We are all familiar with the classic symptoms of inflammation: redness, pain, swelling and heat. This reaction occurs in response to tissue injury caused by infection or physical damage.
Horse being lead out for lameness check based on signs of inflammation
While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are highly effective in limiting and resolving inflammatory conditions, they do not address the underlying cause of the inflammatory response.
© 2012 by Mark Sellers New window.
While inflammation is often viewed as a pathologic condition, its purpose is to reinstate physiologic homeostasis in response to damage.
The initial, or acute, inflammatory response is necessary to begin the healing process by eliminating debris and promoting cellular regeneration and replacement. Chronic or persistent inflammation, by contrast, can lead to a worsening of the pathology and further debilitation.
As such, the mechanisms underlying the initiation and resolution of inflammation are tightly regulated. A number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins used for cellular communication, are involved in the induction of this response.
Likewise, anti-inflammatory cytokines and other mediators serve to dampen and resolve the response once the noxious stimulus is removed. Therapeutic intervention can hasten this process by blocking some of the key intermediaries of the inflammatory response.
While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are highly effective in limiting and resolving inflammatory conditions, they do not address the underlying cause of the inflammatory response. They can also interfere with the restorative aspects of the inflammatory response and delay the return to homeostasis.
This, in addition to their other known side effects on gastric mucosa, warrants careful consideration prior to use. Nevertheless, NSAIDS are some of the most widely used medications in veterinary medicine.
Alternative approaches, including the use of nutritional supplements with anti-inflammatory properties, are widely available and heavily promoted. While some contain ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties, limited data is available regarding dosing, effectiveness and safety, especially for horses.
See also following related articles: Dr. Allen Page’s article on the identification of biomarkers to predict injury risk for Thoroughbred racehorses is based on the observation that exercise-induced inflammation is exacerbated in horses at risk for musculoskeletal injury. Exercise is known to induce a certain degree of inflammation required for the repair of skeletal and muscle damage induced by the physical forces of exercise. However, exaggerated expression of some of these pro-inflammatory mediators and other related molecules likely signifies a situation where the damage is exceeding the capacity of repair mechanisms leading to a worsening condition and the possibility of a catastrophic failure. While NSAIDS may be used to treat post-exercise soreness, their impact on the restorative aspect of the inflammatory response is unknown.
By contrast, Dr. Kate Hepworth-Warren’s article on pleuropneumonia addresses the need for NSAIDS to reduce inflammation in this condition. The lung is particularly sensitive to inflammation, where cellular infiltrates and edema can readily impair its function. NSAID therapy, in conjunction with antibiotics and other supportive therapies, is key to restoring health in infected individuals.
The third article by Dr. Jamie Kopper on probiotics does not directly address their impact on inflammation, but there is a growing body of information that identifies linkages between gut microbiota and inflammatory conditions in both humans and animals, including horses. This area of research is likely to grow as horse owners and veterinarians continue to look for novel ways to modulate the inflammatory response to improve the horse’s health and wellbeing.
Article by David W. Horohov, PhD Emeritus Professor - Department of Veterinary Science Gluck Equine Research Center University of Kentucky
Press release in Equine Disease Quarterly