Common Equine Medications and Their Effects
Matt Kornatowski, DVM Outline Sedatives NSAIDs Antibiotics Gastroprotectants Topicals
(Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories) Antibiotics Gastroprotectants Topicals Miscellaneous Talking Points Appearance Uses Administration routes Side Effects Non-Talking Points Doses Steroids (Too much) Reproduction drugs
Dr. Stanfords talks Dewormers A whole different talk! Supplements Controlled drugs Abbreviations PO = Per Os = Orally IV = Intravascularly
IM = Intramuscularly PR = Per rectum = enough said Sedatives Acepromazine Detomidine Romifidine Xylazine Use caution! Acepromazine (Ace) Affects dopamine receptors Light yellow appearance
Oral tablets/paste Used for mild calming effect Not strong analgesic/sedative Given PO, IM, IV Lasts 3-4 hrs Side effects:Sedation, ataxia, hypotension, persistent penile prolapse (paraphimosis) Detomidine (Dormosedan, Dorm)
Alpha 2 agonist Clear in appearance Used for heavy sedation, mild analgesia Dentals, wound repair, etc Given IM, IV Lasts 45 min 1 hr Side effects:Ataxia, swaying, diuresis Occasional hyperresponsiveness Rarely recumbency Reversal agents Romifidine (Sedivet) Alpha 2 agonist Clear in appearance
Used for moderate sedation Wound repairs, oral exams Given IM, IV Lasts 1 1 hrs Side effects:Ataxia, sweating Rarely facial edema Xylazine (Rompun) Alpha 2 agonist Clear in color, shortest acting
Used for mild sedation, mild analgesia Given IM, IV Lasts app. 30 min Effects: Sedation, mild analgesia Occasional hyper-responsiveness NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories)
Phenylbutazone Banamine Firocoxib Aspirin Piroxicam Meloxicam NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories) Phenylbutazone (Bute)
Large white tablets, white paste, flavored powder Used for musculoskeletal pain Mild anti-pyretic effect Given PO, IV Lasts hrs Side effects:GI ulceration (high dose) Renal papillary necrosis (dehydration) Bone marrow suppression (anemia) Long term use IM injections cause tissue necrosis (death) Use caution in pregnant mares Bute Babies Flunixin Meglumine (Banamine)
White paste, clear liquid Used for GI pain, fever reduction Given PO, IV, (IM??) Lasts 12 hrs Side effects:GI ulceration Renal ischemia (papillary necrosis) AND. Result of IM injections
Clostridial Myositis Result of IM injections Aspirin White powder Used for hypercoagulable states, Equine Recurrent Uveitis Given PO Side Effects: Same as above (less common), platelet inhibition, tinnitus (overdose) Firocoxib (Equioxx, Previcox)
Cox 2 specific Used for musculoskeletal pain Given PO Lasts 24 hrs Side effects:Less common but similar to other NSAIDS GI ulceration, renal injury, oral erosions Piroxicam Cox 1 Used for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Given PO, IV (less common) Side effects:Same as above Meloxicam (Metacam) Cox 2 specific, considered quite safe
Used in Europe Coming soon?? Antibiotics SMZs Penicillin G Gentamicin Ceftiofur Doxycycline
Metronidazole Enrofloxacin Chloramphenicol Resistance When a microorganism has the ability of withstanding the
effects of antibiotics Genetic mutation within the bacteria Due to overuse or improper use underdosing Multi-drug resistant superbugs MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph. Aureus) SMZs Trimethaprim Sulfadiazine (Veterinary)
SMZs, Uniprim, Tucoprim Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole (Human) Tribrissen 160 mg Trimethoprim 800 mg Sulfa Main difference: Urine concentration Metabolization SMZs Paste, powder, white tablets Given PO, IV (Rare)
Used for variety of infections Mainly skin, uterine, urinary Side effects:Colitis, Anemia (long term) Penicillin G G = Gold Standard White liquid
Limited spectrum of activity Used commonly for Staphylococcus/Streptococcus -Skin, strangles Given IM only! Other forms of penicillin can be given IV Side effects:Soft tissue reaction, Allergic reaction, anemia (long term use) Gentamicin (Gentocin)
Clear liquid, ophthalmic ointment Synergistic with penicillin Gentomicin is poor against Streptococcus Given IV, IM, Ocular Side effects:Nephrotoxic (Kidneys) Rare ototoxicity (ears) Neurotoxicity Ceftiofur (Naxcel, Excede)
White powder reconstituted to yellow liquid Excede is brown, thick liquid Used for respiratory infections, internal disease, surgery Given IV, IM (Excede IM ONLY) Side effects:Colitis & anemia (high doses) Doxycycline Small, orange tablets Used for various issues Given PO
Penetrates tissues very well Given PO Oxytetracycline given IV Side effects:Congenital malformations GI disruption Relatively safe Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Oblong white tablets Used for diarrhea, thrush, canker (anaerobic infections) Given PO, PR, topically Side effects: Neurotoxicity (rare) Disruption of GI protozoa Enrofloxacin (Baytril)
Liquid or oral paste Used for variety of infections Less resistance Given PO, IV Side effects:Colitis Neurotoxicity Tissue irritation (Oral lesions) Cartilage damage in young Chloramphenicol Yellow pills, oral liquid, eye ointment
Used for variety of infections Big gun antibiotic Given PO, IV, Ocular Side effects: Diarrhea, inappetance bone marrow suppression Relatively safe Aplastic anemia in humans Wear gloves! Gastroprotectants Gastrogard Ulcergard Ranitidine Omeprazole (Gastrogard/Ulcergard)
Oral, white paste Treat/prevent gastric ulcers Proton pump inhibitor Decreases acid secretion Given PO Side Effects: No adverse effects listed Ranitidine (Zantac) Small, circular yellow or white tablets
Treat gastric ulcers Inhibits H2 receptors Decreases acid secretion Given PO, IV Side effects:Very rare Topicals Triple Antibiotic Ointment Silver Sulfadiazine Furazone
Surpass DMSO Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neomycin, Polymyxin, Bacitracin)
Clear gel comprised of 3 antibiotics Topical antibiotic Used for variety of issues Eye ulcers (Ophthalmic), wounds, mild to moderate skin infections Side effects: Contact dermatitis Silver Sulfadiazine (SSD)
Thick, white cream Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal Used for burns, eye ulcers, wounds Side Effects:Skin irritation Nitrofurazone (Furazone)
Yellow gel Can be mixed with DMSO Antibacterial Good for burns, skin infections Scratches Side effects: Contact dermatitis Renal impairment Diclofenac (Surpass) White gel Topical NSAID (Non-specific Cox 1 & 2)
Control of joint pain & inflammation Side effects: Well tolerated Dermatitis (Let dry) Possible weight loss, gastric ulcers, diarrhea DMSO (Di-Methyl Sulf-Oxide)
Clear gel Topical application to reduce acute swelling due to trauma Used in many other ways Topical carrier agent Some anti-inflammatory properties Side effects:Burning (erythema) Garlic odor Relatively safe Teratogenic properties in humans (Gloves!) Miscellaneus Meds Pergolide Isoxsuprine Marquis Pergolide Dopamine agonist Used to treat Cushings Disease
Decreases release of certain proteins Used to treat Cushings Disease Side effects:Few (Well tolerated) In humans: Neuroses (hallucinations), nausea, vomiting, rhinitis Isoxsuprine White tablets Used for laminitis & navicular Given PO
Dilates blood vessels Questionable efficacy Given PO Side effects: Unlikely Tachycardia, hypotension Hyperexcitability Ponazuril (Marquis) Paste formulation EPM treatment ONLY Given PO
Equine Protozoal Myelitis Anti-protozoal Affects organelle specific to protozoa! Given PO Side effects: At 10x the dose, some soft manure Very safe! Key Points Sedatives NSAIDs Antibiotics
Ataxia, sweating, urination NSAIDs Gastric ulcers, kidney problems Antibiotics Resistance Potentially cause colitis Call your vet before administering any drugs! Questions?