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Home / Equine Research Bank / Am J Vet Res / Chronic flunixin meglumine therapy in foals.
American journal of veterinary research1988; 49(1); 7-12;

Chronic flunixin meglumine therapy in foals.

Abstract: Effects of a therapeutic dose of flunixin meglumine on gastric mucosa of horse foals were determined by endoscopy, double-contrast radiography, and gross and histologic examinations. Foals were administered 1.1 mg of flunixin meglumine/kg of body weight, PO/day for 30 days in an encapsulated form that was divided into 2 doses/day (group 1; n = 3) or by IM injection once a day (group 2; n = 7). Three control foals (group 3; n = 3) were administered capsules (n = 1) containing dextrose powder or IM injections (n = 2) of vehicle solution without flunixin meglumine. All 3 groups-1 foals given flunixin meglumine PO developed oral ulcers. Group-2 foals given flunixin meglumine IM did not develop oral ulcers. One control foal (group 3) developed 1 oral ulcer that healed during the study. Endoscopic examination revealed linear crease-like mucosal lesions in the glandular portion of the stomach in 2 group-2 foals. Radiographic evidence of gastric ulcers was observed in only 1 gastrogram of a group-1 foal. Foals were euthanatized, and necropsy revealed erosions and/or ulcers of the glandular portion of the stomach. Oral ulcers were observed in all 3 group-1 foals. Erosions of the glandular portion of the stomach developed in all 10 foals given flunixin meglumine, but did not develop in group-3 foals. Ulceration of the glandular portion of the stomach was present in 1 group-2 foal.
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Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 3354970
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the effect of a medicine called flunixin meglumine on the stomach lining of young horses when given in different forms and dosages. The researchers found that the medication caused stomach and oral ulcers in all the young horses treated, but did not cause ulcers in the control group that didn’t receive the drug.

Objective and Methodology

  • The main goal of this research was to determine the effects of a therapeutic dose of flunixin meglumine (a drug often used as a painkiller in horses) on the gastric mucosa (stomach lining) of foals, or young horses.
  • The study used various methods – endoscopy, double-contrast radiography, and gross and histologic examinations – to observe any changes in the stomach tissues of foals.
  • The trial was divided into three groups: group 1 foals received an oral form of the drug twice a day, group 2 foals were given the drug through intramuscular (IM) injection once a day, and group 3 (the control group) were given capsules containing dextrose powder or similar injections without the active drug.

Results

  • All foals in group 1 developed oral ulcers. However, those in group 2 who were given injections did not develop oral ulcers. One control foal developed an oral ulcer that healed during the study.
  • Endoscopic examinations revealed crease-like lesions on the stomach lining of two foals in group 2. The only radiographic evidence of stomach ulcers was observed in one foal from group 1.
  • Upon euthanasia and necropsy, stomach ulcers or erosions were found in all foals treated with flunixin meglumine, including all of those in group 1 along with one foal from group 2, but none in group 3 (control).

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that flunixin meglumine causes gastric ulcers and erosions in foals, regardless of the method of administration. The severity of the symptoms appeared to vary between animals, with foals that received the drug orally being more likely to develop both oral and gastric ulcers compared with those who received injections.

Cite This Article

APA
Traub-Dargatz JL, Bertone JJ, Gould DH, Wrigley RH, Weiser MG, Forney SD. (1988). Chronic flunixin meglumine therapy in foals. Am J Vet Res, 49(1), 7-12.

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 7-12

Researcher Affiliations

Traub-Dargatz, J L
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
Bertone, J J
    Gould, D H
      Wrigley, R H
        Weiser, M G
          Forney, S D

            MeSH Terms

            • Administration, Oral
            • Animals
            • Clonixin / administration & dosage
            • Clonixin / analogs & derivatives
            • Clonixin / toxicity
            • Female
            • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
            • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
            • Horse Diseases / pathology
            • Horses
            • Injections, Intramuscular
            • Male
            • Mouth Diseases / chemically induced
            • Mouth Diseases / pathology
            • Mouth Diseases / veterinary
            • Nicotinic Acids / toxicity
            • Stomach Ulcer / chemically induced
            • Stomach Ulcer / pathology
            • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
            • Ulcer / chemically induced
            • Ulcer / pathology
            • Ulcer / veterinary

            Citations

            This article has been cited 7 times.
            1. Ignácio FS, Garcia LV, de Souza GG, Amatti LZ, de Barros LD, Bergfelt DR, Camargo GS, de Meira C, de Almeida BFM. Hematological and Biochemical Effects Associated with Prolonged Administration of the NSAID Firocoxib in Adult Healthy Horses. Vet Sci 2024 Jun 5;11(6).
              doi: 10.3390/vetsci11060256pubmed: 38922003google scholar: lookup
            2. Flood J, Stewart AJ. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Associated Toxicities in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 26;12(21).
              doi: 10.3390/ani12212939pubmed: 36359062google scholar: lookup
            3. Fielding CL. Practical Fluid Therapy and Treatment Modalities for Field Conditions for Horses and Foals with Gastrointestinal Problems. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2018 Apr;34(1):155-168.
              doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2017.11.013pubmed: 29534809google scholar: lookup
            4. Mozaffari AA, Derakhshanfar A. Evaluation of the brain, renal, and hepatic effects of flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, and phenylbutazone administration in Iranian fat-tailed sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011 Oct;43(7):1389-93.
              doi: 10.1007/s11250-011-9866-5pubmed: 21503752google scholar: lookup
            5. Orsini JA, Spencer PA. Effects of a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist, BMY-26539-01, on equine gastric acid secretion. Can J Vet Res 2001 Jan;65(1):55-9.
              pubmed: 11227196
            6. Sandin A, Skidell J, Häggström J, Girma K, Nilsson G. Post-mortem findings of gastric ulcers in Swedish horses up to one year of age: a retrospective study 1924-1996. Acta Vet Scand 1999;40(2):109-20.
              doi: 10.1186/BF03547028pubmed: 10605127google scholar: lookup
            7. Semrad SD, Dubielzig R. Effect of repeated administration of tirilazad mesylate on healthy and endotoxemic calves: a pilot study. Can J Vet Res 1994 Jan;58(1):67-70.
              pubmed: 8143257
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