DMSO!!!1

[rema]

Hiya.I managed to bring back some DMSO from America.I got gel form and liquid form but when i unpacked the liquid one it was solid inside the bottle as if it was frozen.But the gel was okay!!.Has any one else had this problem or know how to 'unfreeze' it???.I wonder of the pressure of the aircraft has caused the chemicals to fuse.Very puzzling.that will teach me for bring it back!!.

 

[Dougie]

pmsl!!! having no experiance of dmso i wouldnt know *insert angel smiley here*

 

[rema]

You know as much as me then!!.

 

[Dougie]

oh i know nothing....honest

 

[PapaFrita]

I've seen the liquid stuff get thick from being kept in the fridge... how cold it is over there???????!!!
Perhaps if you warmed it gently it would go runny again?

 

[rema]

It's about 12-14 by day but drops below freezing at night.Do you think this could affect it??.

 

[Dougie]

not too sure....some keep it in cars or buildings...but i nkow nothing in such matters

 

[Lucy_Ally]

If put in the fridge (4C) the liquid form will go solid, when warmed to room temperature (20C) it will liquify again. Really can't understand why anyone would want it though except for in a laboratory,

but each to their own I suppose.

 

[Tia]

*sniggers* .....I was waiting to see what you might say Luce.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

*Rolls eyes*

I thought I was fairly reserved

 

[PapaFrita]

Yep

Can't remember when it was that cold here!!

Glad I've packed my thermal vests!

 

[rema]

It actually isent for me.I got it for a friend who wanted to use it on a huge splint her horse has.But i cannot give her a solid bottle!!.I use Splintex gold if i need it!!.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

Well pop it in a warm room (no hotter than 30C though!) and it should soon liquify.

 

[jayvee]

Long way to go to get it? Can't you get it from the vets? I have done. Maybe just stick with the gel form in future.

 

[rema]

The local vets dont do it anymore!!.They said it cannot be sold anymore??.As i said it wasent for me so i dont know how right/wrong that is!!.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

DMSO is not licenced for veterinary use in horses in this country.

 

[jayvee]

Ohh, didn't know. When did that come in? I was issued it approx 2yrs ago.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

I am not sure it has ever been licenced for use in horses, but that doesn't stop some vets prescribing it.

 

[star]

there are lots of things not licensed for horses that we prescribe though - as long as there is no licensed alternative then there's no problem with that. the RVC were using DMSO all the time i was doing clinical stuff. Not that I'm a fan of it, although did try it for this annular ligament thing when I was running out of other ideas - vet recommended it if I could get hold of it - found it on ebay from Ireland.

 

[jayvee]

OOhh ..errrr ...so I have a naughty vet? Oh well. Have to say, the stuff done wonders on a splint.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

Nope not a naughty vet (see star's reply - she is a vet), but not all vets are keen to prescribe unlicenced drugs as they are not fully tested.

I won't get started on my feelings over DMSO

! I would rant for hours!!

 

[rema]

Please do.I would be interested to know why you are so against it!.i have never used it but have heard people swear by it for using on splints!!.

 

[jayvee]

Me too. Maybe a quick post? I don't know what is so bad about it. I am abit nieve about it as only used the once.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

DMSO - Dimethyl sulfoxide is a compund that we use in the lab for various things such as cryopreservation of cells (storing them frozen), there are imense health and safety implications with its use. It is a substance that is able to pass through cell membranes and can be used to carry other substances (such as steroids) into cells. When applied topically it will not only target the tissue of interest (bone with a splint) but will also end up in other tissues and systemically within the body, this leads to a smell of cabbages etc in your horses urine and breath. How do you know that DMSO isn't leading to damage other tissues?
DMSO is also used as a commercial paint stripper and people are willing to just slap it onto horses skin, it can blister and burn the skin and you don't know what other substances it is carrying into your horses body.
As previously said it is not licenced for use in horses, therefore it has not been fully tested and hence the side effects are not known. Also there is no scientific research that demonstrates and benefit for using DMSO for splints or tendon injuries or anything else (they do intravenous DMSO injections in the USA

)

So in summary: Why would anyone use an umproven and potentially unsafe drug on a horse that will not only target the tissue of interest but damage the skin and underlying tissues and lead to systemic administration with unknown side effects? If the doctor said this to you about a new treatment for an unsightly but not painful lump on your shin, I am sure you would jump at the chance!

 

[jayvee]

Wow holy [****]. thats scarey stuff! I had no idea.
But get this... My mare had some small cysts on saddle area (last year), vet said use DMSO to harden up skin after clearence of cysts. So I did, 2x daily for 3 days (or something like that, was minimal use). Problem healed.
She went to stud this summer, had text book seasons, coverings and sexual organs. But just would not take. Do you think this could be related?
I also remember the vet stressing must wear rubber gloves when applying it. (which I did- honest). But that is rather shocking news.
I am abit annoyed though the vet didn't explain breifely what you say.

 

[Lucy_Ally]

I have no idea whether DMSO would effect your mare's fertility, as I said the side-effects have not been fully elucidated. This is only my opinion on DMSO from what I know about the chemical, but its safe to say I will not be using it on my horse.

 

[rema]

Thanks for that info.And i can see why you are against it!!.Maybe i will just chuck the lot in the bin!!.

 

[weevil]

Don't know about fertility, but I think it is teratogenic in some species. Have used it in the lab and I don't know why anyone would want to put it on a horse

 

[jayvee]

Sorry, whats teratogenic?

 

[weevil]

sorry, it means it can cause birth defects if given to a pregnant female. Though, in the case of DMSO I think it has only been reported in a few species.