When ACP may be of use
- Clipping and trimming
- Pulling manes and tails
- Shoeing
- Minor dental procedures
- Loading and travelling
- Enforced box rest
- Turnout or exercise following box rest
- The covering of uncooperative mares
- Handling wild or fractious horses
Veterinary uses of ACP
- Prior to a general anaesthetic (shown to reduce anaesthetic deaths)
- Laminitis
- To drop the penis for swabbing or clinical assessment
- Choke
- Tetanus
Undesirable side effects of ACP
- Drop in blood pressure (hypotension) but may help laminitis cases
- Inhibition of temperature regulation
- Changes in the blood cell count
- Disturbances in fertility
- Paralysis of the retractor penis muscle (leading to possible penile prolapse and associated problems)
- Accidental injection into the artery instead of the vein, leading to possible disorientation, convulsions and death
For more information about the benefits and suitable uses of ACP, see Horse & Hound (28 February, ’08)
