Most of us can agree that a substance like phenybutazone is a drug --
that it is an analgesic (pain killer) and a NSAID (nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drug). Most will agree that it should not be used in
competition to mask pain in horses so that it can continue to perform.
After this collusion of opinion on substances like "bute", agreement and
understanding of what is a drug and what we should do about them
deteriorates rapidly.
The response to the discussion of drugs becomes analogous to the response
of a group of parishioners to the sermons of a new pastor. In the Ozark
hills where I live, a large number of the local congregation made a
significant contribution to their income (but not to the federal tax
collector) by fermenting local grains into "moonshine".
In the pastor's first sermon, he condemned stealing and the congregation
responded with shouts of "Amen". He then proceeded to decry the practice
of fornication which resulted in shouts of "Hallelujah and Praise the
Lord". He began to finish the sermon with a condemnation of the evils of
strong drink -- for which he was received with silence. One of the
deacons of the church turned to another and said, "The parson has stopped
preaching and has started meddling." And, so it seems to be with any
discourse on drugs and drug policy.
Much confusion seeems to have been generated due to the lack of
definition as to what is a drug and what is a nutrient. A drug is a
substance that has a physiological effect THAT IS NOT A NUTRIENT.
All nutrients are included in one of six classes:
water
carbohydrate
protein
fat
vitamins
minerals
Certainly, nutrients have a physiolocial effect or we would not be
engaging in this discourse. Since AERC rule 13 addresses drugs, it by
definition is not intented to regulate nutrients. Therefore, please, let
us not muddy these waters concerning drugs by implying that the
veterinary committee of the AERC nor its Board of Directors wishes you to
stop feeding your horses (nor giving them electrolytes).
Some of the posts have requested a list of allowables and non allowables
with withdrawals times for substances in each group. A complete list can
not be provided for it does not exist -- and if it did it would be out of
date tomorrow. The range of substances fed to horses to "enhance
performance" is too large and changes too rapidly. An incomplete list of
substances known to test has been provided when all of this was presented
to the membership of the AERC a few years ago. (another benefit of
belonging to the national organization representing our sport.)
Without question, the role that additives, herbs, and nutriceuticals
play creates our greatest migrains. Let me give you three examples.
In the late 19th century, an English midwife achieved some success in
treating people with "dropsy" (accumulation of fluid in the distal
extremities or body cavity due to congestive heart failure) with a tea
made from the leaves of the purple foxglove, a common member of the
figwort family. Many, many years later it was found that the purple
foxglove contained the drug, digitalis, which has provided for the effect
of the tea. Today, I have digitalis (digoxin/digitoxin) in liquid and
pill form on the shelf in my practice. Would you claim that the
digitalis in the bottle is a drug while the digitalis in the plant is
only a herb?
Many of the nutriceuticals also cause us problems. Methyl Sulfonyl
Methane (MSM) is an antiinflammatory substance with properties similar to
Dimethyl Sufoxide (DMSO). It is licensed as a nutritional source of
sulfur (a mineral and therefore a nutrient) and not as a drug. Now,
sulfur can be bought of a nickel a pound while MSM costs twenty dollars a
pound. I propose that you are not feeding MSM to your horse because you
feel it is deficient in sulfur.
Lastly, before you run out of patience, let us consider water -- in its
solid form, ice. Running water and ice application are common ways in
which to cool horses or reduce acute swelling. If ice is applied longer
and more directly , it becomes a topical anesthetic which can mask local
pain as surely as lidocaine. Don't worry -- no one has advocated the
elimination of ice nor that you don't let your horse drink.
These examples are only a few that could be used to demonstrate the
complexity of the drug isssue. Yet, even for substances on which we can
agree are drugs, AERC policy and rules do not prohibit you from using
them to aid in the resolution of some affliction of your horse. Just do
not use them when they can affect the performance of your horse during
competition. These substances then may threaten the health and welfare
of the horse which is the primary concern of the AERC or they can
unlevel the playing field which can give one competitor an unfair
advantage over another.
To this end the AERC prohibits the administration of abnormal substances
(bute, isoxuprine, anesthetics, stimulants, depressants, masking agents,
etc.) or normal substances in abnormal amounts (anabolic steroids,
glucocorticoids, dopamine, epenephrine, etc.) which may be detected
during competition.
Lastly, I would like to pose the question as to why anyone feels the need
to have any of these substances in their horse on ride day. If you claim
that you are not enhancing performance but are only trying to maintain
longevity, then you may be fooling the person in the mirror -- and your
horse -- more than you are fooling me.
I ams sure this is not the end to the drug debate. If fact, it is not
even the beginning. I hope the noise to traffic ratio stays low.
Have a nice day and I wish to each and every one of you a Merry Christmas!:)
Regards
Dane L. Frazier DVM