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.
Ringer SK, Schwarzwald CC, Portier K, Mauch J, Ritter A, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R.The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in blood glucose concentration ([Glu]B), acid-base status and electrolyte concentrations during constant rate infusions (CRI) of two alpha2-adrenergic agonists in seven horses treated in a blinded, randomised, crossover design with xylazine or romifidine. An intravenous (IV) bolus of xylazine (1mg/kg) or romifidine (80 μg/kg) was administered followed by an IV CRI of xylazine (0.69 mg/kg/h) or romifidine (30 μg/kg/h) for 2h. Blood samples were collected from the pulmonary artery before and after loading doses, during the CRI, and for 1h...
Gozalo-Marcilla M, Hopster K, Gasthuys F, Krajewski AE, Schwarz A, Schauvliege S.To compare the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of dexmedetomidine and morphine to those of morphine alone on the minimum end-tidal sevoflurane concentration necessary to prevent movement (MACNM ) in ponies. Methods: Prospective, randomized, crossover, 'blinded', experimental study. Methods: Five healthy adult gelding ponies were anaesthetized twice with a 3-week washout period. Methods: After induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane in oxygen (via nasotracheal tube), the ponies were positioned on a surgical table (T0), and anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (Fe'SEVO 2.5%) i...
Goraya K, Iqbal Z, Sajid M, Muhammad G, Ain QU, Saleem M.Plants have widely been used and documented for their therapeutic potential in many parts of the world. There are, however, few reports on the use of plants for the treatment of diseases of equines. To this end, participatory epidemiology and rapid rural appraisal techniques were used to document the plants having pharmacotherapeutic significance against different ailments of equines in selected population of Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: A survey was conducted to interview a total of 450 respondents (150 from each of the districts of Faisalabad, Lahore and Sargodha of Pakistan) to collect inform...
Théon AP, Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Wittenburg L, Marmulak T, Wilson WD.The efficacy and biosafety of a previously established tolerable dosage of doxorubicin have not been established in horses. Objective: To provide preliminary evidence of the efficacy of doxorubicin in tumor-bearing horses, explore drug pharmacokinetics profile, and estimate period of risk of exposure to drug residues. Methods: Twelve horses with 37 tumors. Methods: Treatment protocol included 6 treatments at 3-week intervals. Eight horses were uniformly treated at a dosage of 70 mg/m(2) and 4 horses received 4 of 6 treatment cycles at 70 mg/m(2) . Clinical signs, tumor responses, and toxicoses...
Derochette S, Franck T, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Ceusters J, Deby-Dupont G, Lejeune JP, Neven P, Serteyn D.In neutrophils (PMNs), superoxide anion (O2*-), the first reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced to kill pathogenic agents, is generated by NADPH oxidase, an enzymatic complex formed by the translocation of cytosolic subunits to the membrane flavocytochrome b558. In horses, excessive activation of PMNs is often associated with deadly pathologies and the modulation of their ROS production by acting on NADPH oxidase is a prime target to manage inflammation. We developed a cell-free assay to measure the activity of equine NADPH oxidase assembled in vitro, in order to test the effects of natural o...
We evaluated the vasorelaxant effect of propentofylline (PPF), a methylxanthine derivative, and its mechanism of action in equine digital veins (EDVs). Cumulative concentration-response curves to PPF (1 nM-300 µM) were recorded in phenylephrine-precontracted EDV rings under different experimental conditions. PPF-induced relaxation was partially inhibited by endothelium removal, but was unaltered by CGS-15943 (an adenosine receptor antagonist; 3 µM). PPF-induced relaxation was partially inhibited in the presence of L-NAME (a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor; 100 µM), ODQ (an inhibitor of...
Qualls HJ, Holbrook TC, Gilliam LL, Njaa BL, Panciera RJ, Pope CN, Payton ME.The efficacy of orally administered therapeutics for the treatment of cantharidin intoxication has not been evaluated in controlled studies. Objective: To develop a model of acute cantharidin intoxication in laboratory rats and to evaluate in this model the relative efficacy of 3 gastrointestinal therapies used to treat equine cantharidin toxicosis. Methods: Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: A blinded, randomized, controlled study was performed on rats surgically implanted with telemetry transmitters for evaluating heart rate, locomotor activity, and body temperature. Orogastric ad...
