Acetaminophen is often used to treat musculoskeletal pain in horses, either alone or in conjunction with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
To determine the efficacy of acetaminophen, Dr. Melissa Mercer induced lameness in nine healthy mares using a reversible sole pressure horseshoe. She tested the mares with four different medication options: two different doses of acetaminophen (20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg), phenylbutazone (2.2 mg/kg), and a placebo.
Mercer then took plasma concentrations and recorded heart rate and heart rate variability. The horses were also scored by boarded equine surgeons on the American Association of Equine Practitioners lameness scale.
After analyzing the results, Mercer found that Acetaminophen at the 30 mg/kg level produced the most rapid improvement in heart rate and lameness scores compared to the other treatments tested.
Read more at Veterinary 33.
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