Tuesday, March 29, 2016

What You Should Know About Equine Pain Relief & Anti-inflammatory Remedies

By Anthony Johnson


There is a wide range of different remedies that are available for horses. There is a lot of choice when it comes to choosing equine pain relief & anti-inflammatory products.

The different remedies that are available include anti-inflammatory and agonist remedies. A lot of research has been conducted over recent years and most of this has been conducted by veterinary professionals. The veterinary professionals are in a good place to do this research as they have experience using a number of different pain remedies and can identify the ones that work the best.

In 2011 there was a presentation delivered at the University of Colorado State in Las Vegas. The presentation was given at the Western Veterinary Conference and involved a vast discussion regarding the different types of pain relief which are available for horses.

For many years the non-steroid anti-inflammatory remedies have been the main painkiller for horses. The most common drugs that are used in these remedies are phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumie. These remedies are been used successfully for many years by veterinary professionals as a method of treating gastrointestinal pain, musculoskeletal pain and eye pain. Some veterinary professionals also make use of ketoprofen and carprofen which both fall into this category for drugs.

Some of the research that has been carried out recently shows that topically administered non steroid drugs can be used for treating localised pain and inflammation without nay side effects. Seventy four per cent of horses which were treated with this medication have had a significant increase in mobility and a decrease in the level of lameness.

It is common practice for drugs to be clumped together into groups, however all drugs are different. All drugs are produced using a unique composition of chemicals there no drugs are the same even although they may be in the same group. Each drug will have a certain level at which it becomes toxic. Toxicity tends to happen when a horse is administered too much medication or it is given over a long period of time, when not suitable for long term use. Toxicity can lead to a range of problems including live damage, kidney damage and damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Patients who are undergoing neonatal care are more susceptible to the side effects.

Another classification that is used for drugs is opioids and this will may not necessary have any analgesic effect on horses. There is mixed reviews about whether or not these drugs are actually effective. These drugs are often used by veterinary professionals as way to sedate the horse, which can make it easier to work around there legs especially the hind legs, as it reduces the risk of being kicked.

There is some research which shows that these can be used as short terms painkillers but they are not a long term answer. If these drugs are used for a prolonged amount of time they can lead to problems such as gastrointestinal stasis and arousal. These drugs have been found to be more effective when they are administered epidurally. When administrated epidurally these drugs will start to work after about twenty minutes.




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