Montgomery JB, Hamblin B, Suri SS, Johnson LE, New D, Johnston J, Kelly J, Wilson DG, Singh B.Ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to release of toxic molecules into the circulation, and these molecules may cause injury in remote organs such as the lung. Horses commonly suffer from episodes of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) due to intestinal twisting/strangulation followed by repair. Because there is no evidence of lung injury associated with IR in horses, we designed a study to characterize the intestinal IR-associated lung inflammation and determine the effect of lidocaine on lung inflammation in IR horses. Lung tissues were collected from non-anesthetized (n=4) and anestheti...
Wong DM, Sponseller BA, Alcott CJ, Agbedanu PN, Wang C, Hsu WH.To evaluate the effect of IV administration of polymyxin B on clinical and serum biochemical variables in foals with experimental endotoxemia. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: 14 healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Foals were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group and were administered a single dose of lipopolysaccharide (0.5 μg/kg [0.23 μg/lb]) IV over 30 minutes. The treatment group received polymyxin B (6,000 U/kg [2,727 U/lb], IV) immediately after completion of lipopolysaccharide infusion; the control group was administered an equal volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) ...
Ida KK, Fantoni DT, Ibiapina BT, Souto MT, Zoppa AL, Silva LC, Ambrósio AM.To evaluate equine cardiopulmonary function and recovery quality after administration of 0.25 or 0.50 mg/kg xylazine intravenously (IV) during recovery. Methods: Randomized, blinded, prospective, clinical study. Methods: Horses (n = 20). Methods: During recovery after 3 hours of isoflurane anesthesia for arthroscopic surgery, horses were administered either 0.25 mg/kg (G25, n = 10) or 0.50 mg/kg (G50, n = 10) xylazine intravenously. Vital signs and arterial blood samples were obtained during recovery before sedation (baseline), 5, 10, 20, 30, and 45 minutes after xylazine and 30 minutes after ...
Pozor MA, Macpherson ML, McDonnell SM, Nollin M, Roser JF, Love C, Runyon S, Thomas BF, Troedsson MH.The objective of this study was to determine whether an indenopyridine derivative RTI-4587-073(l) was a good candidate for male contraception in horses. We hypothesized that a single administration of RTI-4587-073(l) causes significant suppression of testicular function in stallions without affecting sexual behavior. Three Miniature horse stallions received a single dose of 12.5 mg/kg RTI-4587-073(l) orally (group "treated"), whereas three other Miniature horse stallions received placebo only (group "control"). Semen was collected and evaluated from all stallions twice a week for three baselin...
Ambrisko TD, Moens Y.In a previous in vitro study using saline medium, the authors showed that certain drugs changed the voltages of lithium dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) sensors and also influenced their accuracy in measuring lithium concentrations. These two parameters correlated and so we examined whether such drug-sensor interaction exists when LiDCO sensor was exposed to xylazine in blood. Methods: Five healthy adult warm-blood horses were injected with 0.5 mg kg(-1) xylazine i.v. Physiological saline solution and venous blood were consecutively sampled through the same LiDCO sensor at 60, 45, 30, 15, and 0...
Norton JL, Jackson K, Chen JW, Boston R, Nolen-Walston RD.Pneumonia is observed in horses after long-distance transportation in association with confinement of head position leading to reduction in tracheal mucociliary clearance rate (TMCR). Objective: Clenbuterol, a beta-2 agonist shown to increase TMCR in the horse, will ameliorate the effects of a fixed elevated head position on large airway contamination and inflammation in a model of long-distance transportation model. Methods: Six adult horses. Methods: A cross-over designed prospective study. Horses were maintained with a fixed elevated head position for 48 hours to simulate long-distance tran...
