Horses like people and many other animals also sustain injuries and experience pain. There is also a wide range of medical conditions that can cause horses to experience pain in various parts of their bodies, especially bones and joints. Over the course of years, veterinarians have been able to undertake research to determine which of the many painkillers in the market are the most effective 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.
Phenylbutazone and fluxine meglumine are used by most veterinarians in successful treatment of general ailments in horses. Ocular pain, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal are among the diseases treatable by these drugs. Apart from phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, drugs like carprofen and ketoprofen are also categorized as NSAIDs. Veterinarians also use carprofen and ketoprofen though not regularly.
Although many drugs are grouped together in the NSAID category, each drug is unique in its chemical composition. That means that each drug has a different level at which it causes toxicity. In general, toxicity usually results from overdosing the horse with medication. Toxicity usually affects kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. Very young horses seem to be at a higher risk of the effects of 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.
The a-2 agonists are also given to equines before they are put under general anesthesia. The a-2 agonists have also been determined to be effective in controlling pain among horses that have signs of colic. A new formulation of detomidine has been introduced in the market for sedation. This formulation is capable of producing enough sedation that can last for about 2 hours.
Ketamine is also a good option for treating pain in equines. It has been suggested by researchers for the prevention of upregulation. Even though there is no adequate evidence at the moment regarding how efficient ketamine is in preventing upregulation in equines, evidence from human patients exist. A recent research in dogs and humans indicate that small doses of ketamine prevent 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.
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.
Phenylbutazone and fluxine meglumine are used by most veterinarians in successful treatment of general ailments in horses. Ocular pain, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal are among the diseases treatable by these drugs. Apart from phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, drugs like carprofen and ketoprofen are also categorized as NSAIDs. Veterinarians also use carprofen and ketoprofen though not regularly.
Although many drugs are grouped together in the NSAID category, each drug is unique in its chemical composition. That means that each drug has a different level at which it causes toxicity. In general, toxicity usually results from overdosing the horse with medication. Toxicity usually affects kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. Very young horses seem to be at a higher risk of the effects of 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.
The a-2 agonists are also given to equines before they are put under general anesthesia. The a-2 agonists have also been determined to be effective in controlling pain among horses that have signs of colic. A new formulation of detomidine has been introduced in the market for sedation. This formulation is capable of producing enough sedation that can last for about 2 hours.
Ketamine is also a good option for treating pain in equines. It has been suggested by researchers for the prevention of upregulation. Even though there is no adequate evidence at the moment regarding how efficient ketamine is in preventing upregulation in equines, evidence from human patients exist. A recent research in dogs and humans indicate that small doses of ketamine prevent 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.
About the Author:
When you are searching for information about pain relief for horses, come to our web pages today. More details are available at http://www.naviculardisease.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment