Pharmacodynamics in horses refers to the study of how drugs affect the equine body, encompassing the mechanisms of action, the relationship between drug concentration and effect, and the duration of these effects. This field examines how drugs interact with biological systems in horses to produce therapeutic or adverse effects. Key aspects include receptor binding, post-receptor effects, and chemical interactions. Understanding pharmacodynamics is essential for determining appropriate dosages, predicting drug interactions, and assessing therapeutic outcomes in equine medicine. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pharmacodynamic properties of various drugs in horses, focusing on their effects, efficacy, and safety profiles.
Hunter BG, Parker JE, Wehrman R, Stang B, Cebra CK.To determine synovial concentrations of morphine after intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) with morphine or morphine in combination with gentamicin in clinically healthy, standing sedated horses. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Adult horses (n = 6). Methods: IVRLP was performed using 0.1 mg/kg morphine (M) in standing sedated horses. After a 3-week washout period, IVRLP was performed on the same forelimb with a combination of 0.1 mg/kg morphine and 1 g gentamicin (M/G). Synovial fluid from the middle carpal joint of the perfused limb and jugular blood samples were collected i...
McArthur CL, Handel IG, Robinson A, Hodgkinson JE, Bronsvoort BM, Burden F, Kaplan RM, Matthews JB.Cyathostomins are the most prevalent parasitic pathogens of equids worldwide. These nematodes have been controlled using broad-spectrum anthelmintics; however, cyathostomin resistance to each anthelmintic class has been reported and populations insensitive to more than one class are relatively commonplace. The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is considered the most suitable method for screening anthelmintic sensitivity in horses, but is subject to variation and is relatively time-consuming to perform. Here, we describe a larval migration inhibition test (LMIT) to assess ivermectin (IVM)...
Kutter AP, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Schwarzwald CC, Portier KG, Ringer SK.To evaluate the non-calibrated, minimally invasive cardiac output (CO) monitor FloTrac/Vigileo (FloTrac) against thermodilution (TD) CO in standing horses. Methods: Prospective, experimental trial. Methods: Nine adult horses weighing a median (range) of 535 (470-602) kg. Methods: Catheters were placed in the right atrium, pulmonary artery and carotid artery under local anaesthesia. CO was measured 147 times by TD and FloTrac and indexed to body weight. Changes in CO were achieved with romifidine or xylazine and dobutamine constant rate infusions. Bland-Altman analysis, concordance and polar pl...
Garrison KL, Sahin S, Benet LZ.This study was conducted to determine the number of drugs exhibiting flip-flop pharmacokinetics following oral (p.o.) dosing from immediate-release dosage forms and if they exhibit a common characteristic that may be predicted based on BDDCS classification. The literature was searched for drugs displaying flip-flop kinetics (i.e., absorption half-life larger than elimination half-life) in mammals in PubMed, via internet search engines and reviewing drug pharmacokinetic data. Twenty two drugs were identified as displaying flip-flop kinetics in humans (13 drugs), rat (nine drugs), monkey (three ...
Jordana M, Martens A, Duchateau L, Haspeslagh M, Vanderperren K, Oosterlinck M, Pille F.Controversy exists about the specificity of diagnostic analgesia of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) in horses. Objective: To evaluate the degree of diffusion of mepivacaine from the equine DFTS to adjacent synovial structures. Methods: Crossover experiment. Methods: Under general anaesthesia, the DFTS of one front and one hindlimb of 8 horses were injected simultaneously with mepivacaine. Synovial fluid samples of the injected DFTS, the adjacent metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint, proximal interphalangeal joint, distal interphalangeal joint, navicular bursa and contralatera...
Guedes A, Knych H, Hood D.Laminitis is a painful disease for which adequate pain management remains a challenging and largely unmet medical need. Objective: To investigate plasma concentrations, analgesic and physiological effects of 2 doses of tramadol in horses with chronic laminitis. Methods: Nonrandomised trial. Methods: Four horses with naturally occurring chronic laminitis received 5 mg/kg bwt and then 10 mg/kg bwt tramadol orally every 12 h for one week with a one-week washout between. Noninvasive arterial blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates, intestinal sounds and forelimb off-loading frequency were ...
