Use of ozone therapy to control chronic pain in equine laminitis. Case Report.
Authors: F. Silva, Eduardo Michelon Do Nascimento, Liliane Aparecida Oliveira De Paula, D. Sandri, G. Pagliosa, E. C. B. P. Guirro, M. Lopes
Journal: Journal of Ozone Therapy
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Ozone Therapy for Chronic Equine Laminitis Pain Control Chronic laminitis remains a significant welfare challenge in equine practice, particularly when conventional anti-inflammatory protocols provide inadequate analgesia or carry long-term tolerability concerns. This case report documents a seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presenting with severe grade 4 claudication and radiographically confirmed distal phalanx rotation across all digits, unresponsive to conventional management including prolonged firocoxib administration (>120 days). Rather than continuing oral anti-inflammatory therapy, the clinicians implemented 20 sessions of ozone therapy using multiple routes—intramuscular injections of 40 µg/ml oxygen-ozone at pre-scapular, scapular, post-scapular locations and the acupuncture point LI11, combined with ozonised footbaths. Within two months, the animal demonstrated marked improvement in body condition and gait, with claudication reducing to grade 2 without reported adverse effects. The authors propose that ozone's analgesic efficacy stems from modulation of the inflammatory cascade, specifically by altering arachidonic acid metabolism to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Whilst this single case cannot establish ozone therapy as a standard laminitis treatment, the finding warrants further controlled investigation, particularly regarding optimal dosing protocols and comparative efficacy against established pain management strategies in larger patient cohorts.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ozone therapy administered at multiple anatomical points (pre-scapular, scapular, post-scapular, acupuncture LI11) combined with ozonized footbaths may provide alternative pain management for chronic laminitis when conventional NSAIDs are insufficient
- •This single case showed clinical improvement in lameness grade and body condition, but the evidence is very limited—requires larger controlled studies before routine clinical recommendation
- •Consider ozone therapy only as adjunctive or alternative therapy when working with chronic laminitis cases resistant to standard analgesic protocols; maintain concurrent hoof care and trimming
Key Findings
- •Single horse with grade 4 claudication from chronic laminitis improved to grade 2 claudication after 20 sessions of ozone therapy administered via intramuscular injection at multiple sites and footbath
- •Ozone therapy achieved analgesia and improved body condition with no reported adverse effects over 2-month treatment period
- •Proposed mechanism involves ozone's action on inflammatory cascade by altering arachidonic acid degradation and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines