Healthy Horse, Happy Horse!
Have you ever driven past a field with beautiful horses, their manes and tails blowing in the wind, the sun shining on their backs, and say: “Oh! Horses!”
*Everyone raises a hand*
Me too! From a young age I have loved horses, and as a Lawrence Drug Pharmacist, I am able to use my knowledge about prescription drugs to help provide pharmacy services to the equine world. Who knew?!
Just like humans, horses have medical conditions that require prescription medications.
They even take many of the same drugs as humans, the only difference being much larger doses! Your horse may be an integral part of your working ranch, an athlete bred to compete at the highest levels of equine sport, or simply your backyard pasture pet, however it can develop conditions that require special drug therapy to help it live it’s happiest and healthiest life!
If your horse has developed conditions that require special drug therapy, our compounding lab can make medications for your horse! In that case, there are a few important things to consider:
1. Large Doses
Since horses can weigh 1000 lbs or more they often require very large doses of medications. At Lawrence Drug, we work alongside your veterinarian to develop your horse's dose based on its condition and weight, and then formulate the compound into a concentration that allows for practical administration.
2. Dosage Form
A medication’s dosage form must be horse and owner friendly. (Can you imagine trying to convince a horse to swallow a pill?) Horses often respond well to powders, oral pastes, and topical gels/ointments. If adding drug powders into grain the horse must be separated from other horses until all grain has been eaten to make sure they receive the full dose. If using oral pastes, pastes often come in “dial-a-dose” syringes, so double check that the dial is turned to the correct dose before administering. If using topical gels and ointments, it can be tricky for horses because they are constantly moving. Additionally, it's almost impossible to keep areas clean of dirt and bugs, which lends to repeated frequent application. Additionally, a polyox bandage is useful on wounds, as it is a powder containing an active ingredient which when applied to a specified area absorbs water and turns into a rubberized occlusive barrier.
3. Flavoring
Horses can be very selective of what they eat based on flavoring and smell. On top of that, if you try coming at your horse with a syringe of oral paste I guarantee they will turn and run, thinking they are about to get wormed! Therefore, flavoring in oral dosage forms is very important for successful administration of medications. Lawrence Drug offers two popular flavors when it comes to equine flavoring: green apple and peppermint. Who knows, maybe your horse will start looking forward to those oral syringes after all?!
Be sure to always consult a veterinarian for professional advice if your horse needs medical care. If your horse requires specialized medication, or you are having trouble obtaining a medication due to product unavailability, please consult your veterinarian or reach out to one of our pharmacists at Lawrence Drug for more information. We are ready and excited to help serve you and your horse!
