The apparent low bioavailability of oral gabapentin in horses suggests that gabapentin may need to be administered IV or at very large oral doses to see a positive effect on chronic musculoskeletal pain. Abstract Gabapentin has been used to treat chronic pain in people and small animals. To date, no study has reported its use in horses for the treatment of chronic painful conditions. The clinical effectiveness of gabapentin as an analgesic in horses with chronic lameness was evaluated in a double-blinded crossover study. Six horses with chronic lameness referable to musculoskeletal pathology Gabapentin has been used in horses for many years, and is often prescribed as adjunct therapy for horses with pain rising from laminitis, particularly as part of a multimodal approach to pain management. None of these suggestions are specific recommendations for your horse; we have compiled a list of medications which some clients have used successfully for horses with headshaking under the direction of their veterinarian. All medications have potential side effects. Always consult directly with your veterinarian before giving any medications to your horse. The information below may not be Davis et al [9] found that gabapentin administered at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg bwt PO every 8 hours to a pregnant draft horse was effective in the treatment of femoral neuropathy after colic surgery. Gabapentin and lidocaine have provided analgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain 72, and gabapentin administration reportedly improved hindlimb pain that was probably associated with femoral neuropathy in one horse 73. Methods: Horses received 40 and 120 mg/kg of gabapentin orally q 12 h for 14 days. Horses were examined and scored for ataxia and sedation daily. Serum biochemistry variables were analyzed before treatment and days 7 and 14 after gabapentin administration. Plasma disposition of gabapentin was evaluated after the first and last drug administration. In the recent study, researchers used 14 horses with long-lasting forelimb lameness to evaluate the pain-relieving effects of oral gabapentin. Gabapentin was tested against a control and two other treatments: firocoxib (a popular NSAID) and a combination of firocoxib and gabapentin. This review aimed to clarify gabapentin use and pharmacokinetic aspects to promote conscious use in dogs, cats, and horses. In dogs, gabapentin was useful in the treatment of epilepsy, as well as chronic, neuropathic, and post-operative pain and anxiety. The apparent low bioavailability of oral gabapentin in horses suggests that gabapentin may need to be administered IV or at very large oral doses to see a positive effect on chronic musculoskeletal pain. Gabapentin, 1- (Aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid, MW 171.240, is the 11 th most frequently prescribed human medication and Gabapentin is also available and used recreationally in the United States. This review starts with the matter of a Standardbred racehorse shipped from Ontario, Canada, to Scioto Downs, Ohio, racing on September 7 th, 2019. The horse won its race and post-race blood, and The last systemic therapy van Eps described was gabapentin, a drug originally used to treat neuropathic pain and seizures in humans. Much is still unknown about this drug’s effects and appropriate dosage in horses, although he said IV or oral gabapentin might be useful when treating acute laminitis cases. Veterinarians have a limited amount of pharmaceutical medications to manage chronic pain in horses. Here are some of the options. Gabapentin is a medication used in horses primarily for its analgesic and anticonvulsant properties. It is often employed to manage neuropathic pain and to provide relief in cases of chronic pain conditions. Gabapentin acts by modulating calcium channels, which can influence neurotransmitter release in the nervous system. Gabapentin is commonly administered to dogs and cats to treat chronic and neuropathic pain (Beckman 2013). Furthermore, pain reduction following orally administered gabapentin in horses has been described in several clinical reports (Davis et al. 2007; Dutton et al. 2009; Readford et al. 2013). Gabapentin has been used to treat chronic pain in people and small animals. To date, no study has reported its use in horses for the treatment of chronic painful conditions. The clinical effectiveness of gabapentin as an analgesic in horses with chronic lameness was evaluated in a double-blinded crossover study. This review aimed to clarify gabapentin use and pharmacokinetic aspects to promote conscious use in dogs, cats, and horses. In dogs, gabapentin was beneficial in the treatment of epilepsy, as well as chronic, neuropathic, and post-operative pain, as well as anxiety. Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effects of orally administered gabapentin on horses with chronic thoracic limb lameness. Study design: Randomized, crossover design. Animals: A total of 14 adult horses with chronic thoracic limb lameness. Paracetamol and gabapentin are attractive for use in horses because they have an oral route of administration, low cost and few perceived side effects. This review discusses the published evidence regarding the likely efficacy of these drugs, and how best to maximise their use. Gabapentin has been used extensively for the treatment of pain of nerve origin in horses, and, more recently, for the treatment of other painful conditions including laminitis.
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