Pharmaceuticals in equine medicine encompass a wide range of drugs and therapeutic agents used to treat various conditions in horses. These substances include analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, sedatives, and anthelmintics, among others. Each class of pharmaceuticals is designed to address specific health issues, such as pain management, infection control, or parasitic infestations. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these drugs can vary significantly between horses and other species, necessitating careful consideration of dosage and administration methods. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the development, efficacy, safety, and regulatory aspects of pharmaceuticals used in equine healthcare.
Loy J, Sornalingam K, Cawley A, Scrivener C, Keledjian J, Noble GK.Altrenogest is a synthetic progestogen widely used in equine reproductive management. Adverse effects to altrenogest have been reported in people with cutaneous exposure reported as the highest exposure pathway. Despite these reports, there has been no quantitative research to determine the capacity for altrenogest to be absorbed through skin. This study aimed to determine if cutaneous application of oral altrenogest results in systemic absorption in mares and to evaluate the influence of application site. A randomized, two-period, two-treatment crossover study was undertaken in eight mares. M...
Merle R, Feuer L, Frenzer K, Plenio JL, Bethe A, Sarnino N, Lübke-Becker A, Bäumer W.: A mandatory monitoring of the use of antibiotics in horses in the European Union will come into force from 2027 on. The aim of the study was to explore the potential implementation of a monitoring system and to provide an overview of antibiotic use in horses in Germany. : Data on all consultations from 57 German practices between 2018 and 2023 were obtained. The dataset included basic data about the horse, free-text diagnoses (allocated to one of 20 categories), and treatments. Information on the administered or dispensed pharmaceutical product was recorded for antibiotic treatment consultat...
Morgan JM, Gentille SR, Goyette FD, Lehman ML, Boss AL, Cassano JM, Knych HK, White SD.To determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of the oral ectoparasiticide fluralaner at 10 and 25 mg/kg in healthy horses. Unassigned: 12 clinically healthy university-owned horses, 9 to 17 years of age, were administered a single oral dose of fluralaner at 10 or 25 mg/kg. Physical examinations, neurological examinations, plasma samples, hematology and biochemistry panels, and skin biopsies were collected throughout the 84-day trial period. Fluralaner concentrations were measured in plasma and skin by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetics were ev...
Kong FKW, Wong ASY, Cheung RKK, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.In order to control the potential misuse of perfluorocarbons as an oxygen carrier in equine sports, a simple and sensitive method for detecting perfluorocarbons in equine plasma by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization with methane as reagent gas has been developed and fully validated. The method covers seven perfluorocarbons, which are the active components in blood substitute products, and shows good sensitivity and robustness. Limits of detection as low as 0.01 ng/mL could be achieved by the method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first r...
Bethel M.EPM remains particularly rampant in racing populations due to transport stress, young age, and congregate housing conditions. For compounding pharmacists, understanding that we're managing chronic parasite suppression - not achieving cure - fundamentally changes our approach to formulation strategy, stability assessment, and client counseling. The two formulations presented separately represent years of refinement, demonstrating compounding's essential role when commercial products fall short.
Klingberg J, Richards S, Hochwallner T, Kennan L, Keledjian J.Bisphosphonate drugs and myo-inositol trispyrophosphate are of concern to the racing industry and have been listed as prohibited substances in equine sports. The current bisphosphonate plasma screening analysis employed at the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory involves the use of sequential solid-phase extraction procedures, passing the samples through a mixed mode cartridge, followed by a weak anion exchange cartridge. The eluates collected following the second extraction are then methylated and analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Under these extraction conditions, some b...
Shimizu Y, Sugai-Bannai M, Saito K, Hirano-Kodaira M, Leung GN.Somapacitan, a long-acting growth hormone derivative, and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) are protein-based drugs generally used to treat growth disorders and GH deficiency in humans. Due to their potential to enhance the horse performance, the use of these drugs is prohibited at-all-times by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities for horseracing and the Fédération Equestre Internationale for equestrian sports. In this study, we developed a test method for the identification and differentiation of somapacitan and rhGH in equine plasma by using liquid chromatography h...
Dorakumbura BN, Beckett NM, Cook EC, Nolan AD, Brown D, Douglas B.Positive identification and reporting of therapeutic substances intended for human consumption in race-day equine and canine samples is a controversial topic. While inadvertent environmental exposure is a potential cause for the presence of these substances in race-day samples, intentional use cannot be ruled out given their therapeutic benefits. Pregabalin is widely prescribed in Australia to treat epilepsy, anxiety, and neuropathic pain in humans; however, it is also increasingly used as a recreational drug. Metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes in humans. Both pregabalin and m...
Fernandes CM, Prestes AS, Ianiski LB, Maciel AF, Noro BG, da Silva FD, Vizzotto BS, Botton SA, Schumacher RF, Pereira DIB, Barbosa NV.Pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, is an infectious and non-transmissible disease affecting horses, dogs, and humans, with no effective drug treatment available. Triazoles are compounds of interest for their potential pharmacological properties against fungi and bacteria. In this study, we synthesized three new triazole compounds (C1, C2, and C3) to assess their in vitro activities against P. insidiosum and their safety on human leukocytes. Susceptibility testing was performed against P. insidiosum isolates (n = 15) to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum ...
