Bexacat For Horses?

Hello Summarians!

Veterinary medicine keeps moving in directions no one quite predicted. Vets are now being asked to write prescriptions for bees. Horses are receiving a drug originally approved for cats. Dogs with catastrophic spinal injuries are spending sessions in pressurized oxygen chambers.

This week we look at all three: why most vets still aren't ready for bee medicine, early results for bexagliflozin in horses with high insulin, and whether hyperbaric oxygen actually helps disk dogs recover after surgery.

None of them have clean answers yet.

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Honey Bee Medicine

This study looked at the role veterinarians could play in honey bee health and what challenges they face when considering adding bee medicine to their practice. Honey bees are extremely important to agriculture and food production in the United States, helping pollinate crops worth over $15 billion each year. However, bee populations are declining بسبب disease, parasites, pesticides, and environmental stress. Because of new regulations starting in 2017, beekeepers now need veterinarians to prescribe antibiotics for certain bacterial diseases, which has increased the need for veterinary involvement in bee care.  

Researchers surveyed nearly 1,400 people, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and students, to understand their interest and experience with honey bee medicine. Over half of respondents said they were moderately or very interested in working with beekeepers. Despite this interest, most veterinarians reported very limited experience with bees. Many had never handled a hive, could not identify bee diseases, and did not know how to write prescriptions or veterinary feed directives for bees.  

The biggest barrier, reported by about 40% of veterinarians, was a lack of knowledge, education, and training. Other common challenges included limited access to beekeepers, uncertainty about whether bee veterinarians are needed, lack of time, and concerns about whether adding bee medicine would be financially worthwhile. Interestingly, most veterinary clinics had never even been asked for help with bees, suggesting that demand is still developing.  

The study also found that training programs can make a big difference. Veterinarians who attended hands-on clinics showed major improvements in confidence and skills, and many said they were more likely to take on beekeeping clients afterward. Overall, the study concludes that while interest in honey bee medicine is strong, significant barriers remain. Expanding education, training opportunities, and awareness will be key to helping veterinarians support bee health in the future. 

Wilkins, M. J., Heck, A. R., Rangel, J., Vu, A. T., & Milbrath, M. O. (2026). Honey bee medicine: a lack of knowledge, education, skills, and training is identified as the most commonly cited challenge for veterinary medicine practitioners. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.02.0114

Bottom line — Vets are not prepared for this.

Bexagliflozin For Insulin Dysregulation In Horses

This study looked at whether the drug bexagliflozin can help control high insulin levels in horses with insulin dysregulation, a condition that increases the risk of laminitis. Ten Arabian horses were included in a controlled crossover study where they received either a low dose, a higher dose, or a placebo. Researchers measured insulin, glucose, and other blood markers using oral sugar tests before and after treatment.  

The results showed that the higher dose of bexagliflozin (0.06 mg/kg once daily) was effective at lowering insulin levels. It reduced resting insulin, peak insulin after sugar intake, and overall insulin exposure compared to placebo. The lower dose (0.03 mg/kg) showed some improvement, but it was not clearly better than placebo. The higher dose also lowered blood glucose levels, suggesting better overall metabolic control.  

The drug worked quickly, with improvements seen within about a week. This is important because high insulin levels can rapidly lead to laminitis, a painful and serious hoof condition. No major side effects were observed during the short study period, and liver function tests remained normal. However, some horses developed mild increases in triglycerides, which is a known effect of this class of drugs. These increases were considered small and not clinically concerning in the short term.  

Overall, the study suggests that bexagliflozin at the higher dose can be an effective short-term treatment for insulin dysregulation in horses. It may provide a practical alternative to other similar drugs, especially since it is already approved for use in cats and humans. However, the study was small and short, so more research is needed to confirm long-term safety and effectiveness. 

Lowndes, C. R., Luethy, D., Skelton, G., Kulp, J., Stefanovski, D., & van Eps, A. W. (2026). Bexagliflozin controls hyperinsulinemia in horses with naturally occurring insulin dysregulation: a placebo-controlled crossover trial. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.26.02.0098

Bottom line — Early results support this protocol as beneficial, but more study is needed.

Hyperbaric Treatment For Disk Dogs

This study looked at whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) helps dogs recover deep pain perception (DPP) after surgery for thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease (IVDD). Loss of DPP is a serious sign in dogs with spinal cord injury and is one of the most important predictors of whether they will walk again. Surgery called a hemilaminectomy is commonly performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, but recovery outcomes can vary. 

Researchers reviewed medical records from 110 dogs that had lost DPP and underwent surgery between 2014 and 2024. Of these dogs, 45 received HBOT after surgery, while 65 did not. HBOT involves placing the animal in a pressurized chamber where it breathes high levels of oxygen, which may improve healing by increasing oxygen delivery, reducing inflammation, and supporting tissue repair. 

At follow-up, about 73% of dogs that received HBOT showed neurological improvement, compared to 60% of dogs that did not receive it. However, this difference was not statistically significant, meaning the study could not confirm that HBOT made a clear overall difference in recovery. Additionally, the number of HBOT sessions did not affect outcomes. 

One important finding was that the location of the spinal injury mattered. Dogs with thoracolumbar lesions had lower chances of improvement compared to dogs with injuries in the lower (lumbar) spine. There was some evidence that HBOT might help dogs with thoracolumbar injuries more than those who did not receive it, but this result should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size. 

Overall, the study concluded that HBOT did not clearly improve recovery of deep pain perception after surgery, although it may still have benefits in certain cases. More controlled and standardized studies are needed to better understand its role in treating spinal cord injuries in dogs. 

Kienitz, L. T., McCoy, A. M., & Robbins, M. A. (2026). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy does not improve recovery of deep pain perception in dogs after hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disk disease. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.01.0009

Bottom line — Does not appear to be beneficial.

Just putting things in perspective …