Brooks MB, Divers TJ, Watts AE, Ness SL, Frye AH, Stokol T, Fubini SL.To evaluate the platelet activation response before and after treatment with clopidogrel in horses. Methods: 12 healthy adult mares. Methods: In a masked study, horses (6/group) were randomly allocated to alternately receive placebo or clopidogrel via nasogastric tube at a loading dose of 4 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg every 24 hours. Blood samples were collected before and 72 hours after initiation of treatment for ADP- and collagen-induced light transmission aggregometry; determination of closure time in collagen-ADP cartridges; modified thrombelastography for comparison of maximal amplitudes g...
Tappenbeck K, Hoppe S, Reichert C, Feige K, Huber K.The purpose of the study was to compare the contractility-enhancing effects of lidocaine in equine jejunal circular (CSM) and longitudinal smooth muscle (LSM) in vitro. In previous studies, more pronounced effects of lidocaine were observed in ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injured smooth muscle. Therefore in this study, effects were examined in both non-injured control tissues and tissues challenged by a defined, artificial IR injury. Isometric contractile performance of CSM and LSM, assessed by frequency (F), amplitude (A) and mean active force (MAF) of contractions, was defined as contractility...
Yi R, Zhao S, Lam G, Sandhu J, Loganathan D, Morrissey B.Cathinone is the principal psychostimulant present in the leaves of khat shrub, which are widely used in East Africa and the Arab peninsula as an amphetamine-like stimulant. Cathinone readily undergoes metabolism in vivo to form less potent cathine and norephedrine as the metabolites. However, the presence of cathine and norephedrine in biological fluids cannot be used as an indicator of cathinone administration. The metabolism of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, commonly used in cold and allergy medications, also produces cathine and norephedrine, respectively, as the metabolites. Besides, cath...
Kaabia Z, Dervilly-Pinel G, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L, Plou P, Bonnaire Y, Le Bizec B.Nandrolone (17β-hydroxy-4-estren-3-one) is amongst the most misused endogenous steroid hormones in entire male horses. The detection of such a substance is challenging with regard to its endogenous presence. The current international threshold level for nandrolone misuse is based on the urinary concentration ratio of 5α-estrane-3β,17α-diol (EAD) to 5(10)-estrene-3β,17α-diol (EED). This ratio, however, can be influenced by a number of factors due to existing intra- and inter-variability standing, respectively, for the variation occurring in endogenous steroids concentration levels in a si...
Santos VG, Beg MA, Bettencourt EM, Ginther OJ.The effects of inhibition of PGF2α synthesis on luteolysis in mares and on the incidence of prolonged luteal activity were studied in controls and in a group treated with flunixin meglumine (FM), a PGF2α inhibitor (n = 6/group). The FM was given every 8 hours (1.0 mg/kg) on each of Days 14.0 to 16.7. Concentration (pg/mL) of PGF2α metabolite averaged over 8 hours of hourly blood sampling at the beginning of each day, was lower in the FM group than in the controls on Day 14 after ovulation (6.7 ± 1.3 vs. 13.8 ± 2.9, P < 0.05), Day 15 (15.0 ± 3.9 vs. 35.2 ± 10.4, P < 0.10), and Day 16 (21...
Chesnel MA, Clutton RE.Previous studies indicated that perioperative morphine improves recovery quality after general anaesthesia in horses. This clinical trial investigated whether this effect was dose-dependant. Twenty-six horses anaesthetised for surgery were block-randomised to receive one of two intraoperative morphine treatments: Treatment M1 consisted of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of morphine at 0.1mg/kg/h, begun after a loading dose (LD) of 0.15 mg/kg. Treatment M2 was a CRI of 0.2mg/kg/h preceded by an LD of 0.3mg/kg. During recovery, times at the first attempt and at achieving sternal recumbency and st...
