Horses can suffer from a variety of conditions that can lead to chronic pain, such as arthritis and laminitis. While commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine are effective at controlling pain, they are nonselective COX inhibitors. Firocoxib is one of many selective COX-2 inhibitors introduced in the veterinary market, and the only one labelled for oral use in horses in Canada. While an equine-labelled product has only recently...

Emerging antimicrobial resistance among both human and animal populations has been a concern for some time. While the use of antimicrobials is regulated in certain animal populations in the US, their use in horses is not. Antimicrobial use is of interest because it creates selection pressure for antimicrobial resistance. Because of the large equine population, frequent travel of those equines and close contact between equine athletes, staff and spectators at racetracks, there is a possibility...

While gabapentin in often used in humans and small animals, there has been limited information about the safety and efficacy of dosing gabapentin in horses. So far, most of our information about the use of gabapentin is drawn from extrapolations based on its use in other species including dogs, cats and humans. The analgesic dose of gabapentin is still not known in horses. A recent study (Gold et al., 2022) compared the effects of treating equines with 40 mg/kg or 120 mg/kg of gabapentin...

The equine navicular apparatus as a premier enthesis organ: Functional implications The diagnosis of navicular syndrome (sometimes called caudal foot pain, palmar foot pain, podotrochlosis) is often dreaded by riders, trainers and veterinarians. Lameness attributable to the caudal region of the foot, sensitivity over the navicular regions and radiographic changes in the bone are part of the clinical portrait of the disease. While the ability to precisely diagnose specific lesions in each...

Hypotension is a frequent challenge in equine general anesthesia and is associated with a variety of post-anesthetic complications, including myopathy. Hypotension under general anesthesia often develops secondary to the effects of inhaled volatile anesthetic agents. Efforts at countering hypotension under anesthesia have focused on decreasing the amounts of inhaled anesthetics, administering IV fluids and using vasopressors or ionotropic medications. Hypotension can also be encountered in...

Equine cervical pain and dysfunction: Pathology, diagnosis and treatment There is an increase in awareness of cervical pain and dysfunction in performance horses among professionals. Affected horses may exhibit a variety of symptoms ranging from obvious cervical pain and muscle tension to poor performance, forelimb lameness and behavioural issues. While improved imaging methods have led the way to better visualization of this region, clinical interpretation can be difficult. The spectrum of...

Client satisfaction in equine veterinary practice: A structured review and quantitative synthesis As medical professionals, veterinarians often focus mainly on optimal patient outcomes, yet client satisfaction may rest on many facets of the veterinarian-client-patient interaction. Equine veterinarians interact with a broad range of clients who may have different levels of knowledge and different expectations for the professional dealing in animal health. Patients can range from backyard pets...

Effects of regional limb perfusion technique on concentrations of antibiotic achieved at the target site: A Meta-Analysis Veterinarians are often called upon to treat conditions such as cellulitis, joint infections and trauma-induced wounds of the distal limbs in horses. Intravenous regional limb perfusion allows veterinarians to achieve a high concentration of antibiotic within a targeted region of a limb with a lower dose of antibiotic than systemic administration, decreasing the cost and...

Hearing loss may affect a horse’s quality of life and its ability to interact with riders, trainers and other horses. Current known causes of auditory loss in the horse include: temporohyoid osteopathy, otitis, brainstem disease, trauma, congenital sensorineural deafness (American Paint horses) and old age. In foals, congenital sensorineural deafness, prematurity, sepsis, brainstem disease, trauma and otitis can cause auditory loss. Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is commonly used in...