Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter painkiller that can also help reduce fevers in infants. Dr. Jenifer Gold of Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital in Oconomowoc wanted to determine whether the drug, also called paracetamol, could benefit foals with fevers and accompanying pain.
Gold and a team of researchers administered a single dose of acetaminophen (either 20mg or 40mg per kilogram of weight) to eight healthy Quarter Horse foals (three colts and five fillies) that were between seven and nine days old.
The foals' blood and biochemistry panels were checked before the drug was given and then eight times over a 48-hour period after the drug was given to quantify plasma acetaminophen concentrations. Blood was also tested seven days after acetaminophen administration.
The researchers found no adverse reactions in any of the foals, and blood and biochemistry profiles remained within normal limits. They did find that disposition of acetaminophen in the foals' blood was comparable to adult horses. They report that these results are encouraging for the potential use of acetaminophen in foals for fever and pain reduction.
The team notes that the safety and optimal dosing levels to treat pain and fever in foals is still undetermined. More research is needed, specifically related to the effects of acetaminophen on the liver; liver toxicity is a significant concern in people taking elevated doses of the drug.
Read more at HorseTalk.
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