Pain: Systemic and Local/Regional Drug Therapy

Pain management in the equine relies predominantly on systemic or local/regional drug therapy. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, opioids, alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists, and local anesthetics are the chief agents employed in equine pain therapy. This review briefly discusses the principle pharmacology of the analgesic drug classes currently in use in equine practice, and then focuses on recently introduced therapeutics and/or new routes of drug administration. General guidelines and dosages are given to assist in choosing appropriate drugs and techniques that provide effective analgesia.