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Useful Information About Pain Relief For Horses

By Marie Moore


All animals including horses feel pain and suffer from injuries. Horses feel pain in different parts of their bodies including joints and bones due to a number of various medical conditions. Throughout the years, veterinarians have been conducting extensive research to find out which painkiller in the market is the most effective for pain relief for horses.

Several different medications are available for managing pain in horses, and this article will discuss some of them. Some of the options that people have include NSAIDs, opioids, a-2 Agonists, and ketamine. NSAIDs is the abbreviation for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs have for many years been the mainstay of equine analgesia. The two major drugs that fall in the category of NSAIDs are flunixin meglumine and phenylbutazone.

These two drugs have been used to successfully treat various numbness conditions. They are mainly used to treat diseases such as ocular, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal pains. Other drugs categorized under NSAIDs include carprofen and ketoprofen. These two drugs are however not commonly used by veterinarians.

There are several drugs that are placed under the NSAID classification. These drugs are however different in their chemical composition. For this reason, the toxicity level of these drugs are different based on the chemical composition of the drug. Generally, getting the horse overdosed with medication is one of the main causes of toxicity. This usually affects the gastrointestinal tract, liver and the kidneys. Toxicity usually has drastic effects on younger equines compared to older horses.

Laboratory studies and clinical use indicate that a-2 agonists are probably the most effective systemically used analgesics. However, they are usually not the first choice that comes to the mind of veterinarians because they produce various side effects. Some of the side effects that thee drugs produce include drowsiness, ataxia, gastrointestinal stasis, and hyperglycemia among many others. The a-2 agonists are typically used by veterinarians to sedate equines before performing standing procedures.

Before being put under general anesthesia, equines are given a-2 agonists. It has been determined that equines that have signs of colic can have their pains controlled by use of a-2 agonists. Detomidine has been introduced as a new formulation in the sedation market. Sedation from this formulation is capable of lasting for up to 2 hours.

Pain in horses can be treated effectively using ketamine. Ketamine has also been recommended by scientists for use in preventing upregulation. In equines, there is no sufficient evidence on how efficient it is in prevention of ketamine but there is enough evidence from its use on human patients. Recent research carried out on humans and dogs have established that when used in small doses, it can be used in prevention of windup.

Small doses of ketamine also relieve pain in patients with chronic pain. Ketamine has proven to be particularly effective in cases where other drugs have failed. Research in relief of pains in equines is still underway and it is expected that better options will be obtained.




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