Topically applied copper phenylbutazone, phenylbutazone, copper salicylate, salicylate and dimethylsulfoxide glycerol (80:20) were investigated as antiinflammatory agents in rats and horses. Dimethylsulfoxide and glycerol (80:20) or dimethylsulfoxide, ethanol and glycerol (60:20:20) were used as the drug solvents. Subcutaneously administered carrageenin was used to induce inflammatory oedema, either in the paws of rats or the alar fold of the horse. The severity of the oedema and the anti‐inflammatory effect of the drugs were assessed by measuring changes in the paw or alar‐fold diameters. Copper salicylate and copper phenylbutazone were effective inhibitors of the inflammatory oedema in both species, but dimethylsulfoxide:glycerol (80:20) was not. In the rat, copper salicylate and copper phenylbutazone were superior antiinflammatory agents compared to either salicylate or phenylbutazone, respectively. Following the topical application of four times the recommended daily dose of copper phenylbutazone to the horse for 5 days, minor skin irritation occurred and trace concentrations of phenylbutazone (maximum 0.6 μg/ml) and negligible concentrations of oxyphenbutazone and ß‐hydroxyphenylbuta‐zone were detected in t