Pequito M, Amory H, de Moffarts B, Busoni V, Serteyn D, Sandersen C.The effects of norepinephrine (NOR) infusion on hemodynamic alterations induced with sedative doses of acepromazine (ACP) were evaluated. Infusion of NOR at 1 μg/kg body weight (BW)/minute for 15 min was administered to 5 standing horses 45 min (T45) after intravenous injection of ACP at 0.1 mg/kg BW. Systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP) and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated on the median artery. Parameters were evaluated every 5 min from 45 to 65 min (T65) at 75 (T75), 90 (T90), and 105 (T105) minutes after ACP administration, and the vessel's surface (SURF), diameter (DIAM), circumfer...
Stefanski A, Mevissen M, Möller AM, Kuehni-Boghenbor K, Schmitz A.In this study, we established cell culture conditions for primary equine hepatocytes allowing cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP) induction experiments. Hepatocytes were isolated after a modified method of Bakala et al. (2003) and cultivated on collagen I coated plates. Three different media were compared for their influence on morphology, viability and CYP activity of the hepatocytes. CYP activity was evaluated with the fluorescent substrate 7-benzyloxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin. Induction experiments were carried out with rifampicin, dexamethasone or phenobarbital. Concentration-response curves for...
Théon AP, Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Wilson WD.There is no information on the use of doxorubicin in horses with tumors. Objective: To determine dose-limiting toxicosis (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of doxorubicin in tumor-bearing horses. Methods: Seventeen horses with 34 localized or multicentric advanced tumors. Methods: Two-stage dose-ranging design involving intrapatient and interpatient dose escalation. Treatment protocol included 6 treatment cycles given at 3-week intervals with dosages ranging from 40 to 85 mg/m(2). Clinical signs, hematologic, and nonhematologic changes were evaluated. Results: Total doses ranged from 1,127...
Ferreira TH, Brosnan RJ, Shilo-Benjamini Y, Moore SB, Hollingsworth SR.To assess the effects of ketamine hydrochloride, propofol, or compounded thiopental sodium administration on intraocular pressure (IOP) and qualities of induction of and recovery from anesthesia in horses. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were sedated with xylazine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg), and anesthesia was induced with guaifenesin followed by ketamine (2 mg/kg), propofol (3 mg/kg), or thiopental (4 mg/kg) in a crossover study with ≥ 1 week between treatments. For each horse, IOP in the right eye was measured with a handheld applanation tonometer before and after xylazine ...
Nieto JE, Maher O, Stanley SD, Larson R, Snyder JR.To determine the effects of domperidone on in vivo and in vitro measures of gastrointestinal tract motility and contractility in healthy horses. Methods: 18 adult horses and tissue samples from an additional 26 adult horses. Methods: Domperidone or placebo paste was administered to healthy horses in a 2-period crossover study. Gastric emptying was evaluated after oral administration of domperidone paste (1.1 or 5.0 mg/kg) or placebo paste by means of the acetaminophen absorption test in 12 horses. Frequency of defecation, weight of feces produced, fecal moisture, and stomach-to-anus transit ti...
Gross S, Wilms D, Krause J, Brezesinski G, Andrä J.Equine sarcoid is a topically accessible model for the evaluation of anticancer peptides acting by physical membrane disruption avoiding the complexity of a systemic application. We aim at evaluating and improving natural peptides for host defence as lead structures, where we focus on the cationic and amphipathic peptide NK-2. Cytotoxicity tests, fluorescence microscopy and a chip-based biosensor, which enabled real-time monitoring of cell metabolism, were applied. Cancer cell killing was dynamic with an initial phase of increased cellular respiration, followed by membrane destruction. NK-2 wa...
Stewart AJ, Wright JC, Behrend EN, Martin LG, Kemppainen RJ, Busch KA.To determine the lowest ACTH dose that would induce a significant increase in serum cortisol concentration and identify the time to peak cortisol concentration in healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Prospective randomized crossover study. Methods: 11 healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or 1 of 4 doses (0.02, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/kg [0.009, 0.045, 0.114, and 0.227 μg/lb]) of cosyntropin (synthetic ACTH) was administered IV. Serum cortisol concentrations were measured before and 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after administration of cosyntropin or saline s...
