Phenylbutazone toxicosis in equidae: a biochemical and pathophysiological study.

The research studies the toxic effects of a drug called phenylbutazone, commonly used in horses and ponies, using multiple methods. It highlights how the tested animals often showed signs of poisoning, associated with reduced protein in the body and resulted frequently in protein-losing gastroenteropathy.

Research Methodology

• The research was conducted on ponies and horses, with the aim of investigating the toxic effects of phenylbutazone (PBZ). PBZ is a drug that is typically used as a pain reliever for these animals.
• Various methods were used for the study – these include biochemical, pathophysiological, and pathological methods.
• The dosage given to ponies was between 10 to 12 mg/kg of body weight per day, for a period of 8 to 10 days.
• For Thoroughbreds, the given dosage was slightly lower – 8.2 mg/kg of body weight per day, lasting for 13 days.

Findings – Ponies

• After administering the dosage mentioned above, it was observed that ponies frequently showed clinical signs of toxicosis. This condition is characterized by hypoproteinemia, which involves reduced protein levels in the body.
• The researchers used a specific radiolabelled compound, 51CrCl3, to study the impact of PBZ and found that it caused a protein-losing gastroenteropathy in ponies.
• This indicates that the drug PBZ led to gastrointestinal disorders where the pony’s digestive tract was not able to absorb proteins properly and was losing protein.
• The protein loss was usually associated with gastrointestinal ulceration, which involved the formation of ulcers in the digestive tract.

Findings – Horses (Thoroughbreds)

• The study revealed that Thoroughbreds were less affected by the toxicity of PBZ than ponies. This was despite them being given a similar dosage regimen, although slightly lower.
• On the other hand, hypoproteinemia did occur in 4 out of the 6 Thoroughbreds treated with PBZ – signifying that while Thoroughbreds might be less susceptible, they are not immune to PBZ’s toxic effects.