A new technology for diagnosing lameness in horses - The Lameness Locator
The veterinarians at Clarke Equine Wellness and Performance are pleased to introduce the Lameness Locator, a new device to supplement our ability to diagnose lameness in the horses under our care. This complex instrument is based on gyroscopic evaluation of a set of markers strategically placed on the horse's limbs and body. These markers send signals to a small tablet computer which then calculates the movement and angles of each limb as a horse is trotted. While there is often no substitute for a veterinarian's eye in evaluating a horse, this instrument can be invaluable in helping us to ferret out those particularly subtle or complex lamenesses, especially those which may involve more than one limb.
What are the differences between proprietary, generic and compounded drugs?
Horse owners are often presented with conflicting and confusing information when it comes to medications for their horses. Most have heard of things like Banamine, acepromazine, penicillin, Gastrogard, Zimecterin, etc. But often, the difference between which of these is a"proprietary" drug and which is "generic" is unclear. And over the last few years, the availability of "compounded" drugs has made life even more confusing. So let's see of we can help.
A "proprietary" drug is a unique, usually relatively new, medication for which the patent is still held by the original manufacturer. One current example is Gastrogard. This is the only version of this drug that is currently available. The original company still holds the patent on the formulation so no other company is yet allowed to make it. When a new drug is developed and passes all the requirements to be marketed and sold, the government regulating agencies generally establish a specific period of time that the original manufacturer can maintain the exclusive patent. Once that time frame expires, other "generic" manufacturers may enter the market and manufacture the drug. An example of this would be Banamine. That drug name refers to the original proprietary product. The active ingredient is flunixin meglumine. Once the patent on banamine expired, other manufacturers began developing their own version of flunixin, and now there are many brands available. In order to qualify to market and sell a "copycat" product (which is essentially what a "generic" medication is), the generic manufacturer must be able to prove that its product is consistently similar in concentration and effectiveness to the original brand name product. Both brand name and generic products are regularly monitored and checked for safety, effectiveness and purity, and we generally consider them similar in reliability.
"Compounded" medications are a different matter entirely. The idea behind compounding is to take a medication that exists in a form which makes it difficult to administer to horses, or a combination of medications that needs to be given for a specific condition and reformulate them to make it possible to use them effectively on horses. In recent years, "compounded" forms of just about every medication imaginable have begun to show up on the market. Keep in mind that there is NO guarantee of concentration or effectiveness in these medications. In fact, it is still illegal to use a compounded form of a medication if a proprietary or generic form of that same medication is available for use. Use EXTREME caution with compounded drugs and always ask your veterinarian for a proprietary or generic form if it is available.
A "proprietary" drug is a unique, usually relatively new, medication for which the patent is still held by the original manufacturer. One current example is Gastrogard. This is the only version of this drug that is currently available. The original company still holds the patent on the formulation so no other company is yet allowed to make it. When a new drug is developed and passes all the requirements to be marketed and sold, the government regulating agencies generally establish a specific period of time that the original manufacturer can maintain the exclusive patent. Once that time frame expires, other "generic" manufacturers may enter the market and manufacture the drug. An example of this would be Banamine. That drug name refers to the original proprietary product. The active ingredient is flunixin meglumine. Once the patent on banamine expired, other manufacturers began developing their own version of flunixin, and now there are many brands available. In order to qualify to market and sell a "copycat" product (which is essentially what a "generic" medication is), the generic manufacturer must be able to prove that its product is consistently similar in concentration and effectiveness to the original brand name product. Both brand name and generic products are regularly monitored and checked for safety, effectiveness and purity, and we generally consider them similar in reliability.
"Compounded" medications are a different matter entirely. The idea behind compounding is to take a medication that exists in a form which makes it difficult to administer to horses, or a combination of medications that needs to be given for a specific condition and reformulate them to make it possible to use them effectively on horses. In recent years, "compounded" forms of just about every medication imaginable have begun to show up on the market. Keep in mind that there is NO guarantee of concentration or effectiveness in these medications. In fact, it is still illegal to use a compounded form of a medication if a proprietary or generic form of that same medication is available for use. Use EXTREME caution with compounded drugs and always ask your veterinarian for a proprietary or generic form if it is available.
Location: 1236 Kimble Rd. Berryville, VA 22611
Phone: 540-955-9115
Fax: 540-955-9130
Business address: P.O. Box 392 Berryville, VA 22611
Email: office@clarkeequine.com
Phone: 540-955-9115
Fax: 540-955-9130
Business address: P.O. Box 392 Berryville, VA 22611
Email: office@clarkeequine.com