Whether it is in the Olympics, Major League Baseball, college football or horse racing, the use of multiple pain-relieving drugs to enhance performance is a major concern. Now, one University of Missouri-Columbia veterinarian is testing different combinations of non-steroidal, pain-killing drugs in horses to determine if their use actually enhances performance and to identify any side effects the drugs may cause.

“Our hypothesis is that combining drugs won’t make much difference on the lameness of the horse,” said Kevin Keegan, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, an associate professor of veterinary medicine and surgery. “Our previous research shows that combining drugs does not contribute to better performance of these horses and in fact, may even cause harm to the animal