whether the current medication practices are in the best interest of the horse

whether the current medication practices are in the best interest of the horseAre the breakdowns the outgrowth of a meat-grinder industry,Flexible Tubor evidence of a horseArtificial pumpkinspopulation spread too thin? Or, as Aqueduct officials say, do they simply represent a spate of bad luck?

“I don’t think there is any explanation to it,” Campo said in his office at Aqueduct on Wednesday. “It’s an unfortunate part of our industry that we don’t like. But we try to minimize any type of breakdowns we have using all the policies and procedures we have in place.”

What part do legal drugs play in a steady flow of breakdowns? Is it possible that any of the fallen horses had previous injuries being masked by legal drugs? Is it possible that legal drugs gave fatigued horses the ability to run?

Dr. Rick Arthur, the equine medical director of the California Horse Racing Board, said, “There has been expressed concern, primarily among examining veterinarians and those who observe the industry, about whether the currentArtificial pumpkinsmedication practices are in the best interest of the horse.”

He said industry concern focuses on three major types of legal drugs. One is Lasix, a race-day drug many in the industry agree is beneficial to the horse because it prevents bleeding in the lungs, a common problem.

The second type is nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, typically phenylbutazone, flunixin and ketoprofen. Most racing jurisdictions allow the use of one of those drugs over a prescribed period of time before a horse’s race. Arthur said that a number of veterinarians who examine horses for soundness before they race are concerned that the presence of those drugs compromises their ability to properly evaluate horses.

“Obviously, the patients can’t talk to us so if some medication is hiding or is masking some problem, it’s difficult to determine,” he said.

The third type of drugs most frequently mentionedFlexible Tubas being overused are steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which Arthur described as “cortisone-type drugs” typically used in a joint to decreaseArtificial pumpkinsinflammation.