1. Common Equine Medications and Their Effects
Matt Kornatowski, DVM

2. Outline Sedatives NSAIDs Antibiotics Gastroprotectants Topicals
(Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories)
Antibiotics
Gastroprotectants
Topicals
Miscellaneous

3. Talking Points
Appearance
Uses
Administration routes
Side Effects

4. Non-Talking Points Doses Steroids (Too much) Reproduction drugs
Dr. Stanford’s talks
Dewormers
A whole different talk!
Supplements
Controlled drugs

5. Abbreviations PO = Per Os = Orally IV = Intravascularly
IM = Intramuscularly
PR = Per rectum = enough said

6. Sedatives
Acepromazine
Detomidine
Romifidine
Xylazine
Use caution!

7. 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)

8. 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

9. Romifidine (Sedivet) Alpha 2 agonist Clear in appearance
Used for moderate sedation
Wound repairs, oral exams
Given IM, IV
Lasts 1 – 1 ½ hrs
Side effects: Ataxia, sweating
Rarely facial edema

10. 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

12. NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories)
Phenylbutazone
Banamine
Firocoxib
Aspirin
Piroxicam
Meloxicam

13. NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories)

14. 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”

15. 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….

16. Result of IM injections
Clostridial Myositis
Result of IM injections

17. Aspirin
White powder
Used for hypercoagulable states, Equine Recurrent Uveitis
Given PO
Side Effects: Same as above (less common), platelet inhibition,
tinnitus (overdose)

18. 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

19. Piroxicam Cox 1 Used for Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Given PO, IV (less common)
Side effects: Same as above

20. Meloxicam (Metacam) Cox 2 specific, considered quite safe
Used in Europe
Coming soon??

22. Antibiotics SMZs Penicillin G Gentamicin Ceftiofur Doxycycline
Metronidazole
Enrofloxacin
Chloramphenicol

23. 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)

24. SMZs Trimethaprim Sulfadiazine (Veterinary)
SMZs, Uniprim, Tucoprim
Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole (Human)
Tribrissen
160 mg Trimethoprim
800 mg Sulfa
Main difference:
Urine concentration
Metabolization

25. SMZs Paste, powder, white tablets Given PO, IV (Rare)
Used for variety of infections
Mainly skin, uterine, urinary
Side effects: Colitis,
Anemia (long term)

26. 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)

27. 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

28. 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)

29. 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

30. Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Oblong white tablets
Used for diarrhea, thrush,
canker (anaerobic infections)
Given PO, PR, topically
Side effects:
Neurotoxicity (rare)
Disruption of GI protozoa

31. 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

32. 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!

34. Gastroprotectants
Gastrogard
Ulcergard
Ranitidine

35. Omeprazole (Gastrogard/Ulcergard)
Oral, white paste
Treat/prevent
gastric ulcers
Proton pump inhibitor
Decreases acid secretion
Given PO
Side Effects:
No adverse effects listed

36. Ranitidine (Zantac) Small, circular yellow or white tablets
Treat gastric ulcers
Inhibits H2 receptors
Decreases acid secretion
Given PO, IV
Side effects: Very rare

37. Topicals Triple Antibiotic Ointment Silver Sulfadiazine Furazone
Surpass
DMSO

38. 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

39. Silver Sulfadiazine (SSD)
Thick, white cream
Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal
Used for burns, eye ulcers,
wounds
Side Effects: Skin irritation

40. Nitrofurazone (Furazone)
Yellow gel
Can be mixed with DMSO
Antibacterial
Good for burns, skin infections
Scratches
Side effects:
Contact dermatitis
Renal impairment

41. 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

42. 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!)

44. Miscellaneus Meds
Pergolide
Isoxsuprine
Marquis

45. Pergolide Dopamine agonist Used to treat Cushing’s Disease
Decreases release of
certain proteins
Used to treat
Cushing’s Disease
Side effects: Few (Well tolerated)
In humans: Neuroses (hallucinations), nausea, vomiting, rhinitis

46. Isoxsuprine White tablets Used for laminitis & navicular Given PO
Dilates blood vessels
Questionable efficacy
Given PO
Side effects: Unlikely
Tachycardia, hypotension
Hyperexcitability

47. 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!

48. 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!

49. Questions?