Efficacy of single-dose intravenous phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine before, during and after exercise in an experimental reversible model of foot lameness in horses.
Abstract: Objective blinded efficacy data during exercise are lacking on the use of single-dose i.v. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before, during and after exercise. Objective: Single i.v. doses of either phenylbutazone (PBZ) or flunixin meglumine (FM) would prove more efficacious than negative saline control (SAL) before, during and after exercise in a reversible model of foot lameness. Methods: Six Quarter Horse mares had lameness induced by tightening a set screw against a heart bar shoe 1 h prior to treatment. Randomised blinded treatments included PBZ (4.4 mg/kg bwt i.v.), FM (1.1 mg/kg bwt i.v.), and SAL (1 ml/45 kg i.v.). Heart rate and lameness score (LS) were recorded at rest; every 20 min after lameness induction for 5 h and at the end of 2 min treadmill workloads of 2 and 4 m/s. Heart rate was also recorded from 0.5-60 min post exercise. Results were compared using RM ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keul's test (HR) and Wilcoxon signed rank test (%ΔLS) with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Pre-exercise mean HR was decreased for both NSAIDs compared to SAL from 1:20-4 h post treatment (P < 0.05). Pre-exercise mean %ΔLS was decreased for PBZ (1:20-4 h) and FM (1-4 h) compared to SAL (P < 0.01). With exercise, there were no HR differences between treatments (P > 0.05), but mean %ΔLS was decreased for both NSAIDs compared to SAL (P < 0.01). Mean recovery HR was decreased for PBZ and FM from 1-60 min compared to SAL (P < 0.05). Conclusions: PBZ and FM demonstrated definitive clinical efficacy after single i.v. doses before, during and after exercise. Use of single i.v. doses during competition may mask lameness and may affect the ability of judges in determining the soundness of horses in competition.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21059067DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00232.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study examined how effective single doses of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine are in reducing foot lameness in horses before, during, and after exercise. The result demonstrated the definite clinical effectiveness of these drugs.
Study Overview
The study was designed to deliver objective blind efficacy data on the effect of single-dose intravenous (i.v.) NSAIDs on horses both before, during, and after exercise. The tested hypothesis was that a single i.v. dose of either phenylbutazone (PBZ) or flunixin meglumine (FM) would prove more efficacious than a saline control (SAL) when administered before, during, and after exercise in a reversible model of foot lameness.
Methodology
- Six Quarter Horse mares were used in the experiment and a reversible model of foot lameness was artificially induced in the horses.
- An hour before treatment, the lameness was induced by tightening a set screw against a heart bar shoe.
- The treatments were randomized and blinded and included PBZ, FM, and SAL.
- The heart rate and lameness scores (LS) of the horse were recorded at varying intervals before and after the exercise, as well as during the treadmill workloads.
- The data collected was analyzed using RM ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keul’s test and Wilcoxon signed rank test, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.
Results
- The NSAIDs reduced the pre-exercise mean heart rate compared to the saline control from 1:20-4 hours after the treatment.
- The lameness score (LS) also decreased significantly for both NSAIDs in comparison to the saline control.
- After exercise, while there was no difference in heart rate between the different treatments, the lameness score decreased more for the horses treated with NSAIDs compared to those treated with saline.
- The mean recovery heart rate was also lower for the horses treated with PBZ and FM in comparison to the saline control.
Conclusions
The main conclusion of the study is that both PBZ and FM proved clinically efficacious in managing foot lameness in horses when administered before, during, or after exercise. However, the use of these single doses during competition may mask lameness, potentially affecting the ability of judges to accurately assess the horses’ soundness in competition.
Cite This Article
APA
Foreman JH, Grubb TL, Inoue OJ, Banner SE, Ball KT.
(2011).
Efficacy of single-dose intravenous phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine before, during and after exercise in an experimental reversible model of foot lameness in horses.
Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 601-605.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00232.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Veterinary Medicine, USA. jhf@illinois.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Clonixin / administration & dosage
- Clonixin / analogs & derivatives
- Clonixin / therapeutic use
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
- Phenylbutazone / administration & dosage
- Phenylbutazone / therapeutic use
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Shoes / adverse effects
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Jacobs C, Schnabel LV, Redding Horne C, Tufts S, Martin EGM, Love K. Postoperative management following equine orthopedic surgery: a survey of diplomates of the ACVS and ACVSMR. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1708401.
- Quam V, Yardley J, Quam M, Paz C, Belknap J. Cryotherapy provides transient analgesia in an induced lameness model in horses. Can Vet J 2021 Aug;62(8):834-838.
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