Generic Lasix
Furosemide 40/100mg

Horses and Lasix

Have you ever considered the well-being of the horses which you may see darting across the race tracks at amazing speeds? Have you ever considered the effects which that effort and single-minded physical focus could have on their long-term health? In all honesty, the answer for most people to both of those questions is… not really. Horses are known for being big, strong, fast and healthy animals, so it may be hard for the casual observer to understand that they suffer from health problems, the same way people do. Just like Grandma has to take her pills for blood pressure and cholesterol, a horse might need medication to stay healthy and virile – especially the race horses that are pushed to their limits on a regular basis. One of these potential drugs is Lasix.

The history of the drug runs parallel to the history of racing horses. As horse races became increasing popular, there was a push to supply more and more horses.  Disreputable breeders interested in money and popularity began to breed their animals without much thought about health. The horses therefore became more plentiful in number but also sicker, weaker as defects were not weeded out but instead were passed on down the generations. As this happened, bleeding became more serious and more common.

Those unfamiliar with race horses might be surprised that they bleed at all. The even the bleeding horses usually look healthy and strong. Hold the band-aids, however; this is primarily an internal bleeding. Horses are pushed to such an extent during racing that they suffer internal bleeding known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To put it more plainly, the extreme stress of racing basically causes blood vessels inside their bodies to explode. The condition is not permanent; it gradually heals, usually within a span of days. However, the symptoms related to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhages are felt for the remainder of the horse’s life. Another common bleeding problem is pulmonary hemorrhages (usually caused by a horse’s allergies).

There are a network of laws and regulations which stipulate how bleeding must be handled by owners; they were created for the horses’ safety. They must receive certain wait-periods and cannot bleed too much (the laws vary, however, on what is considered “too much”). But horses that are on the sidelines, so to speak, do not make money so drugs like Lasix are used not just to preserve the quality of life for horses but also to generate more money for their owners and the race tracks. 

The drug in question (Lasix is the popular brand name, but in its generic form it is simply furosemide) is actually a diuretic. It helps the body clear out excess fluids. Less fluid translates into less swelling and pressure within the body. The horse is then less likely to suffer from bleeding problems. It may surprise you to realize how much water can be expelled from the body after consumption of the diuretic: the number can be measured in not in cups or pints but actual gallons. It may also prove an indirect aid for the horse’s chance at the race itself, because a horse that is several gallons lighter will have more energy and runner a bit faster. For that matter, it may prolong the tenure of horses by making them more able to compete when they would’ve otherwise been forced to retire.

It is worthwhile to note that some believe Lasix to have a more underhanded function; when water is flushed out, other things may come with – namely, illegal enhancers, so that if tested the horses nothing inappropriate will be found.

Most people who spend time around race horses will assure anyone who asks that bleeding isn’t that big a deal; it happens all the time, and the horses recover within a couple of days. But Lasix takes a problem that isn’t that bad and makes it even less of a worry. Plus, it may make a horse run quicker. Not much of a controversy still remains around its use. In fact, if you visit a race track and speak to the owners and jockeys, you may learn that the majority of horses receive a dose (or several). 

But, as you watch the horses run and realize that there is a drug sustaining them, improving their quality of life and lower their blood pressure, it might behoove you to take a moment and consider the effects of your own blood pressure medication (which in fact may be a diuretic and function the same way that Lasix does). If their medicine works that well for them, perhaps your might work that well for you, too. Who doesn’t want to be as strong as a horse?