Sarmiento J, Perez B, Morales N, Henriquez C, Vidal L, Folch H, Galecio JS, Morán G.A reduction in inflammatory cell apoptosis is an important concept in the maintenance of inflammation and a potential target for the resolution of inflammation in many inflammatory diseases. Dysregulation of apoptosis has been implicated in a range of diseases, including tumors, neurodegenerative disorders and autoimmunity, and may also be implicated in allergic asthma. In horses, recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is an asthma-like condition that is characterized increased survival neutrophil bronchial. Tamoxifen is a synthetic, non-steroidal, anti-estrogen agent that is widely used for treat...
Altamura G, Corteggio A, Nasir L, Yuan ZQ, Roperto F, Borzacchiello G.Equine sarcoids are skin tumours of fibroblastic origin affecting equids worldwide. Bovine papillomavirus type-1 (BPV-1) and, less commonly, type-2 are recognized as etiological factors of sarcoids. The transforming activity of BPV is related to the functions of its major oncoprotein E5 which binds to the platelet-derived growth factor β receptor (PDGFβR) causing its phosphorylation and activation. In this study, we demonstrate, by coimmunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, that in equine sarcoid derived cell lines PDGFβR is phosphorylated and binds downstream molecules related to Ras-mitoge...
Poller C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB.Aim of the study was to compare the effect of neuroleptic sedation with acepromazine and neuroleptanalgesia with acepromazine and buprenorphine on thermal thresholds (TT) obtained at the nostrils and at the withers. The study was carried out as a randomized, blinded, controlled trial with cross-over design. Thermal thresholds were determined by incremental contact heat applied to the skin above the nostril (N) or the withers (W). Eleven horses were treated with saline (S), acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) (ACE) or acepromazine and buprenorphine (0.0075 mg/kg) (AB) intravenously (IV). Single stimula...
Gilday R, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Fogarty U, Laverty S.The administration of bisphosphonate medications, which target osteoclastic-bone remodelling, to juvenile and adult racehorses is a matter of debate owing to concerns that these molecules remain bound to the bone-mineralised matrix and may interfere with subsequent bone growth, adaptation to exercise and healing of bone microdamage in equine athletes. Osteoclasts participate in endochondral ossification, subchondral bone remodelling and bone repair. There is a knowledge gap on the role of equine osteoclast biology in the growth and maturation of joint surfaces and this information is important...
Rathi R, Colenbrander B, Stout TA, Bevers MM, Gadella BM.Progesterone (P(4)) is a physiological inducer of the acrosome reaction (AR) in stallion spermatozoa. However, the capacitation-dependent changes that enable progesterone binding, and the nature of the signaling cascade that is triggered by progesterone and results in induction of the AR, are poorly understood. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to investigate the protein kinase dependent signaling cascades involved in progesterone-mediated induction of the AR in stallion spermatozoa. In addition, we aimed to determine whether bicarbonate, an inducer of sperm capacitation, acted via ...
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...
McClure SR, Koenig R, Hawkins PA.To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel trimethoprim-sulfadiazine oral suspension for the treatment of naturally acquired Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus infection in horses. Methods: Randomized, controlled field trial. Methods: 180 horses with S equi subsp zooepidemicus infection. Methods: Horses with lower respiratory tract infections caused by S equi subsp zooepidemicus were treated with a new formulation of combined trimethoprim-sulfadiazine oral suspension at a dosage of 24 mg/kg (10.9 mg/lb) twice daily for 10 days (treatment group) or with an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% Na...
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...
Thurmon JC, Neff-Davis C, Davis LE, Stoker RA, Benson GJ, Lock TF.The effects of intravenous xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) were studied in six thoroughbred horses (five mares and a stallion). Plasma glucose concentration increased to 168% of control at 45 min and decreased to 112% of control at 180 min. Insulin had decreased to 31% of control at 15 min. Thereafter, insulin concentration increased, reaching its highest concentration at 150 min. The mechanism for these changes is not fully understood and further investigation is indicated.
