Ins And Outs Of Transdermal NSAID In Horses

If you're fighting tooth and nail to administer oral medications, the introduction of a transdermal option often pleases horses and handlers alike. Transdermal medications are applied to the surface of the skin, typically in the form of an ointment or gel, so as to allow gradual absorption into the body. Are you considering transdermal medications, especially anti-inflammatories? If so, it's important to understand how these drugs are absorbed and eliminated, particularly if your horse is involved in competition and subject to stringent drug withdrawal times.

In the U.S., a transdermal formulation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) diclofenac sodium, sold under the brand name Surpass, is approved for use in horses. Recently, a transdermal product containing flunixin meglumine was approved in cattle and is therefore available for off-label use in horses. Flunixin meglumine is often called by the common brand name Banamine.

[Story Continues Below]

To assess how transdermal delivery of flunixin meglumine behaves in the body compared to other routes of administration (e.g., oral, intravenous, intramuscular), researchers applied a 10-mL dose of transdermal flunixin meglumine along the midline of the horse's back, from the withers to the tailhead. This was equivalent to a standard 500-mg dose of flunixin meglumine per horse. *

Blood and urine samples were intermittently collected for up to 96 hours after administration to measure the intricacies of how the medication is absorbed and cleared, a science known as pharmacokinetics.

“Transdermal application was well tolerated in all six study horses, with no horse showing any negative dermal effects,” said Peter Huntington, B.V.Sc., M.A.C.V.Sc., director of nutrition at Kentucky Equine Research.

In terms of the drug's behavior, here's what the research team found:

  • The maximum concentration of flunixin meglumine in blood was only an average of 515 ng/mL, which is much lower than oral and intramuscular concentrations. Oral administration of a comparable dose of flunixin meglumine results in average concentrations ranging from 3,340 to 7,200 ng/mL. Intramuscular flunixin meglumine reaches average concentrations of 1,799-3,269 ng/mL.
  • Transdermal absorption into the horse's bloodstream was slow, an average of 8.76 hours. Oral flunixin meglumine requires less than an hour to be absorbed.
  • Elimination (clearance) of transdermal flunixin meglumine was also much slower than other routes of administration. It took 22 hours for half of the drug to be eliminated from the bloodstream (called the half-life) when the transdermal formulation was used. In contrast, the intravenous half-life is 3.38-9.68 hours.
  • The data also showed that transdermal flunixin meglumine has unique pharmacokinetics called “flip-flop kinetics” in which the rate of absorption is actually slower than the rate of elimination.

“Based on this data, it is not surprising that flunixin meglumine and a metabolite were still detectable in urine 96 hours after application. This means that the withdrawal time for transdermal flunixin meglumine would be longer than for any other route of administration,” said Huntington.

He added, “Even though the blood concentrations of flunixin meglumine were lower compared to those achieved by other routes, the slow, variable absorption and 'flip- flop kinetics' indicate the medicine applied transdermally persists in the body longer than if given by other routes of administration. More excretion studies in exercising horses are needed before safe withholding periods before competition can be established.”

Despite the low circulating drug concentrations, transdermal flunixin meglumine still elicited an anti-inflammatory effect for up to 72 hours after application.

In terms of safety, Huntington warned, “Considering that transdermal flunixin meglumine is indeed absorbed systemically, this means that horses are at risk of the common side effects associated with NSAIDs administered by other routes: gastric ulceration, dorsal colitis, and disruption of the intestinal microbiome.”

Horses treated with any type of NSAID by any route of administration, including transdermal, would therefore benefit from a digestive tract supplement containing antacids, stomach-coating agents, and a hindgut buffer.

“These supplements reduce the risk of damage to the gut lining or change in the microbiota resulting from NSAID use,” Huntington advised.

*Knych, H.K., R.M. Arthur, S.R. Gretler, D.S. McKemie, S. Goldin, and P.H. Kass. 2021. Pharmacokinetics of transdermal flunixin meglumine and effects on biomarkers of inflammation in horses. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics:12993.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

 

The post Ins And Outs Of Transdermal NSAID In Horses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

$50,000 Research Grant For Studies Investigating The Effect Of Horses On Humans Who Have Experienced Trauma

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF), a 501(c)3 organization, announces this request for proposals to investigate the possible effects horses have on humans who have experienced trauma. Deadline for submission proposals is June 30, 2021.

