Symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to what happens normally following childbirth. They include difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, excessive fatigue, decreased libido, and frequent mood changes.
If your horse needs a topical medication along with a pain reliever, your veterinarian may have you apply a dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, solution. DMSO is quickly absorbed through the skin and is especially good at relieving swelling, as it pulls moisture from tissues.
Of the narcotic analgesics, butorphanol is used most often in horses with colic. Butorphanol has few adverse effects on the GI tract or heart. However, when given in large doses, narcotics can cause excitement, and the horse may become unstable.