b'SPONSORED BYEQUIDONE Gel(domperidone)For oral use in horses only.BRIEF SUMMARY (For full prescribing information, see package insert.) CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.DESCRIPTION: Domperidone is a D2 dopamine receptor antagonist. The chemical formula is 6-chloro-3-[1-[3-(2-oxo-3H-benzimidazol-1-yl) propyl]piperi-din-4-yl]-1H-benzimidazol-2-one.INDICATION: For prevention of fescue toxicosis in periparturient mares.Contraindication: Horses with hypersen-sitivity to domperidone should not receive EQUIDONE Gel.WARNINGS: Failure of passive transfer of immunoglobulins (IgG) may occur when using EQUIDONE Gel even in the absence of leakage of colostrum or milk. All foals born to mares treated with EQUIDONE Gel should be tested for serum IgG concen-trations. Do not use in horses intended for COURTESY DR. AHMED TIBARYhuman consumption.Vets can measure calcium and pH levels in mares mammary secretions to help predict foaling.HUMAN WARNINGS: Not for use in humans. For oral use in animals only. Keep this and all drugs out of the reachDiel de Amorim said owners and breed- comfortable with foaling their own mare of children. Pregnant and lactatinging managers can use both the calciumor not, in the first place, and make sure women should use caution when handling EQUIDONE Gel, as systemic exposuretitration and pH methods in the field, inthey have a veterinarian they can call to domperidone may affect reproductiveconcert with each other. close by in case they need help, she said. hormones. Consult a physician in case of accidental human exposure. The calcium titration method that weNo technology is 100% guaranteed, so used is the FoalWatch, she said, addingwe tend to use a combination of them to PRECAUTIONS: EQUIDONE Gel may lead to premature birth, low birth weightthat these tests are fairly easy to use. make sure we attend the foalings.foals or foal morbidity if administered >15 The pH is easier to do and cheaper, days prior to the expected foaling date.Diel de Amorim said. The pH strip needsResearch Review: Anesthesia and Accurate breeding date(s) and an expected foaling date areto be in 0.2 increments, and you onlySurgery in Pregnant Maresneeded for the safe use of EQUIDONE Gel. need a few drops of mammary secre- Veterinarians and researchers know Do not use in horses with suspected or confirmed gastrointestinal blockage, astion to perform. You put the strip in thegeneral anesthesia in horses can be risky, domperidone is a prokinetic drug (it stimu- mammary secretion and read the colorwith reported mortality rates ranging lates gut motility).immediately after. The digital (pH meter)from 0.12-1.6%. They also are well-aware ADVERSE REACTIONS: The mostis also easy to perform. that pregnancy can exacerbate those risks common adverse reactions associated with treatment with EQUIDONE Gel areShe said any of the digital pH metersand possibly reduce live-foaling rates. premature lactation (dripping of milk prioravailable for aquarium use will work, butWhat theyre less certain about, however, to foaling) and failure of passive transfer. youll also need a pH solution to ensureis the safest time during gestation to the meter is calibrated properly. recommend elective surgeries.Still, she said, no foaling predictionVeterinary anesthesiologist John A.E. method, or combo of methods, is perfect. Hubbell, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVAA, and Mares are sneaky, and they tend tocolleagues at Rood & Riddle Equine foal when everything is quiet and noHospital in Lexington, Kentucky, recently people (are) around, she said. We tendreviewed the literature to develop recom-Distributed by: to start looking at a mares mammarymendations on when and when not to Dechra Veterinary Products7015 College Boulevard, Suite 525 gland when they are around 310-320 dayspursue elective surgeries in pregnant Overland Park, KS 66211, 866-933-2472 2016 Dechra Ltd. of gestation. First-time mares (maidenmares. EQUIDONE is a registered trademarkmares) may not develop mammaryHubbell said theres little knowledge of Dechra Ltd. All rights reserved.NADA 141-314, glands until the day of or the day afterabout how pregnancy affects anesthesia Approved by FDAthey foal, so they can fool everyone. in horses, but theres more research in Diel de Amorim told The Horse thatother species. Anesthetized women early while most mares foal without incident,in pregnancy have increased tidal volume complications could mean the difference(the amount of air inhaled and exhaled between life and death for mare or foal. with each breath) and respiratory minute Owners should consider if they feelvolume (the amount of gas exhaled per A34 TheHorse.com/AAEP2017 AAEP Wrap-Up THE HORSEMarch 2018'