Sunday, August 12, 2018

Useful Information About Pain Relief For Horses

By Marie Moore


Like many other animals and human beings, horses also experience pain and sustain injuries. Pain in the different organs of a horse, especially joints and bones can be caused by various medical conditions. Research has been done by veterinarians over the years to determine the most effective painkillers in the modern market for pain relief for horses.

There are various medications available that manage pain in horses. This article discusses some of these medications. A-2 Agonists, opioids, ketamine, and NSAIDs are some of the medical options available for managing pain in horses. The name Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs is abbreviated by NSAIDs. NSAIDs have been the centerpiece of equine analgesia. There are various categories of drugs that fall in the NSAIDs category and phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine are the major ones.

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.

Composition of chemicals in each drug categorized under NSAIDs is unique even though they are categorized in one group. These means that levels at which toxicity is caused are different in each drug. Generally, medication overdose in equines is the main cause of toxicity. Kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and livers are usually affected by toxicity. Equines that are very young appear to be at the highest risk of being affected by toxicity.

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 a horse is put under general anesthesia, they are usually given a-2 agonists. This drug has also been established as an effective pain control method for horses that show signs of colic. There has been a new introduction in the sedation market and that is the detomidine formulation. The formulation can be used to produce sedation that is able to put a horse under sedation for around 2 hours.

Pain in horses can also be treated by administration of ketamine which acts as a good option. Upregulation can be prevented by use of ketamine as suggested by research. In regard to the effectiveness of ketamine in prevention of upregulation in horses, there is no sufficient evidence to prove it. Evidence of its effectiveness exists in human patients however. A research that was done recently on human beings and dogs indicates ketamine when administered in small doses prevents wind up.

Patients with chronic pains can have the pains relieved when ketamine is administered in small doses. In cases where other drugs have proven to be insufficient ketamine has been proven to work. Better options are expected to be discovered in ongoing research.




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