Canine Pain Reliever Helps Navicular Pain
Horses suffering from navicular pain may be helped by a medication that has been used to treat dogs. Etodolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by blocking the production of the prostaglandins that cause inflammation and pain. Testing the effectiveness of the drug involved trotting horses over a force plate before and after they received the medication. Horses that were lame because of navicular pain improved significantly after receiving Etodolac. Use of the drug may relieve discomfort without causing gastrointestinal irritation caused by some other pain medications like Bute.
The practice of stacking, or using more than one pain-relieving medication at the same time, may cause serious problems in some horses. A study at the University of Missouri showed stacking of NSAIDs like Bute and banamine can lead to severe gastric ulceration and even death. Kidney and liver damage are also possible. Owners are advised to consult a veterinarian to determine the best way to treat pain and lameness in their horses.
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