The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Evaluation of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Adult Horses.
Authors: Mercer Melissa A, Davis Jennifer L, McKenzie Harold C
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: NSAIDs in Adult Horses Mercer, Davis, and McKenzie's 2023 review synthesises current understanding of how non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs function in equine medicine, beginning with the biological mechanisms underlying inflammatory conditions in orthopaedic disease and endotoxaemia. The authors examine both conventional NSAIDs (phenylbutazone, firocoxib, meloxicam) and emerging alternatives, detailing their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles—critical information for optimising dosing regimens and predicting clinical outcomes across different presentations. Beyond pharmacological theory, the review evaluates the various methodologies researchers employ to measure NSAID efficacy in horses, from lameness scoring and gait analysis to biomarker assessment and objective outcome measures. For practitioners, this comprehensive analysis underscores why individual drug selection matters: differences in absorption, metabolism, and tissue distribution directly influence therapeutic window and duration of action in your patient. Understanding these principles enables more informed decision-making when choosing between NSAIDs for acute versus chronic conditions and helps practitioners interpret emerging research on novel formulations and combination therapies.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding NSAID pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics helps practitioners select appropriate agents and dosing for orthopedic conditions and endotoxemia in horses
- •Knowledge of conventional versus non-conventional NSAID options provides flexibility in managing horses with different clinical presentations or drug sensitivities
- •Familiarity with efficacy evaluation methods enables practitioners to better assess treatment response in their own clinical cases
Key Findings
- •This is a comprehensive review of NSAID clinical pharmacology in adult horses, covering both conventional and non-conventional agents
- •The review examines pathophysiology of pain and inflammation in orthopedic disease and endotoxemia
- •Multiple modalities for evaluating NSAID therapeutic efficacy in equine research are summarized