The apparent low bioavailability of oral gabapentin in horses suggests that gabapentin may need to be administered IV or at very large oral doses to see a positive effect on chronic musculoskeletal pain. orally administered gabapentin in horses has been described in several clinical reports (Davis et al. 2007; Dutton et al. 2009; Readfordetal.2013).However,Caldwelletal.(2015)reported no subjective improvement in lameness in horses administered gabapentin at oral doses of 5 and 10 mg kge1 three times daily for 14 days. Methods: Horses received 40 and 120 mg/kg of gabapentin orally q 12 h for 14 days. Horses were examined and scored for ataxia and sedation daily. Serum biochemistry variables were analyzed before treatment and days 7 and 14 after gabapentin administration. Plasma disposition of gabapentin was evaluated after the first and last drug administration. All horses tolerated the PO administration of gabapentin, and no evidence of side effect (e.g. somnolence, depression, sedation, or ataxia) of the drug at either dose (5 or 10 mg/kg bwt) was observed. In the study, gabapentin was administered at a dosage of 20 mg/kg, which is considered safe in horses. 3 At this dosage, gabapentin did not improve any measure of lameness in horses with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the thoracic limbs. What is the Typical Dosage of Gabapentin for Horses? Dosage can vary, but generally, a range of 10-20 mg/kg is considered safe. Some studies have indicated that horses can tolerate doses up to 120mg/kg every 12 hours for 14 days without showing serious adverse effects. Horses tolerated both i.v. and p.o. gabapentin doses well. There were no significant differences in t1=2c and t1=2e. Oral administration yielded much lower plasma concentrations because of low bioavailability. Although drug accumulation was not noted in healthy horses over a 96 h study period 53, it has been demonstrated in a clinical setting 54. Higher serum concentrations have been achieved in anaesthetised compared with awake horses 55 , due to decreased cardiac output and hepatic blood flow and clearance, and can reach a range reported to be How much gabapentin can you give a horse? Conclusion and clinical importance: Our results suggest that horses tolerate gabapentin up to 120 mg/kg PO q 12 h for 14 days. The analgesic effect of the dosage regimens evaluated in our study warrants further research. Is gabapentin a painkiller or anti-inflammatory? Official answer. While many practitioners have their favorite go-tos, many medications to manage chronic pain in horses are available. Adult horse doses suggested by Bidwell are as follows: “Bute is still the most widely used NSAID due to cost and ease of use,” said Bidwell. Our results suggest that horses tolerate gabapentin up to 120 mg/kg PO q 12 h for 14 days. The analgesic effect of the dosage regimens evaluated in our study warrants further research. Limited scientific information exists regarding the effective and safe dosing of gabapentin in horses. Six horses with chronic lameness referable to musculoskeletal pathology were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 5 and. 10 mg/kg body weight of gabapentin, and placebo administered PO three times daily for 14 days. All horses received each treatment separated by a 2-week interval. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of gabapentin on serum biochemistry, physical examination, and plasma pharmacokinetics of gabapentin. Animals: Six healthy adult mares. Methods: Horses received 40 and 120 mg/kg of gabapentin orally q 12 h for 14 days. Horses were examined and scored for ataxia and sedation daily. Dosage and Tolerance. Horses can tolerate high doses of gabapentin. Studies suggest that horses can tolerate up to 120 mg/kg PO every 12 hours for 14 days. However, it’s crucial to follow the vet’s prescribed dosage instructions. Although horses generally tolerate gabapentin well, each individual may react differently. Gabapentin has been used extensively for the treatment of pain of nerve origin in horses, and, more recently, for the treatment of other painful conditions including laminitis. It has been used at a dose rate of 5mg/kg to 20mg/kg, although the author has only been convinced of clinical effect at the top end of that range. Horses with chronic conditions—such as laminitis—seem to benefit from having this drug added to the mix. “Gabapentin works by quieting excitable nerves and allowing other pain medications to Considering the gabapentin effective plasma concentration in the rat for the treatment of inflammatory hyperalgesia (16.7 µg/mL) [100,102], a therapeutic dosage in the horse that maintains the same plasma concentration levels could be 10 mg/kg every 8 h, 20 mg/kg every 12 h, or 80 mg/kg every 24 h . One pharmacokinetic study of gabapentin in horses indicated that the drug was absorbed rapidly after a single PO dose of 5 mg/kg bwt and peak plasma concentration occurred within 1.4 hours with an elimination half-life of 3.4 hours [11]. The dose rate and form of administration are usually printed on the label and/or the package insert that comes with the medication. To calculate the amount of drug to give your horse, use the following formula: Weight of Horse X Dose Rate = amount of drug to give divided by the. Concentration (mg/ml or mg/pill or paste) Methods: Following baseline measurement of lameness, horses were administered each of four treatments orally in grain: treatment G, gabapentin (20 mg kg-1) twice daily for 13 doses; treatment F, firocoxib (171 mg once, then 57 mg once daily for six doses); treatment GF, gabapentin and firocoxib at previously stated doses and frequencies; or
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() |