Although the majority of sedative and analgesic drugs used for the restraint of equines are labeled for use as sole agents, most equine veterinarians use these medications in combination with the goal of optimizing the onset, quality, and duration of the alteration in mental state while minimizing potentially deleterious side effects.1 There are many medical and even surgical procedures that can be performed on standing horses, assuming that the requisite chemical restraint and analgesia are used. This of course simplifies many procedures that might otherwise have to be performed on an operating theater, as well as reducing the risks associated with anesthesia in horses. 

Whether procedures are to be performed on a standing or recumbent horse, choosing optimal sedation is a critical part of the equine veterinarian’s role. When choosing between the drugs or drug combinations available, the veterinarian must consider safety, cost effectiveness for the client and the practice, as well as the efficacy of the product(s) for achieving the appropriate level of sedation for the procedure at hand. Sedation works to depress the horse’s brain, while medication(s) with analgesic effects help to mitigate pain. These benefits mean a less traumatic experience for the horse, as well as helping to decrease the chance of injury to the owner or veterinarian during the procedure.

While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain an integral part of controlling pain and inflammation in injured horses, more effective pain management is now available in the form of newer medications and combinations, newer modes of delivery, and expansion of the medications used for pain management.3 Much of this is due to the fact that increasing numbers of medications that have been used in human medicine for pain management are being investigated for use in equines.

Where to buy Detomidine + Xylazine

Detomidine + Xylazine is available in the U.S. through several pharmaceutical manufacturers and through veterinary custom compounding companies. 

FOR RX ONLY: A valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian is required for dispensing this medication.

1Hubbell, J. Practical Standing Chemical Restraint of the Horse. (2009) AAEP Proceedings Vol. 55, 2.

2Wagner AE, Mama KR, Contino EK, Ferris DJ, Kawcak CE. Evaluation of sedation and analgesia in standing horses after administration of xylazine, butorphanol, and subanesthetic doses of ketamine. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jun 15;238(12):1629-33. doi: 10.2460/javma.238.12.1629. PMID: 21671819.

3Bentz, B. Pain Management in the Wounded / Injured Horse. In: Proceedings NAVC 2012 Large Animal Conference.