Topic:Pharmacology
Pharmacology in horses involves the study and application of drugs and medications to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases and conditions in equine species. This field encompasses the understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics specific to horses, including how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the equine body. Commonly studied pharmacological agents in horses include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, sedatives, and anthelmintics. Research in equine pharmacology focuses on determining appropriate dosages, understanding drug interactions, and minimizing adverse effects. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the efficacy, safety, and regulatory aspects of pharmacological interventions in equine veterinary practice.
Rate of rise of arterial carbon dioxide tension in the halothane-anesthetized horse. The rate of rise of arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was determined in 49 apneic halothane-anesthetized horses following controlled ventilation. Drugs given for induction of anesthesia did not affect the rapid rate of rise of PaCO2 during the first minute after controlled ventilation, the PaCO2 at 1 minute after controlled ventilation, or the PaCO2 at which spontaneous ventilation began. Horses given xylazine-ketamine for induction of anesthesia had a significantly (P less than 0.05) faster rate of rise of PaCO2 after 1 minute following controlled ventilation than did horses...
Effects of phenylbutazone and anabolic steroids on adrenal and thyroid gland function tests in healthy horses. Adrenal and/or thyroid gland function tests were evaluated in horses at various times during short-term therapy with phenylbutazone, stanozolol, and boldenone undecylenate. There were no significant treatment or time effects on mean basal plasma cortisol concentrations in horses during treatment with the following: phenylbutazone, given twice daily (4 to 5 mg/kg, IV) for 5 days; stanozolol, given twice weekly (0.55 mg/kg, IM) for 12 days; boldenone undecylenate, given twice weekly (1.1 mg/kg, IM) for 12 days; or nothing. There was no significant effect of phenylbutazone treatment on the change...
Hemodynamic responses in halothane-anesthetized horses given infusions of dopamine or dobutamine. The hemodynamic changes induced by constant infusions of dopamine or dobutamine (each 3, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg/min) were observed in halothane-anesthetized horses. Left ventricular dp/dt and cardiac output were increased in horses given dobutamine at dosage of 3 micrograms/kg/min and in those given either of the drugs at dosages of 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min. Concomitant increases in systemic arterial blood pressure occurred at lower infusion dosage rates of dobutamine than those of dopamine and were modulated by dosage-related changes in peripheral vascular resistance that were different be...
Susceptibility of equine bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents. In vitro antimicrobic susceptibility patterns of commonly isolated aerobic gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens of equine origin were determined, using the agar-plate dilution method. All organisms were recent clinical isolates and included Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, (coagulase positive) Staphylococcus sp, Streptococcus equi, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Actinobacillus sp, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella. In vitro susceptibility levels were outlined for 14 antimicro...
Evaluation of febantel used concurrently with piperazine citrate in horses. Fifty horses from a herd known to have benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles were treated with febantel (6 mg/kg), combinations of febantel (6 mg/kg) and piperazine citrate (25 or 55 mg base/kg), thiabendazole (44 mg/kg), or placebo (0.6 ml of water/kg). Pretreatment and 7-day posttreatment fecal examinations were done. Fecal cultures, strongyle egg per gram (epg) counts, sugar flotation fecal examinations, and in vitro testing for benzimidazole resistance were performed. Results of fecal examinations before treatment were similar in all horses, and results of testing were positive for benz...
Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefazolin in horses. The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of cefazolin given (IV, IM) to horses at the dosage of 11 mg/kg were investigated. The disposition of cefazolin given by IV route was characterized by a rapid disposition phase with a half-life of 5 to 10 minutes and a subsequent slower elimination phase with a half-life of 35 to 46 minutes. The total plasma clearance of cefazolin averaged 5.51 ml/min/kg and was due mainly to renal clearance (5.39 ml/min/kg) of unchanged drug. The volume of distribution at steady-state averaged 188 ml/kg. Plasma protein binding of cefazolin at a concentration of 10 micr...
Cardiopulmonary effects of dopamine hydrochloride in anaesthetised horses. Dopamine hydrochloride was infused intravenously into six horses anaesthetised with halothane. Three dose rates; 0.5, 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg/min, were evaluated in each horse. The cardiac output was significantly increased at 15 and 30 mins following administration of dopamine at 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg/min. The heart rate, facial artery pressure and pulmonary artery pressure remained unchanged. Total peripheral resistance was significantly decreased at 30 mins with 2.5 micrograms/kg/min and at 15 and 30 mins with 5.0 micrograms/kg/min. No significant change was produced in packed cell vo...
[Efficient drug forms and the means for using them in the intensive raising of animals]. Stated is the use of promising therapeutic formulae that produce prophylactic, metaphylactic, and curative effects at lower input of labour and handling, inciting lower unrest with animals, belonging chiefly to the type of the so-called 'therapeutic systems'. Particular attention is paid to drugs for programmed, continuous, and checkable release of the active ingredients in compliance with what is needed at the time (sustained release forms)-type OROS (oral osmotic system), type 'liquid reservoir', type 'glass cylinders', tablets and boluses of higher relative weight, or multilayer and mosaic ...
Dose-related effects of fentanyl on autonomic and behavioral responses in performance horses. The dose-related effects of intravenously administered fentanyl (0.010, 0.005, 0.0025 mg/kg) and saline were studied in mature performance horses using a rigorous experimental protocol. Fentanyl produced a dose-related prolongation of the skin twitch reflex latency but did not increase the hoof withdrawal reflex latency. Dose related increases in stepping frequency, cardiac and respiratory rats were observed following fentanyl, while changes in rectal temperature and pupil area were not. These data indicate that fentanyl, a prototypic mu-agonist, produces a syndrome characterized by analgesia,...