Janssen IJ, Krücken J, Demeler J, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.P-glycoproteins (Pgps) are suspected to mediate drug extrusion in nematodes contributing to macrocyclic lactone resistance. This association was recently shown for Parascaris Pgp-11. Ivermectin resistance was correlated with the presence of three pgp-11 single nucleotide polymorphisms and/or increased pgp-11 mRNA levels. In the present study, the ability of Pgp-11 to modulate ivermectin susceptibility was investigated by its expression in a pgp-11-deficient Caenorhabditis elegans strain. Expression of Parascaris pgp-11 in two transgenic lines significantly decreased ivermectin susceptibility i...
Petit A, Redout EM, van de Lest CH, de Grauw JC, Müller B, Meyboom R, van Midwoud P, Vermonden T, Hennink WE, René van Weeren P.In this study, the intra-articular tolerability and suitability for local and sustained release of an in situ forming gel composed of an acetyl-capped poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA) copolymer loaded with celecoxib was investigated in horse joints. The systems were loaded with two dosages of celecoxib, 50 mg/g ('low CLB gel') and 260 mg/g ('high CLB gel'). Subsequently, they were injected into the joints of five healthy horses. For 72 h after intra-articular injection, they induced a transient inflammatory response,...
Duz M, Parkin TD, Cullander RM, Marshall JF.To evaluate ex vivo cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition and compare in vitro and ex vivo COX-1 inhibition by flunixin meglumine and firocoxib in horses. Methods: 4 healthy horses for in vitro experiments and 12 healthy horses (6 males and 6 females; 5 Thoroughbreds, 5 Warmbloods, and 2 ponies) undergoing elective surgery for ex vivo experiments. Methods: 12 horses received flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h) or firocoxib (0.09 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h). Blood samples were collected before (baseline) and 2 and 24 hours after NSAID administration. Prostanoids (thromboxane B2, prostaglandin E2, and p...
Braganti G.In 1916 Louis Desliens, veterinary practitioner; submitted to the Academy of Sciences a description of a new way of exploring the cardiovascular system: percutaneous catheteri- zation. In 1935 he published the results of thirty years of explorations in hemodynamics mainly in horses: physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacodynamics. The text considers the very pioneering nature of these studies.
Rendle DI, Hughes KJ, Doran GS, Edwards SH.To determine the pharmacokinetics of pergolide after IV administration to horses. Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: Pergolide mesylate was administered IV at a dose of 20 μg/kg (equivalent to 15.2 μg of pergolide/kg) to each horse, and blood samples were collected over 48 hours. Pergolide concentrations in plasma were determined by means of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined on the basis of noncompartmental methods. Results: After IV administration of pergolide, mean ± SD clearance, elimination half-life, a...
Kim TW, Della Rocca G, Di Salvo A, Ryschanova R, Sgorbini M, Giorgi M.To determine the pharmacokinetics of cimicoxib and to assess the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) after a 5 mg/kg, single oral administration in horses that were fasted or fed. Methods: The study was conducted using an open, single dose (5 mg/kg), two treatment (fasted and fed), two-period, crossover design with a 2-week interval between dosages. Six healthy mares received 5 mg/kg of cimicoxib via nasogastric tube after fasting for 12 hours, or 2 hours after feeding. After administration, blood samples were collected for up to 24 hours and plasma used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Addi...
Roscher KA, Failing K, Moritz A.This study aimed to validate a loading and maintenance clopidogrel dosing scheme for the inhibition of platelet function, measured by whole blood impedance aggregometry in healthy adult horses. Ten Warmblood horses received oral clopidogrel once daily. Doses were based on 50 kg weight categories and resulted in one loading dose of 6-6.5 mg/kg bodyweight and maintenance doses of 1.2-1.4 mg/kg over the next 4 days. Platelet function was measured via whole blood multiple electrode impedance aggregometry prior to (T0) and at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, 192 and 240 h following the loading d...
