AAEP releases recommendations

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.