Colonic motor responses in the pony: relevance of colonic stimulation by opiate antagonists. The electrical and mechanical activity of the digestive tract and its response to the administration of opiate agonists and antagonists was assessed from electrodes and strain gauges chronically implanted on the jejunum and the cecocolonic segments in 3 ponies given a diet of hay and concentrates. Before the drugs were given, 10 to 17 migrating myoelectric complexes/day were recorded on the small intestine, and a rhythmic motor activity (base line) was observed on the proximal portion of the colon at the rate of 3.5 to 6.6/hour. Propagated contractions from the proximal to the distal portion o...
Endotoxin-induced eicosanoid production by equine vascular endothelial cells and neutrophils. Dispersed equine vascular endothelial cells grown in tissue culture, and freshly isolated neutrophils were used to determine direct effects of endotoxin on cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products. Endothelial cells (10(7)/ml) or neutrophils (2 X 10(6)/ml) were incubated with (a) buffer, (b) endotoxin (10 micrograms/ml), (c) endotoxin + flunixin meglumine (10 micrograms/ml), or (d) calcium ionophore, A23187 (10 micrograms/ml). Thromboxane (TxB2), prostacyclin (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) were determined in the incubation fluid by radioimmunoassay. Thromboxane and prostacyclin...
Endotoxin-induced hematologic and blood chemical changes in ponies: effects of flunixin meglumine, dexamethasone, and prednisolone. To evaluate the effect of certain drugs on hematologic changes, blood chemical values, and survival in endotoxin shock, anesthetized ponies were given (IV) endotoxin (Escherichia coli O55:B5) and then treated as follows: Group A ponies--given a saline infusion at 5 minutes and at 3 hours after they were given endotoxin; group B ponies--given flunixin meglumine at 5 minutes and at 3, 6, 9, and 24 hours after they were given endotoxin; group C ponies--treated with dexamethasone; and group D ponies--treated with prednisolone at 5 minutes and at 3, 9, and 24 hours after they were given endotoxin. ...
Qualitative detection of corticosteroids in equine biological fluids and the comparison of relative dexamethasone metabolite/dexamethasone concentration in equine urine by micro-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Several important corticosteroids were qualitatively determined in the plasma and urine of horses by micro-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (micro-LC-MS). The sensitivity and specificity of micro-LC-MS are demonstrated as is the ability of micro-LC-MS to deal with endogenous interferences. In turn, the relative amount of dexamethasone and its major unconjugated metabolite were determined in equine urine by micro-LC-MS; the conclusions drawn are reported.
Differential effects of phenylbutazone and local anesthetics on nociception in the equine. The effects of procaine, mepivacaine and phenylbutazone on pain perception in the equine were studied using two behavioral assays of nociception; the thermal evoked hoof withdrawal reflex and skin twitch reflex. Pain perception threshold was measured as the latency from onset of thermal stimuli to reflex withdrawal of the forelimb or contraction of the cutaneous musculature. Procaine 2% and mepivacaine 2% prolonged the hoof withdrawal reflex latency when administered locally by producing a block of the palmar and metacarpal nerves. Significant analgesia lasted 90 min and 210 min for procaine a...
Substrate-dependent kinetic behavior of horse plasma cholinesterase: evidence for kinetically distinct populations of active sites. The inhibition of horse plasma cholinesterase by propranolol showed characteristics which depended upon the identity of the substrate used. With butyrylthiocholine as substrate, the inhibition showed a first-order dependence on inhibitor concentration, and was characterized by a Ki of 8 microM (pH 7.4, 20 degrees C). With p-nitrophenylbutyrate as substrate, a biphasic v-1 versus [I] relationship was obtained. The biphasic curve could be resolved into two components, with apparent Ki's of 9 microM and 1.3 mM. Use of butyrylthiocholine as alternative substrate resulted in partial inhibition of p...
Dosage requirement of pancuronium in halothane-anesthetized ponies: a comparison of cumulative and single-dose administration. Cumulative vs single-bolus administration of pancuronium was studied in halothane-anesthetized ponies. Dosage levels were determined by giving small increments (0.01 to 0.04 mg/kg of body weight) until the desired relaxation occurred (0.125 +/- 0.038 mg/kg for 90% to 99% reduction of prerelaxant twitch height), then an additional 0.037 +/- 0.024 mg/kg for obliteration of twitch response. The dosage level defined by cumulative administration was then administered as a single bolus 2 more times, once on each of 2 days. Dosage requirements for the 2 methods correlated well. The difference in dura...
Pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties of methocarbamol in the horse. The hemodynamic, respiratory, and behavioral effects, as well as the pharmacokinetic properties of methocarbamol, were determined in horses. Heart rate, cardiac output, arterial and venous blood pressures, respiratory rate, and arterial blood gases did not change after IV methocarbamol (4.4, 8.8, 17.6 mg/kg) administration. There were no signs of behavior modification or ataxia observed. Analysis of plasma concentration time data indicated that the disposition of methocarbamol may be dose-dependent. Clearance and steady-state volume of distribution decreased as the dose increased. Plasma conce...
Pharmacokinetic disposition of theophylline in horses after intravenous administration. The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were determined in 6 healthy horses after a single IV administration of 12 mg of aminophylline/kg of body weight (equivalent to 9.44 mg of theophylline/kg). Serum theophylline was measured after the IV dose at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 15 hours. Serum concentration plotted against time on semilogarithmic coordinates, indicated that theophylline in 5 horses was best described by a 2-compartment open model and in 1 horse by a 1-compartment open model. The following mean pharmacokinetic values were determined; elimination half-life = 11.9 hours, distri...