Carregaro AB, Freitas GC, Ribeiro MH, Xavier NV, Dória RG.Continuous-rate infusion (CRI) of drugs results in more stable plasma drug concentrations than administration of intermittent boluses, thus providing greater stability of physiological parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiologic and analgesic effects of the administration of morphine, butorphanol, tramadol or methadone by CRI in horses with induced synovitis of the radiocarpal joint. Results: Increased values of cardiorespiratory parameters and body temperature were observed in all groups after initiation of opioid administration, and these increases were sustained throug...
Tofflemire KL, Whitley EM, Flinn AM, Dufour VL, Ben-Shlomo G, Allbaugh RA, Griggs AN, Peterson CS, Whitley DR.To compare the effect of commercially available solution and compounded ointment formulations of dorzolamide(2%)-timolol(0.5%) on intraocular pressure (IOP) of normal horses. Methods: Eighteen clinically normal horses. Methods: A randomized, masked prospective design was used with horses divided into two equal groups. One eye of each horse was selected for topical ophthalmic treatment with either 0.2 mL of dorzolamide(2%)-timolol(0.5%) solution or 0.2 g of dorzolamide(2%)-timolol(0.5%) ointment every 12 h for 5 days. The contralateral eye of horses in both groups was untreated. Rebound tonomet...
Chiavaccini L, Claude AK, Lee JH, Ross MK, Meyer RE, Langston VC.The study objective was to compare butorphanol pharmacokinetics and physiologic effects following intravenous and subcutaneous administration in horses. Ten adult horses received 0.1 mg/kg butorphanol by either intravenous or subcutaneous injections, in a randomized crossover design. Plasma concentrations of butorphanol were measured at predetermined time points using highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay (LC-MS/MS). Demeanor and physiologic variables were recorded. Data were analyzed with multivariate mixed-effect model on ranks (P ≤ 0.05). For subcutaneous i...
Holland B, Fogle C, Blikslager AT, Curling A, Barlow BM, Schirmer J, Davis JL.The objectives of this study were to compare the pharmacokinetics and COX selectivity of three commercially available formulations of firocoxib in the horse. Six healthy adult horses were administered a single dose of 57 mg intravenous, oral paste or oral tablet firocoxib in a three-way, randomized, crossover design. Blood was collected at predetermined times for PGE2 and TXB2 concentrations, as well as plasma drug concentrations. Similar to other reports, firocoxib exhibited a long elimination half-life (31.07 ± 10.64 h), a large volume of distribution (1.81 ± 0.59L/kg), and a slow clearanc...
Robinson MA, Guan F, McDonnell S, Uboh CE, Soma LR.Dermorphin is a μ-opioid receptor-binding peptide that causes both central and peripheral effects following intravenous administration to rats, dogs, and humans and has been identified in postrace horse samples. Ten horses were intravenously and/or intramuscularly administered dermorphin (9.3 ± 1.0 μg/kg), and plasma concentration vs. time data were evaluated using compartmental and noncompartmental analyses. Data from intravenous administrations fit a 2-compartment model best with distribution and elimination half-lives (harmonic mean ± pseudo SD) of 0.09 ± 0.02 and 0.76 ± 0.22 h, respe...
Ekstrand C, Bondesson U, Gabrielsson J, Hedeland M, Kallings P, Olsén L, Ingvast-Larsson C.Detection times and screening limits (SL) are methods used to ensure that the performance of horses in equestrian sports is not altered by drugs. Drug concentration-response relationship and knowledge of concentration-time profiles in both plasma and urine are required. In this study, dexamethasone plasma and urine concentration-time profiles were investigated. Endogenous hydrocortisone plasma concentrations and their relationship to dexamethasone plasma concentrations were also explored. A single dose of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate suspension (0.03 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly t...
Knych HK, Arthur RM, Mitchell MM, Holser I, Poppenga R, Smith LL, Helm MN, Sams RA, Gaskill CL.Cobalt has been used by human athletes due to its purported performance-enhancing effects. It has been suggested that cobalt administration results in enhanced erythropoiesis, secondary to increased circulating erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations leading to improvements in athletic performance. Anecdotal reports of illicit administration of cobalt to horses for its suspected performance enhancing effects have led us to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of this compound when administered in horses, so as to better regulate its use. In the current study, 18 horses were...
Haugaard MM, Pehrson S, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Hesselkilde EZ, Praestegaard KF, Diness JG, Grunnet M, Jespersen T, Buhl R.Only few pharmacologic compounds have been validated for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses. Studies investigating the utility and safety of flecainide to treat AF in horses have produced conflicting results, and the antiarrhythmic mechanisms of flecainide are not fully understood. Objective: To study the potential of flecainide to terminate acutely induced AF of short duration (≥ 15 minutes), to examine flecainide-induced changes in AF duration and AF vulnerability, and to investigate the in vivo effects of flecainide on right atrial effective refractory period, AF cycle length...
Knych HK, Steffey EP, Mitchell MM, Casbeer HC.The use of fentanyl is limited in adult horses, in part due to potential for central nervous system excitation. The pharmacokinetics and the plasma concentration-related behavioural actions of fentanyl have not been described for young foals. The goal of the present study was to describe the pharmacokinetics and behavioural effects of fentanyl following administration to the same group of foals at 3 different ages. Experimental study in healthy foals. Fentanyl was administered i.v. (4 μg/kg bwt) to a group of 9 foals on 3 separate occasions at 6–8, 20–22 and 41–42 days of age. Blood sam...
Knych HK, Steffey EP, Casbeer HC, Mitchell MM.Foal responses to a broader range of plasma fentanyl concentrations than currently reported are desirable to support (or not) clinical use. Objective: To describe fentanyl plasma concentrations following an escalating i.v. fentanyl dosing schedule in foals aged 5-13 days and describe selected, associated dose- and time-related behavioural and physiological responses to plasma fentanyl concentration. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Fentanyl was administered i.v. in an escalating fashion (2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 μg/kg bwt) at 10-min intervals. Blood samples were collected before and at selected time...
Ranheim B, Risberg ÅI, Spadavecchia C, Landsem R, Haga HA.Dexmedetomidine, the most selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist in clinical use, is increasingly being used in both conscious and anaesthetized horses; however, the pharmacokinetics and sedative effects of this drug administered alone as an infusion are not previously described in horses. Seven horses received an infusion of 8 μg dexmedetomidine/kg/h for 150 min, venous blood samples were collected, and dexmedetomidine concentrations were assayed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and analyzed using noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. Sedation was scored as the distance...
Risberg A, Spadavecchia C, Ranheim B, Krontveit R, Haga HA.Dexmedetomidine and lignocaine IV are used clinically to provide analgesia in horses. The aims of this study were to investigate the antinociceptive effects, plasma concentrations and sedative effects of 2, 4 and 6 µg/kg/h dexmedetomidine IV, with a bolus of 0.96 µg/kg preceding each continuous rate infusion (CRI), and 20, 40 and 60 µg/kg/min lignocaine IV, with a bolus of 550 µg/kg preceding each CRI, in 10 Swiss Warmblood horses. Electrically elicited nociceptive withdrawal reflexes were evaluated by deltoid muscle electromyography. Nociceptive threshold and tolerance were determ...
Lopez BS, Giguère S, Berghaus LJ, Mullins MA, Davis JL.The objectives of this study were to investigate the pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin and its metabolite N-desmethyldanofloxacin and to determine their concentrations in synovial fluid after administration by the intravenous, intramuscular or intragastric routes. Six adult mares received danofloxacin mesylate administered intravenously (i.v.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) at a dose of 5 mg/kg, or intragastrically (IG) at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg using a randomized Latin square design. Concentrations of danofloxacin and N-desmethyldanofloxacin were measured by UPLC-MS/MS. After i.v. administration, da...
Knych HK, Steinmetz SJ, McKemie DS.The anti-anxiety and calming effects following activation of the GABA receptor have been exploited in performance horses by administering products containing GABA. The primary goal of the study reported here was to describe endogenous concentrations of GABA in horses and the pharmacokinetics, selected pharmacodynamic effects, and CSF concentrations following administration of a GABA-containing product. The mean (±SD) endogenous GABA level was 36.4 ± 12.5 ng/mL (n = 147). Sixteen of these horses received a single intravenous and oral dose of GABA (1650 mg). Blood, urine, and cerebrospin...
