Issues on the Use of Lasix and Bute in Racehorses

It has been a well-known fact that many horses who race today are put under Lasix or Butazolidin, more commonly known as "Bute." These medications are legal in all races in the US and may even be injected into the horse on race day itself.

Lasix is actually the trade name of Furosemide, a diuretic that causes fluids stored in the horse's system to be released through the urine. Bute, meanwhile, is an anti-inflammatory drug that is commonly used to treat a sick or injured horse.

In case you don't know why these medications got their way into the horse's bloodstreams, the simple reason is EIPH. Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage or bleeding of the tiny blood vessels in the lungs due to overexertion is a problem encountered by most thoroughbreds that race strenuously. When a horse bleeds in, it will have difficulty breathing, hence, difficulty running as well. This is a lifelong problem necessitating medication in most racehorses.

Lasix works by lowering the horse's blood pressure, especially in the aorta and pulmonary artery through the release of fluids in its urine. This lowers blood pressure in the capillaries and lessens EIPH.

The debate rages when horses are placed under Lasix because experts contend that it's a performance-enhancing drug that has a similar effect to the steroids some human athletes inject themselves with. Moreover, it also gives them a weight advantage since the volume of fluid lost due to the medication can make the horse lose as much as 20 pounds.

Bute, meanwhile, is simply a pain and fever medication for injured horses. There hasn't been any proof that it enhances a horse's performance in any way. However, the welfare of racehorses comes to mind when an unscrupulous trainer would use Bute on an injured horse so it could race instead of letting it rest.

There is no question as to the legal aspect of using these medications in race horses. However, it carries with it various moral, ethical and yes, even wagering considerations. It's really up to the owner, trainer and bettor to understand its implications on the track.

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EIPH: Every Racehorse's Concern

EIPH or Exercise Induced-Pulmonary Hemorrhage is a common concern among horses who work out at high intensities. It is no surprise that 80% of thoroughbreds suffer from EIPH. The stress of horse racing causes the blood vessels in the lungs to rupture leading blood to pass into the airways. This happens because the walls of the blood vessels in the lung are thin and weak and cannot take twice the amount of blood pressure that accompanies any intense physical activity. The pressure is greatest in the upper lung and hence bleeding almost always occurs here. The force that impacts this area as the horse lands on its forelegs also adds to the pressure.

In a study in Australia done by Kenneth Hinchcliff of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State University, it was found that racehorses who suffered from serious forms of EIPH finished 4.36 meters behind the winner. This is actually the first scientific study that directly linked EIPH to the poor performance of a horse at the races.

EIPH, being a progressive disease, worsens with rigorous training and as the horse ages, regardless of gender. The overall performance of a horse is significantly compromised as more and more tissues in the lungs are inflamed resulting to the formation of scar tissues. As scar tissues build up, the ability of the lung to ventilate is decreased. As a result, less oxygen becomes available in the bloodstream.

During exercises when the horse is in need of more oxygen, the scarred lung cannot anymore provide as much oxygen and as such horses become exercise intolerant. During a strenuous exercise where the scarred lung meets the healthy lung, an extra tension occurs in the area making it susceptible to hemorrhage.

This has huge implications for the horse racing industry. Even if thoroughbreds in the U.S. are given Lasix, a diuretic that increases water loss to decrease blood volume and pressure, EIPH is still difficult to control overall since no medication has really been developed specifically to treat it. When a horse is only suffering from mild forms of EIPH, his chances of winning a race increases four times compared to one who is suffering the ailment in its advanced stages.

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