Treating Eye Inflammation in Horses

When anti-inflammatory drugs are given orally to horses, how well do they reduce inflammation in the eye? A study conducted at the University of California-Davis investigated this question by testing three groups of horses. One group was given oral flunixin meglumine (Banamine®); another group was given oral firocoxib (Equioxx®); and the last group was given a placebo. The level of drug inside the horse’s eye was measured on days one, three, and five after administration.

While both drugs were found in the eye tissues, firocoxib was present in higher concentrations than flunixin meglumine on days three and five. Firocoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, is also generally less likely to cause the gastrointestinal irritation that is a common side effect of some other anti-inflammatory drugs.

The researchers suggest that firocoxib should be considered for the treatment of inflammatory ophthalmic lesions, especially in horses at risk for gastrointestinal irritation and other adverse effects of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.