Kelmer G, Tatz AJ, Famini S, Bdolah-Abram T, Soback S, Britzi M.Regional limb perfusion (RLP) significantly decreases morbidity and mortality associated with distal limb injuries in horses. There is an urgent need for finding additional effective antimicrobial drugs for use in RLP. In this study, we tested the pharmacokinetics (PK) of chloramphenicol in RLP. Eight horses participated in the study, which was approved by the University Animal Care and Use Committee. The cephalic and the saphenous veins were used to perfuse the limbs. Synovial samples were collected from the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint. The Friedman Test was applied for asse...
Grimsrud KN, Ait-Oudhia S, Durbin-Johnson BP, Rocke DM, Mama KR, Rezende ML, Stanley SD, Jusko WJ.The present study characterizes the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) relationships of the α2-adrenergic receptor agonists detomidine (DET), medetomidine (MED) and dexmedetomidine (DEX) in parallel groups of horses from in vivo data after single bolus doses. Head height (HH), heart rate (HR), and blood glucose concentrations were measured over 6 h. Compartmental PK and minimal physiologically based PK (mPBPK) models were applied and incorporated into basic and extended indirect response models (IRM). Population PK/PD analysis was conducted using the Monolix software implementing t...
Rezende ML, Grimsrud KN, Stanley SD, Steffey EP, Mama KR.The aim of the study was to describe the pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamics of intravenous dexmedetomidine in horses. Eight adult horses received 5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine IV. Blood samples were collected before and for 10 h after drug administration to determine dexmedetomidine plasma concentrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. Data from one outlier were excluded from the statistical summary. Behavioral and physiological responses were recorded before and for 6 h after dexmedetomidine administration. Dexmedetomidine concentrations dec...
Sánchez Bruni SF, Fusé LA, Moreno L, Saumell CA, Alvarez LI, Fiel C, McKellar QA, Lanusse CE.The study of novel pharmacological strategies to control parasitism in horses is required since many parasite species have developed resistance to anthelmintic drugs. Objective: To evaluate the effects of piperonyl butoxide (PB) (a metabolic inhibitor) on the plasma availability and enantiomeric behaviour of oxfendazole (OFZ) given orally to horses, and to compare the clinical efficacy of OFZ given either alone or co-administered with PB in naturally parasitised horses. Methods: Fifteen naturally parasitised crossbred male ponies were allocated into 3 groups (n = 5) and treated orally as follo...
Whitehair KJ, Blevins WE, Fessler JF, Van Sickle DC, White MR, Bill RP.Regional perfusion of carpal tissues by forced intramedullary administration of fluids was evaluated in 10 horses. Results of subtraction radiography after perfusion with a contrast medium demonstrated that perfusate was delivered to the carpal tissues by the venous system. Perfused India ink was distributed uniformly in the antebrachiocarpal and middle carpal synovial membranes. Histologically, the ink was within the venules of the synovial villi. Immediately after perfusion with gentamicin sulfate (1 g), the gentamicin concentrations in the synovial fluid and synovial membrane of the antebra...
Cuniberti B, Odore R, Barbero R, Cagnardi P, Badino P, Girardi C, Re G.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit cyclooxygenases (COX), and the inhibition of COX-2 rather than COX-1 can limit the onset of NSAID-related adverse effects. The pharmacodynamic properties of eltenac, naproxen, tepoxalin, SC-560 and NS 398 in healthy horses were investigated using an in vitro whole blood assay. To predict COX selectivity in clinical use, eltenac and naproxen were also studied ex vivo after intravenous administration. SC-560 acted as a selective COX-1 inhibitor, tepoxalin as a dual inhibitor with potent activity against COX-1, and NS 398 as a preferential CO...
