Pain Relief in Horses

Every horse owner should familiarize themselves with different ways to manage pain in a horse. Medications given correctly, and in moderation, can ease a horse's pain and bring it back to good health. Alternative pain relief methods can also be helpful. Always consult a veterinarian before administering any pain medication to a horse.

  1. Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine)

    • Banamine is most widely used for the relief of pain associated with colic and is classified as an NSAID. It is important to note that while Banamine can relieve the pain of colic, it cannot resolve the reason for the colic, such as impaction. Banamine is also used to help resolve bacteria illness or to reduce fever symptoms in horses. Banamine is given either orally with a paste or intravenously with an injection. Side effects from Banamine vary from stomach ulcers to bacterial infections at the injection site.

    Bute (Phenylbutazone)

    • Bute (Phenylbutazone ) is also classified as an NSAID, and is used for skeletal pain, lameness and inflammation. Bute is a very effective pain medication, especially for horses with lameness problems such as founder. Because Bute is easily accessible and inexpensive it is sometimes used too often. Bute can be administered orally with a paste, pill or intravenously with a shot. The most common side effect from administering Bute is stomach ulcers.

    Opioids

    • Opioid medications are only given for extreme pain management in horses, such as severe trauma, accidents or total hind end lameness. This medication comes in the form of morphine, methadone, oxymorphone, butorphanol, fentanyl and buprenorphine. Opioids are given Intravenously, transdermally or as an epidural. Side effects associated with this medication are hyperventilation, decreased heart rate and colic.

    Accupuncture

    • Acupuncture is gaining popularity for the management of pain in horses. Using ancient Chinese traditional medicine, needles are placed on specific body points to release endorphins in the brain of the horse. When the endorphins are released, they block the signal of pain to the horses brain. This method is most commonly used for muscle soreness, back issues and gas colic symptoms. Unlike pain medications, there is very little risk and no side effects with acupuncture. The only negative would be that some horses will show no improvement after the procedure.

    Herbal Therapies

    • Herbal pain relief remedies for horses are now becoming more commonly used and accepted. Most professionals call these holistic methods "complementary therapies" as they are usually used in conjunction with more traditional treatments. One of the leading herbs for pain management in horses is Devil's Claw. Devil's Claw acts as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory that is similar to Bute, but does not have the side effects associated with Bute therapy. Devil's Claw is used to treat muscle pain and joint stiffness.