. Equines that are very young appear to be at the highest risk of being affected by toxicity.

Laboratory studies and clinical use indicate that a-2 agonists are probably the most effective systemically used analgesics. However, they are usually not the first choice that comes to the mind of veterinarians because they produce various side effects. Some of the side effects that thee drugs produce include drowsiness, ataxia, gastrointestinal stasis, and hyperglycemia among many others. The a-2 agonists are typically used by veterinarians to sedate equines before performing standing procedures.

Before a horse is put under general anesthesia, they are usually given a-2 agonists. This drug has also been established as an effective pain control method for horses that show signs of colic. There has been a new introduction in the sedation market and that is the detomidine formulation. The formulation can be used to produce sedation that is able to put a horse under sedation for around 2 hours.

Ketamine is also a good option for treating pain in equines. It has been suggested by researchers for the prevention of upregulation. Even though there is no adequate evidence at the moment regarding how efficient ketamine is in preventing upregulation in equines, evidence from human patients exist. A recent research in dogs and humans indicate that small doses of ketamine prevent wind up.

When used in small doses, ketamine is also effective in relieving chronic pain. This drug is renowned for its effectiveness in areas where other drugs have proved ineffective. There is still ongoing research in the area of pain relief in horses and it is speculated the better treatment options will be discovered.




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