Matsuda Y, Hobo S, Naito H.Five Thoroughbreds were classified into 4 groups according to the administration method used for saline solution (saline), ambroxol, and cephalothin sodium (cephalothin). In group A, cephalothin was injected intravenously after oral administration of ambroxol. In group B, cephalothin was injected intravenously after oral administration of saline. Groups C and D were used as control groups. The dose of cephalothin or ambroxol was clinically administrated. Venous blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were sampled from each group. In groups A and B, cephalothin concentrations in plasma re...
Dimaio Knych HK, Stanley SD.To characterize pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of detomidine gel administered sublingually in accordance with label instructions to establish appropriate withdrawal guidelines for horses before competition. Methods: 12 adult racehorses. Methods: Horses received a single sublingual administration of 0.04 mg of detomidine/kg. Blood samples were collected before and up to 72 hours after drug administration. Urine samples were collected for 5 days after detomidine administration. Plasma and urine samples were analyzed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and resulting data were anal...
Corley KT.Successful treatment with inotropes and vasopressors depends on an understanding of the interplay of flow, pressure, and resistance in the cardiovascular system and an appreciation of the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to inadequate tissue perfusion. Any treatment strategy is necessarily a compromise between the requirements of different vascular beds.Furthermore. the underlying hemodynamic derangements can change rapidly. Therefore. inotropes and vasopressors should be titrated to measures of improved hemodynamic status, and the treatments should be frequently reviewed.
Carretero M, Rodríguez C, San Andrés MI, Forés P, de Lucas JJ, Nieto J, Waxman S, San Andrés MD, González F.The pharmacokinetic behaviour of marbofloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent developed exclusively for veterinary use, was studied in mature horses (n = 5) after single-dose i.v. and i.m. administrations of 2 mg/kg bwt. Drug concentrations in plasma were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and data obtained were subjected to compartmental and noncompartmental kinetic analysis. This compound presents a relatively high volume of distribution (V(SS) = 1.17 +/- 0.18 l/kg), which suggests good tissue penetration, and a total body clearance (Cl) of 0.19 +/- 0.042...
Lloyd KC, Stover SM, Pascoe JR, Adams P.Chemical and cytologic effects and bactericidal activity of gentamicin in septic synovial fluid were evaluated in an experimental model of infectious arthritis in horses. Septic arthritis was induced by inoculation of approximately 7.5 X 10(6) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli into 1 antebrachiocarpal joint in each of 16 clinically normal adult horses. Clinical signs of septic arthritis were evident 24 hours after inoculation. Horses were allotted to 3 groups: group-1 horses (n = 5) each were given 150 mg of gentamicin (50 mg/ml; 3 ml) intra-articularly (IA); group-2 horses (n = 5) each...
Echelmeyer J, Taylor PM, Hopster K, Rohn K, Delarocque J, Kästner SBR.There are few investigations relating anti-nociception to plasma concentrations of fentanyl in horses. The study objective was to evaluate analgesic efficacy and duration in horses and determine the minimum anti-nociceptive plasma concentrations. Eight horses were treated with saline (P) and fentanyl (F=2.5μg/kg; F=5μg/kg; F=10μg/kg) given IV over 5min, with a wash-out period of 10 days. To evaluate thermal (°C) and mechanical (N) nociceptive threshold single stimulations were applied prior to (baseline) and 10, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420, 540min and 22.5h after treatment. Pl...
Bäumer W, Herrling GM, Feige K.To test the efficacy of the recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) alteplase in horses, the thrombolytic effect was tested in in vitro generated equine thrombi. The extent of lysis was determined by measuring the decrease in thrombi weight over a period of 4 hours. In vivo pharmacokinetics of alteplase were determined in 6 healthy horses. A single dose (1 mg/kg) was applied via intravenous infusion over a period of 30 minutes Coagulation-related variables, blood count and clinical parameters were taken before the treatment and until 48 h after treatment. In addition, plasma rt-P...
Knych HK, Weiner D, Arthur RM, Baden R, McKemie DS, Kass PH.Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs and as such are commonly administered to performance and racehorses. The objectives of the current study were to describe blood and urine concentrations and the pharmacokinetics and effects on cortisol and inflammatory mediator concentrations, following intravenous and oral administration to 12 exercised horses. Horses received an intravenous administration of 40 mg of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and 20 mg of dexamethasone tablets with a 4 week washout in between administrations. Blood and urine samples were collected prior to and for up to...
