NSAIDs in horse horse racing.

NSAIDs in horse horse racing. By Lexi Orcutt

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Examples: ibuprofen, aspirin, phenylbutazone

Block enzymes

What are NSAIDs?

Common hose-hold examples consist of ibuprofen, aspirin. The most common NSAID in the horse racing industry is phenylbutazone, or commonly reffered to as bute. NSAIDs work by blocking specific enzymes, that in return reduce swelling and relieve pain. 2Why are NSAIDs bad?NSAIDs lower protection of the GI tract

The enzymes that are being blocked by the NSAIDs also aid in protecting the lining in the GI tract. When production of these enzymes get too low, the GI tract can become irritated by the natural acid, resulting in gastro-intestinal problems. 3Horses should not be running if injuredBreakdowns went from 1/15 days to 1/4 daysStarts per year dropped from 11 to 6Most common violation

NSAIDs in horse racing should be illegal

People argue that if a horse is injured, they should simply not be running. Instead of doping the horses up with pain medication, the horses should be given time for their injuries to heal properly. Since NSAIDs where deemed legal in the racing industry, the number of breakdowns at a track went from one every fifteen days, to one every four days. The number of starts a horse had per year also declined from 11 to six, cutting their starts nearly in half. Over use of NSAIDs are the most common violation in the racing industry and the only way to stop it is for the drugs to be banned all together. 4Provide comfort

Reduce swelling

Why NSAIDs should have a threshold

The common argument trainers and owners have is that racehorses are athletes - and like a professional basketball player might take some ibuprofen after a long workout, racehorses should have NSAIDs available to them. NSAIDs provide comfort and reduce swelling. if used correctly, NSAIDs can provide horses comfort with limited side affects. That is why almost every state has adopted a threshold of five micrograms per milliliter of plasma. 5Stricter punishment for repeated offenders

Nation-wide Mediation

To ensure the NSAIDs dont get overused, there should be stricter punishment to those who are administrating them. I believe that the only way for states to incorporate such rules, would be if there was a nationwide legislation passed enforcing such punishment. 6Allen, Jane. "KHRCs New Drug Regulations for Thoroughbreds Fail to Rein in the Bute." TUESDAYS HORSE. Int'l Fund for Horses, 25 Jan. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2013. "Arthritis Health Center." NSAIDs for Pain Relief. WebMD, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013. "Fact Sheets." Horse Racing Fact Sheet. Int'l Fund for Horses, 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2013. "Racing Medication Use." Q-Racing:. American Quarter Horse Association, 1 July 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2013. Stanley, Scott, Dr. "Scott Stanley, Ph. D. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine." Horse Racing and Breeding Information from The Blood-Horse. Bloodhorse.com, 22 Aug. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2013. Sykes, Melissa. "The Story Behind Bute: History and Implications for Horse Health." All About Horses, Horse News, Horse Training, Horse Videos, and Blogs. Barnmice, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013.N.d. Photograph. NSAIDs (non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs). Dentistry and Medicine, 2 Apr. 2012. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. N.d. Photograph. Race Horse Death Watch. Animal Aid, 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.

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