Adverse Effect of Antibiotics Administration on Horse Health: An Overview.
Authors: Khusro Ameer, Aarti Chirom, Buendía-Rodriguez German, Arasu Mariadhas Valan, Al-Dhabi Naif Abdullah, Barbabosa-Pliego Alberto
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Antibiotics remain indispensable in equine practice for treating bacterial infections and preventing post-operative complications, yet their therapeutic benefits must be weighed against a substantial risk profile specific to horses. This comprehensive review examined the pharmacological mechanisms of commonly prescribed antibiotics—including benzylpenicillin, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, and sulphonamide combinations—alongside their documented adverse effects in equine patients, which range from gastrointestinal complications such as diarrhea and colitis to systemic toxicities affecting renal, auditory, and neurological function. The authors identified that certain agents, notably enrofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulphonamide combinations, carry particular risk for triggering dysrhythmias, arthropathy, ataxia, and peripheral neuropathy in horses, reflecting species-specific pharmacokinetic vulnerabilities that differ substantially from other veterinary applications. For equine professionals involved in post-operative care, infection prevention, and therapeutic planning, this review emphasises the critical importance of critically evaluating antibiotic selection, dosage, formulation, and route of administration on an individual basis rather than relying on standardised protocols. Collaboration between veterinarians, farriers, and rehabilitation specialists becomes especially important when horses require prolonged antibiotic courses, as early recognition of adverse effects and optimised antimicrobial stewardship can substantially reduce preventable morbidity.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Before administering antibiotics to horses, carefully review and optimize the specific drug choice, formulation, route, and dosage to minimize risk of serious adverse effects including diarrhea, colitis, and neurologic complications.
- •Be alert for adverse reactions with commonly used equine antibiotics (sulfonamides, penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones) and monitor horses closely during treatment for gastrointestinal, renal, otic, cardiac, and neurologic signs.
- •Work with your veterinarian to balance the benefits of antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections against the documented risks of adverse effects specific to equine patients.
Key Findings
- •Sulfonamides, trimethoprim/sulfonamide combinations, benzylpenicillin, cefquinome, fluphenazine, enrofloxacin, and sodium ceftriaxone cause detrimental health effects in horses including gastrointestinal, renal, neurologic, and musculoskeletal complications.
- •Conventional antibiotics operate through bacteriostatic and bactericidal mechanisms by interfering with bacterial cell wall and protein synthesis, and inhibiting RNA polymerase, DNase 1, and DNA gyrase.
- •Optimization of antibiotic combinations, formulations, routes of administration, and dosages is essential in equine practice to minimize adverse effects during therapeutic use.