Domosedan Gel Horse Loading

[ex_racer]

My horse rears badly when trying to load her, I’ve had her checked over by the vet and dentist and she’s fine in that regard.

When rearing she will strike out but will happily stand at the bottom of the ramp with one leg relaxed.

The vet has given me some Domosedan Gel to use prior to loading her - has anyone else been in this situation and used this gel? Curious to know how effective it is so that I can prepare myself properly.

I will be seeking professional loading help but this move is unavoidable and so I’m hoping it will offer a short term fix.

I have tried loading her into a trailer and a 3.5t lorry with side door and she

 

[emilylou]

Hmm.. I'd be tempted to get a pro in to help you for the unavoidable move, they can be really good at getting results in one session. I'd be cautious about using domosedan for travelling, it will placate your horse.. to the point she may not be able to stand up in the trailer!!
So I wouldn't use a full dose and I'd try loading when docile and before it really kicks in and horse is struggling to put one foot in front of the other.
A pro would be my method of choice. I am sure there are people on here that could give you good recommendations.
I'd start by looking at booking Richard Maxwell or any of the intelligent horsemanship practitioners, I don't have any personal experience but I've heard plenty of good things.

 

[Annagain]

My boy's had domosedan to clip and could barely stand, I'm not sure I'd want to travel a horse on it. Having said that it wore off fairly quickly. Does she travel ok once loaded? Could you load her, leave her for an hour to come round a bit and then take her?

The other option, if you're going to get professional help anyway, is starting that work with her on the day you need to load her so they get her on for you and once she's in the new place, they continue the training with you? Where are you based? Somebody might be able to recommend a professional to you. I know of a very good one in SW Wales, for example.

 

[Polos Mum]

It's really strong stuff. Mine had it for the dentist and he was head on the floor, willy out dribbling urine, eyes shut for well over an hour after the dentist had done.

The suggestion to use a very low dose to get her in, then let it wear off before moving is probably best if it's an unavoidable journey and professional help isn't an option.

 

[doodle]

Another who wouldn’t use it for loading and travelling. I have used it with Robin for clipping and it is strong stuff. He stands and sways in his stable and I don’t think he would be able to stand up if travelling. Sedalin does nothing for him but maybe worth trying that and having a couple of practise runs to see how it affects the horse.

 

[Goldenstar]

You will need to test how much you need .
Why has the vet chosen domosedan rather than sedalin ? Because the latter acts slower and lasts longer and it would seem to be a better choice .
With both these drugs I would want to practise with amount and timing before using it for a proper journey . I have travelled horse under IV sedation it had to be helped up the ramp but she travelled fine .

 

[HeyMich]

I managed to load and travel a bad loader on half a tube of Sedalin a few months ago. When I say she was a bad loader, she'd been here on loan as a companion for 18mths and I had done a lot of training/desensitising with her, and had never (yes never!) managed to get her properly loaded in that time. I absolutley had to move her in September, as she was off to a new loan home.

This is what I did.... (it did work, but I'm not saying it would ever work again, mind you!) I kept her in overnight with hay, but not enough hay that she had any left in the morning. I then gave her half a tube of Sedalin and left her for half an hour or so. I put a huge haynet up in the trailer and fed the other horses. I then got OH to hold a small bucket of feed on the ramp, and she slowly made her way up there for the feed and the hay. OH then stood with her for another half an hour while she ate and picked at the hay. Once she was more awake, and before she could kick 10 bells out of my trailer, I put the ramp up and drove off. It was quite stressful, but she didn't make a sound the whole journey. I don't think it would have worked if she wasn't hungry though.

She was absolutley fine, perky and bright when we arrived at the other end. Phew!

 

[Nudibranch]

I wouldn't want to travel on sedation to be honest.
Also bear in mind you need to withhold food until they are fully round again as there is a colic risk.

 

[doodle]

That’s reminded me. When soli was injured he was iv sedated had a mega bandage put on and loaded to take to the vets. He couldn’t work out how to get big bandage leg on the ramp so was helped. He travelled fine and was just waking up when we got there. That said vet was following trailer directly behind.

 

[windand rain]

Brought Hazel home from the Dental hospital after iv sedation several hours after it was administered she could barely walk up the ramp of our 7.5 tonner she wedged herself in the corner to stay upright on the journey home but I could see her all the time was a tad drunk for a couple more hours not sure I would deliberately sedate one to travel. I would get the professional help now

 

[sjdress]

This stuff really knocks my horse out, I wouldn't travel a horse that had been given it.
i have used Naf magic instant calmer which did help a little with a bad traveller. Also tried calming cookies but they didn’t help at all. In the end it was practice and patience which made the biggest difference.

 

[criso]

Recently my horse injured his eye, vet sedated for examination and then decided he'd be better monitored in horspital. My usual good loader was a nightmare sedated and wouldn't go up the ramp. Took so long to get him on, the sedation must have worn off and he travelled fine.

I gave some Domosedan for clipping recently and he was really quite wobbly just walking out of his stableso would be very careful with dosage for travelling. Also bear in mind it can take a long time to kick in, so you can't just top up if needed. With mine at least half an hour before you see any real effects and 45 minutes to be totally under.

 

[Goldenstar]

Horses can eat on sedaline and on Domosedan but you need to know the dose for your horse .
I had a horse in plaster he was tied in pen the width of him to keep him still so very similar to standing in a lorry we kept him sedated with gel for several weeks Sedalin most the time topped up domosedan when we needed to .
I would not be too worried to sedate and travel the horse I travelled on IV sedation had colic and was far to dangerous to travel when the pain was making throw herself about .

 

[Upthecreek]

Do not give any hay or feed to a sedated horse. Big risk of them choking and sedation slows the guts and can cause impaction of food (colic).

If the mare is really terrified of loading I think you’d need to give so much sedative to have enough of an effect to get her loaded that she’d probably not be able to balance while travelling. A small amount to take the edge off probably wouldn’t be enough once the adrenaline kicked in. Personally I would be very wary indeed of travelling a sedated horse.

 

[ex_racer]

I should add that the journey is only 10 miles so she won’t be in the box too long.
Based in the north east but sadly because of covid the professional that was due to help us isn’t willing to come as she’s in tier 3.

 

[ex_racer]

My horse rears badly when trying to load her, I’ve had her checked over by the vet and dentist and she’s fine in that regard.

When rearing she will strike out but will happily stand at the bottom of the ramp with one leg relaxed.

The vet has given me some Domosedan Gel to use prior to loading her - has anyone else been in this situation and used this gel? Curious to know how effective it is so that I can prepare myself properly.

I will be seeking professional loading help but this move is unavoidable and so I’m hoping it will offer a short term fix.

I have tried loading her into a trailer and a 3.5t lorry with side door and she

I should add that the journey is only 10 miles so she won’t be in the box too long.
Based in the north east but sadly because of covid the professional that was due to help us isn’t willing to come as she’s in tier 3.

 

[BronsonNutter]

We travel sedated (IV, domosedan or Sedalin) horses to/from the vets fairly frequently - it’s not ideal but yet to have one go down. Just put loads of bedding in, cross tie and no hay with domosedan. And drive steady!
Just be aware that some horses will plant when sedated, and can still kick out etc, so take care if you have to ‘push’ her into the trailer. I tend to end up walking them on foot by foot!