Effects of intravenous administration of dimethyl sulfoxide on cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic variables in awake or halothane-anesthetized horses.

This research explores the effects of intravenously applying dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on heart and lung functions, as well as clinical-pathological variables, in both conscious and anesthetized horses.

Methodology

• The study recruited 6 adult horses for the experiment.
• These horses were given an IV infusion of a balanced electrolyte solution, both with and without a 10% dose of DMSO, while they were awake and while anesthetized with halothane. This resulted in 4 treatments per horse.
• Blood samples were collected before, during, and after the fluid administration. These samples were then analyzed for blood gases and other blood-related factors.
• Furthermore, heart and respiratory rates, along with arterial blood pressure variables, were recorded before, during, and after fluid administration.

Results

• The application of fluids, both with and without DMSO, resulted in immediate changes in the measured variables. However, most variables returned back to baseline within 4 hours.
• There were some side effects in conscious horses like anxiety, agitation, and rapid heart rate which disappeared when the infusion rate was reduced.
• In anesthetized horses, some medical conditions persisted for 24 hours such as heightened white blood cell levels, plasma fibrinogen, and creatine kinase activity. These conditions were reported to be more associated with the stress of anesthesia than the fluid administration.

Conclusions

• The infusion of a balanced electrolyte solution (with or without 10% DMSO) caused minimal changes in the heart-lung function and clinicopathologic variables of conscious or anesthetized horses.
• It was also found that the stress related to anesthesia and recovery had a greater influence on the measured variables in anesthetized horses than fluid administration.