The topic of medication in horses encompasses the study and application of pharmaceutical substances used to treat, manage, or prevent diseases and conditions in equine patients. This field involves understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of various drugs, including their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in horses. Medications commonly administered to horses include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, anthelmintics, and sedatives. The appropriate use of these medications is critical for ensuring therapeutic efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. Research in this area focuses on dosage optimization, drug interactions, resistance development, and withdrawal times to ensure both the health of the horse and compliance with regulatory standards. This page aggregates peer-reviewed studies and scholarly articles that explore the pharmacological aspects, clinical applications, and regulatory considerations of equine medications.
Karawya MS, El-Keiy MA, Wahba SK, Kozman AR.A chromatographic separation of amphetamine, methylamphetamine and ephedrine from horse urine is possible on alkaline Silica Gel G plates developed with acetone-methanol (1:3). After elution, the bases are determined colorimetrically. The intensity of the violet colour resulting from the nitration of amphetamine is measured in a Unicam SP1300 colorimeter using filter No. 1 (sensitivity 50–250 μg). The colour produced by the interaction of methylamphetamine, sodium nitro-prusside, acetaldehyde and triethanolamine is measured at 590 mμ (sensitivity 200–2,000 μg). Ephedrine was determined ...
Song Y, Day CM, Afinjuomo F, Tan JE, Page SW, Garg S.While the global market for veterinary products has been expanding rapidly, there is still a lack of specialist knowledge of equine pharmaceutics. In many cases, the basic structure of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and integumentary system of the horse shares similarities with those of humans. Generally, the dosage form developed for humans can be repurposed to deliver equine medications; however, due to physiological variation, the therapeutic outcomes can be unpredictable. This is an area that requires more research, as there is a clear deficiency in literature precedence on drug delivery...
Tnibar A.Recent clinical and experimental trials have demonstrated that intra-articular 2.5% Polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) is highly effective (82.5% free of lameness horses at 2 year follow-up), lasting and safe for the treatment of equine osteoarthritis (OA). Over the last decade, intra-articular 2.5% PAAG has shown to be a potent and promising drug in the medication of OA in horses, as no other single medical treatment for OA has such prolonged efficacy. Most of these studies were presenting some limitations. Preliminary observations on the mechanisms of action of intra-articular 2.5% PAAG support ...
Honnas CM, Schumacher J, Cohen ND, Watkins JP, Taylor TS.The medical records of 25 horses with septic tenosynovitis treated over 7 years (1983 to 1989) were reviewed to determine clinical features of the disease and response to treatment. The median age of horses with septic tenosynovitis was 5 years (range, 1 month to 21 years). Fourteen fore limbs and 11 hind limbs were affected. Sepsis was located in the sheath of the digital flexor tendons of 22 horses. Sepsis was located in the sheath of the extensor carpi radialis tendon (1 horse), sheath of the long digital extensor tendon (1 horse), or sheath of the common digital extensor tendon (1 horse) i...
Ortved KF, Goodale MB, Ober C, Maylin GA, Fortier LA.Orthobiologics such as autologous conditioned serum (ACS) are often used to treat joint disease in horses. Because ACS is generated from the horse's own blood, any medication administered at the time of preparation would likely be present in stored ACS, which could lead to an inadvertent positive drug test following intra-articular (IA) injection. The main objective of this study was to determine if ACS prepared from firocoxib positive horses could result in detectable plasma concentrations of the drug following IA injection. Firocoxib was administered to six horses at 0.1mg/kg PO twice at a 2...
Alvarado TD, Mariezcurrena Berasain MD, Salem AZM, Pinzón Martínez DL.Functional biocompounds beneficial for animals and humans are in Mexican folk herbs. Cuphea and Eryngium species presented antimicrobial potential. Natural antibiotic uses by ethnoveterinary research with medicinal plants in equine infection or digestive diseases need more scientific evidence. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis are etiological agents in horses responsible for stable infections, abortions, fetal or perinatal deaths, and resistant intrahospital infections. The main objective of the present research was to evaluate the potential of a...
