Gabopentin for horses?

Question

Does anyone have any experience of using Gabopentin for undiagnosed pain in a horse? My horse has a severe skin condition with no external symptoms except that she mutilates herself scratching with her teeth (or on anything handy), Steroids have had zero effect so it appears that the problem is not actually in her skin. I suspect the problem is neuropathic as it is limited to specific parts of her back. Has anyone any experience of using Gabopentinn or can suggest any other possible remedy? This has been proven to NOT be an allergy but the vet has no idea what it is.

? · Accepted Answer

Have you investigated for something similar to shivering or wobbler's syndrome?

Also, I know this will not stop any pain, but it may break the cycle of habit, you could try a neck cradle to prevent her being able to bite herself, but still allowing her to eat and drink normally. 
(Like this one) http://www.valleyvet.com/group_images/25939_A.jpg

I had a mare with sweet itch a while ago and she was in the habit of scratching against the fence(even in the middle of winter with no flies around) and eventually we had no option but to tether her so she could not reach the fence to scratch against it. She still had a large enough area to graze- we used a lunge line to tether her as she was an old girl and not prone to anything beyond a jog towards a feed bucket! After about 3 months of being tethered and moved around the field to keep having some good grass, we let her off to see how she was and the habit was broken. She's not a baldy any more and the little girl who has her now takes her out veteran showing :-).

Perhaps just something to numb the area would help? A local anaesthetic cream or similar?

Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

Don't sell her. The kind of connection you have with her doesn't come around very often at all! If you can, get a trainer to work on her issues with you. If not, do a lot of research online and watch hundreds of videos and read tons of books about horse training and try working on her yourself. You'd be amazed at how much she's probably able to do that you have no idea. OR, if you have the money, keep her and then take lessons. You'll be assigned a lesson horse and will eventually be jumping and competing without having to pay for your OWN jumping horse. And whenever you're ready for the next step in jumping, you can upgrade to a more advanced horse without going through the process of selling/buying.

b_bardi99 · Answer

did you have a neurologist vet examine the horse?
i know for a fact, Gabapantin is used for dogs with neuropathic pain or certain spinal injuries.
i am not a horse-person,but ask these people on a forum with dogs:www.dodgerslist.com
its a forum for people with dogs that have/had spinal injuries,mainly disc disorders or herniated discs.
dogs can and will mutilate themselves if they have neuropathy.
it must be the same for horses:a neurologist vet must be able to tell you more details.

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Gabopentin for horses?

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