Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Phenylbutazone toxicosis in the horse: a clinical study.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1984
- Authors:
- Collins, L G & Tyler, D E
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study involving 269 horses treated with a medication called phenylbutazone, researchers found that horses given lower doses (up to 8.8 mg per kilogram of body weight each day for no more than 4 days, or 2 to 4 mg per kilogram for up to 50 days) generally stayed healthy. However, horses that received higher doses experienced serious problems, including not eating, being depressed, having colic (abdominal pain), low protein levels, diarrhea, black stools, weight loss, swelling in the lower body, small spots of bleeding in their mouths, and sores in their mouths and digestive tract. Some horses also showed signs of shock related to their stomach issues. Overall, the study suggests that higher doses of phenylbutazone can lead to severe health complications.
Abstract
In a retrospective study of 269 horses that had been treated with phenylbutazone, horses receiving less than or equal to 8.8 mg/kg of body weight/day for less than or equal to 4 days or 2 to 4 mg/kg of body weight/day for up to 50 days remained clinically normal. Anorexia, depression, colic, hypoproteinemia, diarrhea, melena, weight loss, ventral edema, petechial hemorrhages of mucous membranes, oral and gastrointestinal tract erosions and ulcers, renal papillary necrosis, and death were among the complications seen in horses that had received greater than 8.8 mg/kg of body weight/day. In 2 cases, signs suggestive of gastrointestinal-related shock were also evident.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6725103/