Therapeutic Effects of Gabapentin, Pentoxifylline, and Naproxen in Equine Acute Laminitis Induced by Carbohydrate Overload

Laminitis is a common, painful, and potentially debilitating disease affecting horses, ponies, and donkeys. The condition involves inflammation and structural damage of the laminar tissues that connect the hoof wall to the distal phalanx, potentially leading to rotation or sinking of the pedal bone within the hoof. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of gabapentin, pentoxifylline, and naproxen, administered individually or in combination, in horses with acute laminitis induced by carbohydrate overload. A total of ۶۰ horses diagnosed with acute laminitis and referred to veterinary clinics in Yazd Province were included in the study. The animals were randomly allocated into four treatment groups: gabapentin alone, pentoxifylline alone, naproxen alone, and a combination therapy consisting of gabapentin, pentoxifylline, and naproxen. All medications were administered orally. Clinical response, pain reduction, and improvement of laminitis-associated signs were evaluated during the treatment period. The results demonstrated that all three drugs contributed to clinical improvement and reduction of laminitis-associated pain. Gabapentin showed beneficial effects in pain management, while pentoxifylline and naproxen improved inflammatory and clinical parameters. However, the combination therapy produced the most favorable therapeutic outcome compared with single-drug treatments. These findings suggest that combined administration of gabapentin, pentoxifylline, and naproxen may represent an effective therapeutic approach for the management of acute equine laminitis associated with carbohydrate overload.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acute laminitis ، Horse ، Gabapentin ، Pentoxifylline ، Naproxen ، Carbohydrate overload.