DMSO was of interest in Digest 38:
 
You are correct, although there are people on the list with far more
experience with DMSO than I.  DMSO is a super solvent, and has the
propensity to take drugs with it through the skin into the blood.  It
was in favor about 15-20 years ago for various swellings, especially
in horses.  You would wrap a leg with DMSO and some steroid and saran
wrap, and you would get good penetration.
 
However, due to its propensity from driving compounds into the tissues, it
should be used at best with caution.  Remember that a rectum is extremely
vascular, and using DMSO and having it get contaminated with another
soluble compound may be akin to injecting the compound directly into the
bloodstream!
 
I think I'd urge caution here.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
 
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[Posted in FML issue 3350]