Analgesia in the horse, assessing and treating pain in equines

Abstract

This review focuses on pain and nociception in horses and is based on the PhD thesis “Analgesia in the Horse, various approaches for assessment and treatment of pain and nociception in equines” by J.P.A.M. van Loon. Apart from a scientific review of the related literature, a multi-disciplinary approach to quantify nociception and inflammatory pain and to objectively recognise clinical pain in horses is described. To this aim, neurophysiological techniques, kinematic gait analysis, pressure algometry, assessment of inflammatory biomarkers and composite pain scale analysis have been used. Further, clinical efficacy and analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects of locoregional analgesic techniques have been assessed in horses with acute inflammatory pain. The ultimate aims of the thesis are to contribute to fundamental and clinically applicable knowledge in the field of equine pain and analgesia research and thereby improve clinical analgesia in the horse.