A COMPARISON OF N-BUTYLSCOPOLAMMONIUM BROMIDE AND BUTORPHANOL TARTRATE FOR ANALGESIA USING A BALLOON MODEL OF ABDOMINAL-PAIN IN PONIES

The analgesic effect of N-butylscopolammonium bromide (0.3 mg/kg) usin g a balloon-induced model of colic in ponies was evaluated and compare d with butorphanol tartrate (0.1 mg/kg), Eight adult ponies were used and each received both treatments during the two different trials, The order in which the treatment was received was randomly assigned, At t he start of each trial, moderate abdominal pain was induced by inflati on of a balloon placed in the lumen of the caecum, The ponies were eva luated every 5 minutes, and a cumulative pain score (CPS) was assigned , Two baseline measurements were recorded, followed by the administrat ion of one of the two treatments, Assessments were continued for 60 mi nutes, or until moderate abdominal pain returned, Three ponies out of 8 responded to treatment with butorphanol tartrate, while 6 out of 8 p onies responded to N-butylscopolammonium bromide, There were no statis tical differences in the CPS or duration of drug action between treatm ents.