All proposals undergo a four-tier review process completed by the Scientific Advisory Council. Preference will be given to investigators with solid credentials and research experience. The maximum award is $50,000 for up to eighteen months. The winning proposal will have scientific merit, scientific and clinical significance, and relevance.

On behalf of the HHRF Board, our past board members, supporters and our Scientific Advisory Council, we are pleased to offer this opportunity. Through this call, which reflects the need to address the gaps in knowledge in equine-assisted services, HHRF strives to support true leaps in research. Through peer reviewed research we all benefit from knowledge, application, and dissemination.

Information for applicants, including the recently updated application and review guidelines, previously funded projects, and more are available at horsesandhumans.org.

Contribute to HHRF today and help ensure that this important research, and education about research on horse-human interactions continues. For more information about HHRF, visit the website horsesandhumans.org or contact Pebbles Turbeville, Executive Director, exec.director@horsesandhumans.org.

Read more here.

The post $50,000 Research Grant For Studies Investigating The Effect Of Horses On Humans Who Have Experienced Trauma appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

BLM Announces First Wild Horse Adoption Of 2021

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility will kick off BLM Wyoming's 2021 adoption schedule with an event Feb.19 and 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The BLM will offer approximately 80 wild horses during this adoption, including mares and geldings, in age from yearlings to five-years old. The horses were gathered in 2020 from the Lost Creek, Green Mountain, Crooks Mountain, Antelope Hills and Stewart Creek herd management areas.

The offered horses will be available for adoption on a first-come, first-served basis. Any person wishing to adopt a wild horse must fill out an application, be able to conform to the BLM's minimum adoption requirements and have their application approved by the BLM. BLM specialists will be on hand to answer questions and assist with the adoption applications.

“Wyoming wild horses make great companions and trail animals,” said Supervisory Wild Horse Specialist Jake Benson. “We want to see them all adopted into good homes.”

To reach the holding facility from I-80, take Elk Street Exit 104 and go north one mile, then turn right onto Lionkol Road and follow for a half-mile.

In response to COVID-19, visitors will be asked to follow CDC guidelines including keeping six feet apart while standing in line during the application process, wearing masks and respecting each other's space.

To learn more about BLM Wyoming's wild horse adoption program or the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility, click here.

The post BLM Announces First Wild Horse Adoption Of 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

2021 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Accreditation Application Now Available

The 2021 application for accreditation by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is now available on OpenWater, a grant application and review platform, and can be accessed by clicking here.

Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits interested in applying must complete the application by the closing date of April 1 at 6 p.m. EST. Since TAA accreditation is only granted for a specific period of time, organizations with accreditation status ending in 2021 that want to remain accredited need to re-apply.

Accreditation status is determined after a complete review of five areas of an aftercare organization: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Organizations passing the application review will be subject to site inspections of all facilities housing Thoroughbreds.

Organizations that receive accreditation are eligible to receive financial grants from the TAA, but prior grants awarded are no indication of potential future awards. In 2020 the TAA awarded $3.5 million to accredited organizations as grants earmarked specifically for equine care, totaling more than $20.7 million awarded since 2012.

Any organization interested in applying for TAA accreditation must fulfill the following five minimum requirements:

  1. Organization must have a current status as a 501(c)(3) federal not-for-profit (U.S.) or must be a registered charity within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
  2. Organization must have been in operation for at least three years. The TAA will confirm operation information, including with the secretary of state or provincial business registry.
  3.  At time of application, organization must either (1) currently exclusively own and provide care for a minimum of five (5) registered Thoroughbreds, or (2) currently exclusively own and provide care for at least 3-4 registered Thoroughbreds AND must have exclusively owned and provided care for at least 10 registered Thoroughbreds over the previous 12 months. Registered Thoroughbreds leased by the organization or owned by third parties at the same facility should not be included.
  4. Organization must have a written euthanasia policy consistent with the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
  5. Organization, or a principal of the organization or individual directly related to the organization, shall not have any current legal proceedings pending against them which adversely impact the aftercare operations, the organization's standards of care, or the 501(c)(3) status of the organization.

For more information on the TAA accreditation process, please visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.

The post 2021 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Accreditation Application Now Available appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights