Can You Put Dmso On Horses Legs?

Most trainers and horse owners rely on various types of medications for treating leg injuries and soreness in equine athletes. One favorite “all purpose” product is DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). It has dozens of uses and many horsemen swear by it, since it seems to have a high margin of safety and very few side effects.

How do you apply DMSO to horses legs?

In horses, DMSO is applied as a topical gel or administered in liquid form intravenously or through a nasogastric tube. It is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) because it has antioxidant properties that can interrupt the inflammatory process.

Can you wrap a horse’s leg with DMSO?

A horse with a condition requiring a sweat bandage should be confined to a stall or small run unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian. If DMSO is an ingredient in the sweating compound, make sure the horse’s skin is dry before applying it to reduce the chance of skin irritation.

Is DMSO harmful to horses?

The diuretic action of DMSO, however, can make it unsafe for horses who are dehydrated or in shock. It can further dehydrate these animals or dangerously lower their blood pressure.

How long can you use DMSO on a horse?

The most common dose is 1 g/kg body weight intravenously up to a 40%-solution with a maximum duration of treatment of 5 days.

What can you do for a horse with a sore leg?

Apply an ice pack under an adhesive bandage for 20 minutes three or four times a day for the first 48 hours. In between ice treatments, injured tendons should be bandaged to limit tissue swelling – bandage with a firm, uniform pressure but do not apply bandages too tightly as this can lead to further tendon damage.

Can you use too much DMSO?

Some side effects of taking DMSO include skin reactions, dry skin, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, breathing problems, and allergic reactions. DMSO also causes a garlic-like taste and breath and body odor.

How do you get crud off a horse’s legs?

Regular grooming with a gentle rubber curry comb can help remove the build-up of excess skin debris. Periodic cleansing and removal of the crusty scales and debris with keratolytic (anti-dandruff) shampoos can be helpful in managing the condition too.

What is the best leg protection for horses?

Brushing boots typically provide the best, most thorough protection for your horse’s legs. Also called splint boots, they cover from below the knee to just below the inside of the fetlock joint. Unlike tendon boots, they wrap around the entire lower leg, protecting the front of the cannon bone.

What is the best anti-inflammatory for horses?

Phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, both non‐selective COX inhibitors, are the two most commonly prescribed NSAIDs in equine medicine in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. In cases of orthopaedic pain, phenylbutazone is reported to be the most commonly prescribed NSAID, followed by flunixin meglumine.

What precautions should be taken when using DMSO topically in horses?

Be careful of using DMSO in competition horses. It may carry topical medications into the blood and result in a positive drug test. It is important to apply DMSO to clean skin as there is a chance it can carry skin contaminants into the deeper tissues.

Can DMSO heal tendons?

Early research suggests that applying DMSO to the skin might help the skin heal after surgery. Tendon injuries (tendinopathy). Early research suggests that applying DMSO 10% gel to the skin might improve pain and joint movement in people with tendon injuries.

How long does it take for DMSO to work?

3 months during which it should be applied on a regular basis, as the full effect may take quite a while to become apparent. During this trial you should apply it five times every day over the most painful/sensitive area, gently rubbing it into the skin. Like all medicines, DMSO can have side effects.

Does DMSO need to be diluted?

DMSO should always be diluted with distilled water. It works best, in the majority of conditions, when it is in 70 to 90% concentrations—70% DMSO and 30% distilled water, or 90% DMSO and 10% distilled water.

Is DMSO harmful to the skin?

Industrial grade DMSO may contain a number of impurities that can easily be absorbed into the skin with potentially serious health effects. The most frequent side effects from using DMSO on the skin include: Stomach upset. Skin irritation.

Does DMSO help with swelling?

Dimethyl sulfoxide is anti-inflammatory and may be applied topically to reduce pain and swelling. More. DMSO, or dimethyl sulfoxide, has a long history as a topical anti-inflammatory agent.

What is the fastest way to cure sore legs?

To help relieve muscle soreness, try:

1. Gentle stretching.
2. Muscle massage.
3. Rest.
4. Ice to help reduce inflammation.
5. Heat to help increase blood flow to your muscles.
6. Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen (brand name: Advil).

What do you give a limping horse?

Use pain relieving medications to help with lameness.

• NSAIDs work by inhibiting the action of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX1 and COX2).
• The most commonly used NSAID pharmaceuticals for the relief of bone and joint problems in the horse are aspirin, flunixin, and phenylbutazone.

How do you treat a limping horse?

Treatment of Lameness in Horses
Rest and hand walking are standard recommendations for lame horses, suggested in order to reduce the load on the leg that is affected so that healing can take place. NSAID pain management medication is also frequently employed to reduce the inflammation and vasodilation.

How long does it take DMSO to penetrate skin?

The penetration depth of DMSO was shown to depend on the time of exposure – however, after only 15 min DMSO has penetrated the stratum corneum, which is the skin barrier.

How much should you dilute DMSO?

The dosage recommendation for DMSO therapy is broad, ranging from 0.1 g/kg to 1 g/kg. DMSO should be diluted and infused as a 10% solution to avoid hemolysis.