Page 357 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

foot balance)

• relieve pain
VetBooks.ir • reduce joint capsule and soft tissue inflammation

•
limit inflammation of the synovial membrane
• restore normal synovial fluid quality and volume

• improve joint mobility

• stop the cartilage destruction
• encourage cartilage healing.

The response to treatment will depend on:
• the stage of the disease

• the age of the horse

• the location of the injury

• whether the lesions are superficial or extend right through the cartilage

• the size of the defect.

Systemic Medications

NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS)

This group of medicines, which includes phenylbutazone, inhibits the production of

substances such as prostaglandins which are part of the inflammatory process and cause
damage to articular cartilage. They have analgesic properties and also help to bring down the

horse’s temperature if it is raised.

Examples of this type of medication include phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine,
suxibuzone, meloxicam, firocoxib, and ketoprofen. Unfortunately some of these drugs inhibit
some beneficial actions of prostaglandins as well as the harmful ones and this occasionally

can lead to problems with long-term administration.

Toxic effects of this group of drugs include:
• gastric ulceration

• kidney damage

• colitis
• urticaria and other skin rashes

• bone marrow depression causing anaemia.