This article originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of EquiManagement. Sign up herefor a FREE subscription to EquiManagement’s quarterly digital or print magazine and any special issues.The objective in managing laminitic pain is to eliminate unhelpful pathologic pain while preserving protective physiologic pain. | Adobe Stock
At the 2024 AAEP Convention, Alonso Guedes, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVAA, of the University of Minnesota, tackled a complicated subject on how to manage pain from laminitis. The objective in managing laminitic pain, he said, is to eliminate unhelpful pathologic pain while preserving protective physiologic pain. Pathologic pain signs are evidenced by abnormal behavior, withdrawn attitude, and depression. The horse off-loads his limbs frequently, often five times per minute, by shifting weight and not picking up the limb. Normal off-load frequency is about once every two minutes. In contrast, physiologic pain is an important protective and adaptive mechanism that can be treated with medication. Guedes reviewed many multimodal analgesia options, of which we’ll discuss a few newer medications.
Tramadol
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