Horses topical preparations

Identification of Salicylic Acid in Horse Urine No statutory limit is prescribed for salicylic acid, but it is normally present in horse urine it is important, therefore, to distinguish between normal concentrations and those arising from medication with aspirin or other salicylates such as topically applied methyl salicylate. Normal urine concentrations rarely exceed 10 LLg/ml, but therapeutic doses of aspirin may give concentrations as much as 500 times greater. Addition of 1 ml of freshly prepared ferric chloride solution to 5 ml of urine will give a detectable violet colour when the concentration of salicylic acid exceeds about 100 ig/ml. A positive result should be followed... 

Itraconazole is a triazole with a broad spectrum of activity against filamentous fungi it is particularly effective against Aspergillus spp. Lack of availability of a formulation suitable for topical ophthalmic use may be a problem. A noncommercial, 1% itraconazole-30% dimethyl sulfoxide ointment preparation used topically in trials in the northeastern USA was found to be effective in 8 out of 10 horses with keratomycosis (Ball et al 1997). It may be given orally, at 3 mg/kg twice daily, in conjunction with topical administration, but it is expensive. 

The anti-inflammatory potencies of betamethasone and dexamethasone exceed that of prednisolone. However, because of the facility with which prednisolone acetate crosses the cornea, a 1% solution is generally regarded as the drug of choice for the topical treatment of anterior uveitis in the horse, although comparable clinical results can be achieved using 0.1% dexamethasone in alcohol preparations. The frequency of application of topical glucocorticoids is largely determined by the severity and the nature of the clinical problem... 

Latanoprost, a topical prostaglandin, is used in humans and in small animals to reduce lOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow. In the horse, a topical ophthalmic preparation of 0.005% latanoprost reduces lOP in treated eyes however. 

In the treatment of secondarily infected dermatoses, which are usually colonized with streptococci, staphylococci, or both, compound antiinflammatory and antibacterial preparations are indicated when the underlying disorder has been diagnosed. Corticosteroids do not appear to inhibit the activity of antibacterial agents in compound preparations for topical application. Examples of topical compound preparations include betamethasone valerate-fusidic acid gel (for dogs), betamethasone sodium phosphate-neomycin sulphate cream (for dogs and cats), prednisolone-neomycin sulphate-nitrofurazone ointment (for horses, dogs and cats). The use of compound preparations is contra-indicated in pregnant animals. 

In Germany and other countries topical gels contain 1% aescin ampoules containing 5.1 mg sodium aescinate (equivalent to 5 mg aescin) sugar-coated tablets and liquid oral preparations are available. Topical products are available in Canada. No horse chestnut or aescin-containing drug formulations are... 

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