Horse Health

Pharmaceutical options for equine pain management

There are many different pharmaceuticals (drugs) that can be used for the treatment of pain in horses.

Type of drugExamplesRole
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) phenylbutazone, flunixin, meclofenamic acid, meloxicam Potent anti-inflammatories and analgesics. These are the most effective and commonly used drugs for pain relief in horses.
Opioids pethidine morphine, butorphanol, fentanyl Act on the central nervous system.
Alpha 2 adrenergic agonists detomidine, xylazine, romifidine Potent sedatives more commonly used for sedation, but have the added benefit of providing analgesia.
Local anaesthetics mepivacaine, lignocaine, procaine, prilocaine, bupivicaine Numb the area by blocking impulse transmission in nerves.
Dissociative agent ketamine Used more often at sub-anaesthetic doses to produce analgesia.
Corticosteroids dexamethasone Not strictly analgesic drugs, but have very potent anti-inflammatory properties.

These drugs are often used simultaneously. For example, by using NSAIDs in addition to opioids, a better analgesia can be achieved and the vet may reduce the opioid dose by as much as one-third.

The different ways of administering pharmaceuticals

The different routes of administration can be used to optimise analgesia. The choice will depend on circumstances and the desired effect. The various routes include:

  • Intravenous (into vein)
  • Intramuscular (into muscle)
  • Subcutaneous (under skin)
  • Oral (by mouth)
  • Inhalation
  • Perineural (around nerves)

The Number 1 choice for vets and owners

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), particularly phenylbutazone, have long been the primary choice of vets and owners for the treatment of orthopaedic inflammation and pain in horses. These conditions include musculo-skeletal disorders such as lameness, osteoarthritis and laminitis. They are considered to be effective and safe in the short and long term.

Pre-operative Analgesia

A horse will almost invariably receive analgesics before undergoing a routine or emergency surgical procedure.

A surgical incision will cause tissue damage, inflammation and subsequent pain. By giving adequate levels of analgesics prior to surgery, pain will be minimised both during and after the procedure.