Yamashita K, Muir WW, Tsubakishita S, Abrahamsen E, Lerch P, Izumisawa Y, Kotani T.To evaluate effects of infusion of guaifenesin, ketamine, and medetomidine in combination with inhalation of sevoflurane versus inhalation of sevoflurane alone for anesthesia of horses. Methods: Randomized clinical trial. Methods: 40 horses. Methods: Horses were premedicated with xylazine and anesthetized with diazepam and ketamine. Anesthesia was maintained by infusion of guaifenesin, ketamine, and medetomidine and inhalation of sevoflurane (20 horses) or by inhalation of sevoflurane (20 horses). A surgical plane of anesthesia was maintained by controlling the inhaled concentration of sevoflu...
Holve DL.To determine the effect of sedation with detomidine on intraocular pressure (IOP) in standing horses and whether topical ocular application of anesthetic alters this effect. Methods: Clinical trial. Methods: 15 clinically normal horses. Methods: Horses were assigned to group 1 (n = 7) or 2 (8). Intraocular pressure measurements were obtained at baseline (before sedation) and 10 minutes after IV administration of detomidine (0.02 mg/kg [0.009 mg/lb]). Group 1 horses had an additional IOP measurement at 20 minutes after sedation. For group 2 horses, topical ocular anesthetic was administered 10 ...
DiMaio Knych HK, Arthur RM, Taylor A, Moeller BC, Stanley SD.Dantrolene is a skeletal muscle relaxant used commonly in performance horses to prevent exertional rhabdomyolysis. The goal of the study reported here was to begin to characterize cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of dantrolene in the horse and describe the pharmacokinetics of the compound, formulated as a capsule or a compounded paste formulation, following oral administration. Dantrolene is rapidly metabolized to 5-hydroxydantrolene both in vivo and in vitro. Preliminary work with equine liver microsomes suggest that two enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of dantrolene, as evidence...
Löscher W, Jaeschke G, Keller H.The pharmacokinetics of ascorbic acid were studied in 29 horses after intravenous (iv), subcutaneous, intramuscular (im) and oral administration. Following iv injection of 5 and 10 g ascorbic acid, respectively, a biphasic decline of ascorbic acid serum levels was found, indicating that the vitamin distributes in the body according to a two-compartment open model. The apparent volume of distribution (average value for Vd(ss) = 0.6 litre/kg) was approximately equivalent to the volume of total body water. The terminal half-life of the biexponential serum level-time curve (t1/2 beta) varied betwe...
Trim CM, Colbern GT, Martin CL.Intraocular pressure was measured with a MacKay-Marg tonometer in eight horses following auriculopalpebral nerve block and topical application of lignocaine. Measurements were recorded before and after xylazine, 1.1 mg/kg intravenously, every two minutes for 16 minutes after administration of ketamine, 2.2 mg/kg intravenously, and after recovery from anaesthesia. Before xylazine, intraocular pressure was 17.1 +/- 3.9 and 18.4 +/- 2.2 mm Hg in the left and right eyes, respectively. Intraocular pressure tended to decrease after administration of xylazine and ketamine, with a significant decrease...
Sage AM, Keating SC, Lascola KM, Schaeffer DJ, Clark-Price SC.To evaluate cardiopulmonary and recovery characteristics of horses administered total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with xylazine and ketamine combined with midazolam or propofol. Methods: Randomized crossover study. Methods: A group of eight adult horses, aged 7-22 years, weighing 493-740 kg. Methods: Horses were administered xylazine (1 mg kg) intravenously (IV), and anesthesia was induced with ketamine (2.2 mg kg) IV. Anesthesia was maintained for 45 minutes via IV infusion of xylazine (0.016 mg kg minute) and ketamine (0.03 mg kg minute) combined with midazolam at 0.002 mg kg minute (MKX),...
Higgins JC, Leith GS, Pappagianis D, Pusterla N.Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in horses can often lead to severe systemic disease and its treatment has previously been expensive and has carried a poor prognosis. This paper describes the successful treatment of two horses with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with a fluconazole product produced by a compounding pharmacy.
