Although the results of some studies are promising, further investigation is needed to confirm the effectiveness of penicillin as a treatment for equine laryngeal infections.
Respiratory tract infections are common in horses and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. In most cases, the infection will resolve on its own, but severe laryngeal infections can cause permanent damage and even death. Because bacterial infections are more common than viral or fungal infections, many horse owners prefer to use penicillin to treat laryngeal infections. However, the drugs that are commonly used for the treatment of laryngeal infections include amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, cephalexin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, neomycin, and tulathromycin. Most of these drugs are used for the systemic treatment of respiratory tract infections in horses, but some are also used for the topical treatment of laryngeal infections.