Velasco-Murillo V.It exists controversies about if the effects and benefits of the esterified estrogens could be similar to those informed for equines, because its chemical composition and bioavailability are different. Esterified estrogens has not delta 8,9 dehydroestrone, and its absorption and level of maximum plasmatic concentrations are reached very fast. In United States of America and another countries, esterified estrogens has been marketed and using for treatment of climacteric syndrome and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis, based on the pharmacopoiea of that country, but the Food and Drug admi...
Collins CW, Monfort SL, Vick MM, Wolfe BA, Weiss RB, Keefer CL, Songsasen N.To date, there has been limited research on manipulation of the estrous cycle in endangered equids. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy of using combinations of: (a) oral altrenogest and PGF2α, and (b) injectable altrenogest and PGF2α for manipulation of ovarian activity in Przewalski's mares. Reproductive cycles were monitored by assessing follicular changes with rectal ultrasound and changes in urinary steroid hormones. In Study 1, five cycling mares were treated with oral altrenogest (n=11 cycles) for 14 days. In Study 2, cycling mares were treated with oral altrenoge...
Pascoe RR.Twelve medicaments were tested for their efficacy in the treatment of Trichophyton equinum var. autotrophicum; povidone iodine, thiabendazole ointment, captan ointment and Burroughs Wellcome Ringworm Ointment gave satisfactory results but their usefulness may be limited for treatment of large numbers of horses. Aqueous washes containing 0.5% hexetidine or 0.3% chloramine-T did not prevent fungi being isolated from lesions for up to 7 days after treatment. Similarly neither etisazole nor thiabendazole suspension prevented fungi from being isolated from lesions for up to 15 days after treatment....
Karns PA, Luther DG.In a survey of 13 Louisiana equine practices, it was determined that 366 of 3,316 horses developed adverse reactions following use of ivermectin, with 3 of the horses having more than 1 reaction. Almost all of the reactions were of minor to moderate concern; however, 1 death was reported. Three hundred and thirty-two (91% of all reactions) were reported as ventral midline pruritus or edema (10% of all doses). Fifteen (0.45%) were transient injection site swelling and/or stiffness. Eleven horses (0.33%) developed limb edema. Eyelid edema was reported in 4 horses (0.12%). Two horses (0.06%) had ...
Di Cesare F, Negro V, Ravasio G, Villa R, Draghi S, Cagnardi P.Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug, which presents an established clinical efficacy in human patients for the management of refractory partial seizures, secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and for the control of chronic neuropathic pain. Gabapentin was synthesized as a structural analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, with GABA-mimetic effects, able to cross the blood-brain barrier. In veterinary medicine, is extra-label used in combination with other treatments to control seizures when other drugs are no longer effective or become toxic or for neuropathic pain treatmen...
Vörös K, Felkai C, Szilágyi Z, Papp A.Two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) examination was performed on a horse with clinical signs of pericardial effusion. Thickening of the pericardium, excess amount of pericardial fluid, elevation of the cardiac apex, and right ventricular compression, characteristic of cardiac tamponade, could be seen on 2DE recordings. Fibrinous pericarditis was suspected by observation of fibrinous strands in the pericardial fluid and epicardial fibrin deposits. Echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis was performed, and 4 L of fluid was removed from the pericardial sac. Streptococcus zooepidemicus...
Muñoz MC, Doreste F, Ferrer O, González J, Montoya JA.A 16-year-old, male, Hanoverian horse had a three-month history of weight loss, hirsutism and polyuria/polydypsia. Examinations revealed neutrophilia, lymphopenia, hyper glycaemia and abnormalities in hepatic function. A tentative diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was made. The results of thyroid-releasing hormone and combined dexamethasone suppression and ACTH stimulation tests suggested the presence of a pituitary adenoma. The horse was treated with pergolide and beneficial clinical and biochemical responses were observed within one to six months.
