Lower gastric ulcerogenic effect of suxibuzone compared to phenylbutazone when administered orally to horses.

The study reveals that suxibuzone (SBZ) causes significantly fewer stomach ulcers in horses when compared to phenylbutazone (PBZ), when both drugs are administered orally at equimolecular dosages.

Objective and Methodology

• The research aimed to compare the gastrointestinal and general toxicity of suxibuzone and phenylbutazone, two drugs commonly used in horses.
• The study included fifteen healthy horses, which were divided into three groups. Each group was administered different treatments – one received a high dose of phenylbutazone, the second received an equimolecular dosage of suxibuzone, and the third received a placebo.
• Regular monitoring of the horses was conducted, and blood samples were collected before and during the study.
• After the oral administration of the treatments for 18 days, post-mortem examinations were performed.

Results

• One horse from the group treated with phenylbutazone exhibited signs of NSAID toxicosis. Two other horses from this group and two horses from the suxibuzone group were found to have small oral ulcers.
• Comparatively, while blood parameters were similar among all groups, stomach ulcers were significantly less frequent and less severe in the suxibuzone group. All horses in the phenylbutazone group developed ulcers in the stomach’s glandular mucosa, while only two horses in the suxibuzone group exhibited ulceration.
• Additionally, in the horses of the phenylbutazone group, ulcers covered a larger area and were significantly deeper than those in the suxibuzone and placebo groups.

Conclusion

• The research concluded that suxibuzone causes significantly fewer gastric ulcers than phenylbutazone when administered orally at equivalent dosages to horses.
• This leads to the potential implication that suxibuzone may be a safer drug for horses, posing fewer of the gastrointestinal risks associated with phenylbutazone.

In essence, the study highlights the comparative benefits of suxibuzone over phenylbutazone in reducing the risk of gastric ulcers in horses when administered orally – an important finding for enhancing animal welfare standards in equine care.