Peroni DL, Stanley S, Kollias-Baker C, Robinson NE.Based on its efficacy for the treatment of human asthma, the corticosteroid prednisone is commonly used in horses for treatment of recurrent airway obstruction. However, recent studies have failed to show any benefit of prednisone tablets for the treatment of this condition. The purpose of this study was to determine why oral prednisone has poor efficacy for the treatment of heaves in horses. In a crossover study, 5 horses were given the following treatments: prednisone tablets, prednisone liquid, prednisolone tablets, prednisolone liquid and i.v. prednisolone sodium succinate (positive contro...
King JN, Gerring EL.Post operative ileus is a serious complication of abdominal surgery in horses and there is evidence that endotoxin plays a significant role in its pathogenesis. Pre-treatment with intravenous (i.v.) flunixin (1.1 mg/kg bodyweight [bwt]) or phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg bwt) significantly antagonised the acute disruption of gastric, small intestinal and large intestinal motility induced by 0.1 microgram/kg bwt i.v. endotoxin in ponies implanted with gastrointestinal strain gauges. Phenylbutazone was more effective than flunixin and this was significant (P < 0.01) for the stomach and left dorsal col...
Sandker MJ, Duque LF, Redout EM, Klijnstra EC, Steendam R, Kops N, Waarsing JH, van Weeren R, Hennink WE, Weinans H.The aim of this study was to develop a formulation with a sustained intra-articular release of the anti-inflammatory drug tacrolimus. Drug release kinetics from the prepared tacrolimus loaded monodisperse biodegradable microspheres based on poly(d-l-lactide-PEG)--poly(l-lactide) multiblock copolymers were tunable by changing polymer composition, particularly hydrophobic-hydrophilic block ratio. The monospheres were 30 μm and released the drug, depending on the formulation, in 7 to >42 days. The formulation exhibiting sustained release for 1 month was selected for further in vivo evaluation...
Mahalingam-Dhingra A, Mazan MR, Bedenice D, Ceresia M, Minuto J, Deveney EF.There are limited options for treatment of the common disease, equine asthma. The aim of this study was to estimate the feasibility and potential efficacy of using nebulized lidocaine for treating equine asthma, while at the same time treating a separate cohort of asthmatic horses with inhaled budesonide. Nineteen horses with a history consistent with equine asthma were recruited from our referral population for a double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot clinical trial using Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. After screening, 16 horses met the inclusion criteria...
Hanna CJ, Eyre P.Horses suffer from a respiratory condition, similar to human allergic asthma, that is characterized by severe dyspnea, wheezing, coughing, and mucus production. Mediator substances released during the allergic reaction may contract airways and pulmonary vasculature. Nothing is known of the effects of autacoids and other vasoactive substances on equine pulmonary vessels. Therefore, spiral strips of equine pulmonary vein were prepared in vitro and the effects of histamine (H), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), bradykinin (BK), carbachol (Carb), and phenylephrine (phen) were studied. The order of contra...
Vengust M, Kerr C, Staempfli HR, Pringle J, Heigenhauser GJ, Viel L.Frusemide (Fru) is widely prescribed for management of racehorses experiencing EIPH. The effect of Fru in the lung appears to be a reduction in transcapillary pressures and inhibition of the erythrocyte anion exchange, which may lead to attenuation of transpulmonary fluid fluxes during exercise. Objective: Treatment with Fru will attenuate transpulmonary fluid fluxes in horses during high intensity exercise. Methods: In a crossover study, 6 race-fit Standardbred horses were treated with 250 mg of Fru i.v. (FruTr) or placebo (Con) 4 h before exercise on a high speed treadmill until fatigue. Art...
