Equine Health Update EHU Vol 20 Issue 03 | Page 23

NHRA Excerpts | EQUINE This situation is not only a regulatory issue; it is also a welfare one. The misuse of AMD in veterinary practice may increase the development of anti- microbial resistance which can also impair human public health. This issue has become a major priority of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and the racing industry must play a part by providing policies to minimise the misuse of anti-microbial drugs. One way is a particular focus of study: putting AMD back on the prohibited substance list and setting a stand-down period before racing. This an abstract from a presentation given by Dr P.M Gadot, France Galop, France at ICRAV 2018 Comment: Antibiotic overuse and misuse in the Racing Industry as highlighted in this abstract is of growing concern, especially in the EU. However, there was much resistance from delegates from the floor especially with regards to adding Antibiotics to the Prohibited Substance Lists again. Further research and discussions are ongoing. FOOD FOR THOUGHT. FAREWELL TO DR REYNDERS The National Horseracing Authority would like to bid farewell to Dr Eugene Reynders who will be leaving The NHA to take a Veterinary position in Hong Kong. We would like to extend our formal appreciation to Dr Reynders for his hard work and dedicated to the NHA since August 2014. As he embarks on this new chapter in his life, the NHA would like to wish him every success in his future endeavours. NHA LABORATORY WARNING ON HORSERACING PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN READILY AVAILABLE PREPARATIONS reduce the pain of injury and associated inflammation. Responsible and controlled treatment with anti- inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic substances play an important role in the correct recovery procedure. From a welfare perspective, the use of such substances as a masking agent is considered to be cruel as they may well aggravate an underlying injury. Humans also experience such pain with injuries such as cuts, abrasions, bumps, sprains and strains. Since humans are in a position to self-medicate using substances responsibly, there is a significant need for such substances to be available in preparations that are accessible in shop fronts and that are affordable. Problems arise inadvertently when such preparations, available without the requirements of medical consultation and prescription, enter the stable yard. The ease in obtaining these preparations does not suitably emphasize the fact that they are prohibited in racing. It is also unclear what constitutes a prohibited substance dose for a horse when using a preparation intended for humans and how this could result in a prohibited substance positive. Within this document a warning is issued with regard to the use of such prohibited substances and preparations that are readily available. When these preparations are used in the horse they enter the bloodstream including those that are topically administered. This affects the horse, not only where it was administered, but also systemically (within other parts of the body). It is critical that the dose and elimination rate of the particular substance is carefully investigated and considered, with the required veterinary guidance and advice, in combination with a sufficient withdrawal safety margin. A very large proportion of the substances which are prohibited in horseracing are those substances that • Volume 20 Issue 3 | October 2018 • 23