The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) Task Force on
Medication Issues at Public Auction has released its recommendations on
medication usage in horses meant for public sale. The Task Force’s
recommendations were approved by the AAEP board of directors on December 2.
The six-panel Task Force looked at three time periods while evaluating
medication usage in the sale horse — pre-sale, on the sales ground and
post-sale. The general recommendation given was that no medication should be
administered within 24 hours of the start of the sale, with a few exceptions.
During those exceptions, the approved medications should only be allowable in
therapeutic doses.
Headed by Dr. Larry Bramlage, the Task Force divided the common medications
given to horses into four categories. In the first category — allowable at
therapeutic levels — sale horses can be given one non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug with no detectable level of a second non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory; one cortico-steroid, excluding Depomedrol, with no detectable
level of a second cortico-steroid; medications for ongoing gastric ulcer
therapy; tranquilizers; progestins; and oral anti-arthritic medications. These
medications should not be present at more than the maximum therapeutic levels.
The second category — not allowable on sales grounds — covers medications
that can be used for therapy but would not be allowable above the lowest
administered therapeutic dose. These medications are equine protozoal myelitis
treatments; bronchodilators (ex. clenbuterol); vaso-active drugs (ex. aspirin,
isoxsuprine); and parenteral anti-arthritics (ex. injectable proteoglycan
supplements).
For the third category — no detectable level — stimulants, muscle
relaxants, diuretics and anabolic steroids should have cleared the horse’s
system and not be detectable by sale time.
Cyproheptadine, pergolide and antibiotics are considered a normal part of a
horse’s health care, but would have to be made public. They are listed in the
fourth category — allowable at therapeutic levels but must be declared in the
repository or announced by the auctioneer.
Overall, the recommendations are meant to establish best practices for the
presentation of horses at public sale to protect both the buyer and seller. In
addition to Bramlage, the Task Force was made up of Craig Van Balen, DVM;
Jeffrey Berk, VMD; Sam Ferguson, DVM; Roger Murphy, DVM; and Scott Pierce, DVM.