Acepromazine is a tranquilizer that has been used in horses for many years. Due to its mild properties and the fact that horses can be aroused out of the sedation, its use in calming hurt animals has been largely replaced with stronger sedatives like xylazine. Its vasodilatory properties have made it potentially useful in the treatment of laminitis / founder. Generally considered very safe to use there are some considerations that should be taken in account before use. This article is about the contraindications, toxic effects, dosages, and association drug rules that apply to this medication.

Acepromazine is useful anywhere that a mild to moderate sedative action is required for several hours. In low doses (10 to 20 mg / 1200 lbs IM) ace has been used to make more rideable, nervous or difficult horses. This use cannot be guaranteed as safe however. In larger doses it has been used to sedate frightened horses to make them more tractable or so they can be worked on. Ace, in low dose, has been used in conjunction with xylazine to help reduce the tendency of these horses to unexpectedly kick.

Very low dose acepromazine has also found a use in the treatment of founder. It has been hypothesized that its peripheral vasodilatory role may increase blood supply to the laminae.