California Code of Regulations
Title 3 - Food and Agriculture
Division 2 - Animal Industry
Chapter 6 - Drugging of Horses
Section 1280.8 - Therapeutic Drugs and Medicines

Universal Citation: 3 CA Code of Regs 1280.8

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024

(a) Therapeutic drugs or medicines administered for purposes other than under veterinary prescription for a diagnosed illness or injury are considered prohibited substances, and their use is a violation of this section.

(b) Horses administered therapeutic drugs or medicines for purposes other than under veterinary prescription for a diagnosed illness or injury shall not compete or be available for sale until the prohibited substance is no longer detectable in the urine or blood sample.

(c) A therapeutic drug or medicine is permitted when:

(1) A prohibited substance is administered more than 24 hours before competition or more than 72 hours before a public sale.

(2) The therapeutic drug or medicine, or metabolite of the therapeutic drug or medicine, does not interfere with the quantification of any permitted substance or detection of any prohibited substances as defined by Food and Agricultural Code section 24001(h).

(3) Only one (1) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is given. When two NSAIDs are in a therapeutic regime, one must be discontinued at least 72 hours before competition.
(A) When administered by a licensed veterinarian for the emergency treatment of colic or an ophthalmic emergency, flunixin, in addition to one (1) other NSAID, may be acceptable if found in the plasma or urine sample of a horse provided:
(i) The licensed veterinarian who administered the substances properly signs and files a Declaration of Drugs Administered, Form 76-027 with the event manager or designee within one (1) hour after administration of the substances or one (1) hour after the event manager or designee returns to duty if the administration occurs at a time outside competition hours; and

(ii) The horse is withdrawn from competition for 24 hours or from public sale for 72 hours.

(4) The detected level in the sample does not exceed the established maximum detectable plasma levels for the following drug or medicine:
(A) 15.0 micrograms per milliliter of phenylbutazone.

(B) 1.0 micrograms per milliliter of flunixin.

(C) 2.5 micrograms per milliliter of meclofenamic acid.

(D) 40 micrograms per milliliter of naproxen.

(E) 0.240 micrograms per milliliter of firocoxib.

(F) 0.005 micrograms per milliliter of diclofenac.

(G) 0.250 micrograms per milliliter of ketoprofen.

(H) 0.0005 micrograms per milliliter of dexamethasone.

(I) 0.5 micrograms per milliliter of methocarbamol.

(5) The detected level in the sample does not exceed the established maximum detectable urine levels for the following drug or medicine:
(A) 0.09 micrograms per milliliter of dexamethasone.

(B) 350 micrograms per milliliter of methocarbamol.

(d) No injectable substance shall be given to a horse within 12 hours of competition except:

(1) A minimum of 1 liter of polyionic fluids per 100 pounds of body weight given therapeutically by a licensed veterinarian between 6-12 hours of competition. Therapeutic fluids with concentrated electrolytes, such as magnesium, are prohibited.

(2) Antibiotics, except procaine penicillin G, administered by a licensed veterinarian between 6-12 hours of competition.

(3) Dexamethasone, not to exceed 0.5 milligram per 100 pounds, administered by a licensed veterinarian between 6-12 hours of competition exclusively for the treatment of acute urticaria (hives). The total dose of dexamethasone administered within 24 hours shall not exceed 1.0 mg per 100lbs.

(4) The licensed veterinarian who administered the injectable substances in (d)(1) through (3) above shall sign and file a Declaration of Drugs Administered, Form 76-027 with the event manager or designee within one (1) hour after the administration of the injectable substance or one (1) hour after the event manager or designee returns to duty if the administration occurs at a time outside competition hours.

1. New section filed 12-5-2013 as an emergency; operative 1-1-2014 (Register 2013, No. 49). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-30-2014 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day. For prior history, see Register 95, No. 25.
2. Certificate of Compliance as to 12-5-2013 order, including amendment of subsection (c)(3)(A)(i), transmitted to OAL 4-2-2014 and filed 5-14-2014; amendments effective 5-14-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 20).
3. Amendment of subsection (d)(1) filed 10-22-2015; operative 1-1-2016 (Register 2015, No. 43).
4. Amendment of NOTE filed 10-24-2019; operative 1-1-2020 (Register 2019, No. 43).
5. Amendment of subsections (c)(3)(A)(i) and (d)(4) filed 1-7-2021; operative 4-1-2021 (Register 2021, No. 2). (OAL review extended 60 calendar days pursuant to Executive Order N-40-20.)

Note: Authority cited: Sections 407, 24011.6 and 24013, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 24003, 24004, 24006, 24008, 24009 and 24011, Food and Agricultural Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.