Remember all drugs have negative side effects, and some may even seem to go against prescribed indications.

Written by: Teresa Pitman Hear from veterinarians and horse owners about the pros and cons of using sedatives.

It is usually available as the salt detomidine hydrochloride.

It is a prescription medication available to veterinarians sold under the trade name Dormosedan.

Activation of this system is a necessary step in the complex chain of events that results in inflammation.

So far, so good, but it turns out that horses also need COX enzymes for normal kidney function, for secretion of the protective lining that shields the intestines from damage and for production of blood cells.

These drugs should not be used with horses who have certain health problems including heart disease, respiratory dysfunction, seizures, or those who are in shock.

α2-adrenergic agonists produce dose-dependent sedative and analgesic effects, mediatated by activation of α2 catecholamine receptors, thus inducing a negative feedback response, reducing production of excitatory neurotransmitters.Pam Mackenzie photo For some people, using sedatives is a routine part of horse management, but others contend that they are used too often, and not necessary in most cases. “So, we usually sedate her even for routine vaccinations – for the protection of the vet, really, who naturally doesn’t want to be kicked or bitten.” Arden’s hatred of vets may be exceptional, but for many horse owners, sedatives and calming agents are an important tool for managing their horses in difficult situations when the horse might otherwise become a danger to others – or to himself.Get advice from experts to help inform your decisions. These medications are often used in horses to deal with situations where the horse might become anxious or aggressive: trailering, using clippers, or having teeth floated, for example. Trish Dowling, of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that there are two main categories of drugs used for this purpose in horses: the alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, which are prescription medications that are given by injection (xylazine, detomidine, romefidine) and must be obtained from a veterinarian; and the phenothiazines (usually acepromazine), which can be given by injection or in granules added to feed and do not require a prescription.Tranquilizers are classified into two main categories: It should be noted that recommended doses will typically achieve optimum results.Higher (unwarranted) doses may only serve to increase the amount of negative side effects associated with a particular drug.Successful chemotherapy aims to maximize the destruction of cancerous cells and tumors while minimizing toxicity to the horse and their normal tissues.Chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with surgical removal of cancerous masses and/or radiation therapy for the treatment of cancerous growths.