Machnik M, Kaiser S, Koppe S, Kietzmann M, Schenk I, Düe M, Thevis M, Schänzer W, Toutain PL.Methylxanthines positives in competition samples have challenged doping control laboratories and racing jurisdictions since methylxanthines are naturally occurring prohibited substances and often constituents of feed. For theobromine, an international threshold (renamed in International Residue Limit, IRL) of 2 µg/mL in urine has been established. On the basis of the data presented herein, a threshold or rather an IRL for theobromine in plasma of 0.3 µg/mL was proposed and was thereupon approved by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Official recommendations f...
Herring IP, Pickett JP, Champagne ES, Troy GC, Marini M.OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of topical 1% ophthalmic atropine sulfate on intraocular pressure (IOP) in ocular normotensive horses. Animals Studied Eleven clinically healthy horses. Procedures IOP was measured bilaterally twice daily, at 8 AM and 4 PM, for 5 days. No medication was applied for the first 2 days of the study. Thereafter, one eye of each horse was treated with 0.1 mL of topical 1% atropine sulfate ointment twice daily (7 AM and 7 PM) for 3 days. The contralateral eye served as a control. In eight of the horses, an additional IOP reading was taken 3 days following cessation ...
Gozalo-Marcilla M, Luna SPL, Moreira da Silva R, Crosignani N, Lopes NP, Taylor PM, Pelligand L.Pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) modelling offers new insights to design protocols for sedation and analgesia in standing horses. Objective: To evaluate the parameters and interactions between detomidine and methadone when given alone or combined in standing horses. Methods: Randomised, placebo-controlled, blinded, crossover. Methods: Eight adult healthy horses were given six treatments intravenously: saline (SAL); detomidine (5 μg/kg bwt; DET); methadone (0.2 mg/kg bwt; MET) alone or combined with detomidine (2.5 [MLD], 5 [MMD] or 10 [MHD] μg/kg bwt). Venous blood samples were ob...
Jordana M, Martens A, Duchateau L, Haspeslagh M, Vanderperren K, Oosterlinck M, Pille F.Controversy exists about the specificity of diagnostic analgesia of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) in horses. Objective: To evaluate the degree of diffusion of mepivacaine from the equine DFTS to adjacent synovial structures. Methods: Crossover experiment. Methods: Under general anaesthesia, the DFTS of one front and one hindlimb of 8 horses were injected simultaneously with mepivacaine. Synovial fluid samples of the injected DFTS, the adjacent metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint, proximal interphalangeal joint, distal interphalangeal joint, navicular bursa and contralatera...
Arroyo MG, Couëtil LL, Nogradi N, Kamarudin MM, Ivester KM.The (R)-enantiomer of racemic albuterol (levalbuterol) has bronchodilatory properties whereas the (S)-enantiomer causes adverse effects in human airways, animal models, and isolated equine bronchi. Levalbuterol is commercially available and improves pulmonary function of asthmatic patients with a longer duration of effect than albuterol. Objective: To determine the dose at which inhaled levalbuterol produces maximal bronchodilatory effect (EDmax) and determine its duration of action in recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-affected horses in comparison to racemic albuterol. Methods: Nine horses w...
Lillich JD, Bertone AL, Schmall LM, Ruggles AJ, Sams RA.OBJECTIVE--To document plasma, urine, and synovial fluid disposition of 2 common intra-articularly administered steroid preparations, methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and isoflupredone acetate (IPA). DESIGN--Descriptive investigation. SAMPLE POPULATION--100 mg of MPA or 4 mg of IPA was administered to 2 groups of 4 healthy sound radiographically normal female horses. PROCEDURE--Blood samples were collected at time 0 (before) and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours after administration of the designated steroid. Complete urine collection for measurement of designated steroid was ac...
Moens Y, Lanz F, Doherr MG, Schatzmann U.To study the analgesic potency of the alpha2-agonist romifidine in the horse using both an electrical current and a mechanical pressure model for nociceptive threshold testing. In addition, a comparison was made with doses of detomidine and xylazine that produce equivalent degrees of sedation. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded cross-over study. Methods: Six adult Swiss warmblood horses, one mare and five geldings, weighing from 530 to 650 kg and aged 6-15 years. Methods: Nociceptive thresholds were measured using an electrical stimulus applied to the coronary band and using a pn...