Mughannam AJ, Buyukmihci NC, Kass PH.The objective was to determine whether topically administered 1% atropine would alter intraocular pressure. The animals studied were four healthy adult horses. Intraocular pressure and pupil diameter were measured prior to and during a 2-day period of treatment with 1% atropine sulfate. No significant changes in intraocular pressure occurred as a result of the treatment with atropine. Pupil diameter increased significantly after atropine was applied. Available information on the outflow of aqueous humor from the horse eye suggests that atropine might reduce intraocular pressure in the horse by...
Vengust M, Staempfli H, Viel L, Heigenhauser G.Horses develop high pulmonary pressures during exercise, which force fluid out of pulmonary capillaries. Specific airway diseases in horses, especially those associated with hypoxaemia, hypercapnoea and acidosis may influence pulmonary haemodynamics and pulmonary interstitial fluid equilibrium. Objective: This study was designed to determine fluid flux (J(V-A) l/min) across the lung in exercising horses treated chronically with acetazolamide. Methods: Six horses were exercised on a treadmill until fatigue without (Con) and with chronic carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition (AczTr) and associated ...
Calzetta L, Rogliani P, Mattei M, Alfonsi P, Cito G, Pistocchini E, Cazzola M, Matera MG.Equine airways represent a suitable ex vivo model to study the functional impact of pharmacological treatments on human chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to characterize the pharmacological interaction between the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) tiotropium and the long-acting β-agonist (LABA) olodaterol in equine airways. The effect of tiotropium and olodaterol, administered alone and in combination at the ratio of concentrations reproducing ex vivo the concentration-ratio delivered by the currently avai...
Kaabia Z, Dervilly-Pinel G, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L, Plou P, Bonnaire Y, Le Bizec B.Nandrolone (17β-hydroxy-4-estren-3-one) is amongst the most misused endogenous steroid hormones in entire male horses. The detection of such a substance is challenging with regard to its endogenous presence. The current international threshold level for nandrolone misuse is based on the urinary concentration ratio of 5α-estrane-3β,17α-diol (EAD) to 5(10)-estrene-3β,17α-diol (EED). This ratio, however, can be influenced by a number of factors due to existing intra- and inter-variability standing, respectively, for the variation occurring in endogenous steroids concentration levels in a si...
Fecteau KA, Haffner JC, Eiler H.The purpose of this study was to determine to what degree bacterial collagenase may digest human placentae compared to equine and bovine placentae. Placenta samples from human, equine and bovine were incubated with bacterial collagenase solution at various concentrations. The degree of hydrolysis and collagen breakdown was measured by the release of total proteins and hydroxyproline into the incubation media. Also, whole placentae were injected via umbilical cord arteries with collagenase solution (200 U/ml, 200 ml total volume in human and 1000 ml in equine) and hydrolysis determined chemical...
Koenig JB, Cote N, LaMarre J, Harris WH, Trout DR, Kenney DG, Monteith G.To identify and characterize motilin receptors in equine duodenum, jejunum, cecum, and large colon and to determine whether erythromycin lactobionate competes with porcine motilin for binding to these receptors. Methods: Specimens of various segments of the intestinal tracts of 4 adult horses euthanatized for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal tract disease. Methods: Cellular membranes were prepared from smooth muscle tissues of the duodenum, jejunum, pelvic flexure, and cecum. Affinity and distribution of motilin binding on membrane preparations were determined by use of 125I-labeled synth...
Fisher RJ.Ketamine was used on 80 occasions to induce anaesthesia in 77 animals. Xylazine premedication was used alone on 75 occasions, in conjunction with methadone once, in conjunction with methadone and acepromazine once and, on three occasions, methadone and acepromazine only were used. Anaesthesia was maintained in seven cases with halothane and oxygen. Premedication with xylazine 5 mins previously or concurrently with ketamine gave similar results but an interval of more than 5 mins between the drugs produced less deep anaesthesia and this protocol is, therefore, not advised. Induction and recover...