Whether you’re starting fresh and building a new medicine cabinet, or maybe you inherited various powders and creams from a previous groom, knowing what you have, what it’s for and what the side effects are is important – and can even save your health in the long run.
I’ve heard several horror stories about young girls administering liquid Regu-Mate with no gloves on and then being found a couple hours later absolutely hysterical. Now, were these stories actually true, or were they fabricated to scare me into handling this drug safely? I didn’t know, and I wasn’t about to find out for myself. What we now know for certain is that repeated contact with this product can cause changes to the menstrual cycle, cramps in the uterus or abdomen and a longer pregnancy.
Below, I’ve created a short list of medications that are commonly used or found around barns and that don’t necessarily come with any warning labels.
Generic vs. Brand Names
But first, a short explanation about drug names and the difference between their generic names and brand names. In veterinary medicine, each drug has a generic name and often one or more brand names.
* The generic name is the name of the main active ingredient in the drug, describing its chemical makeup and how it is used—for example, “altrenogest.”
* Brand names, like “Regu-Mate,” are names chosen by companies to sell the drug and can be different depending on the manufacturer, even if the active ingredient is the same.
The generic name stays the same across all brands, while brand names may vary and sometimes offer small differences in the way the drug is made or packaged.
Nitrofurazone (Furacin, Fura-Zone, NFZ Wound Dressing, Fura-Septin)
Nitrofurazone was originally used as an antibiotic cream in livestock, but I’ve also seen it used as a sweat and, combined with other ingredients, to make a “cure-all” cream. If you do still use nitrofurazone, always wear gloves when you apply it; a study done in 1988 found cancerous changes in male and female mice after exposure over a prolonged period of time. The FDA also discontinued its use of the substance in livestock in 2002.
Altrenogest (Regu-Mate, Altresyn, Ovu-Mate)
Altrenogest belongs to the class of drugs called progestins and is used to suppress estrus in mares or their heat cycle. A commonly known brand name is Regu-Mate. If you are giving the liquid version of this drug, always wear gloves and make sure that you don’t get any on your skin, especially if you are a person with a uterus. Any drug that can affect a mare’s hormones most likely can affect yours. Women who were exposed to the drug reported absent or abnormal menstrual cycles and extreme mood swings.
But wait, there’s more!
Laura Elser breaks down more equine medications, their uses and their safe requirements in the HorseGrooms Community. Sign up for free to take full advantage!
Featured photo courtesy of Shelley Paulson Photography.
Hey there! A New England native, I’ve been hopping around the country since 2012, always doing something horse-related (only 4 more states to go!). A 2016 University of Findlay grad, turned vet tech, turned cowgirl, and back to vet tech. In between college years, I interned with professional western riders across the country, and learned the ins and outs of being a groom (or a saddler as they call it). After graduation, I tried my hand at assisting the veterinarians on farm calls, and quickly became addicted to Florida weather during the winters. I did take a 3-year hiatus to go be a cowgirl out in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, but now I’m back in Wellington enjoying my 5th WEF circuit.
