Should I Give My Horse Bute?
Aches, pains and fevers are often a part of life. They are for people and they are for horses as well. Just as we have medication in our medicine cabinet for our relief for these discomforts relief for horses often comes in the form of bute. Phenylbutazone, more commonly known as bute, is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, or pain relieving drug for horses. It is sometimes called NSAID which stands for non steroidal anti inflammatory drug.
Aspirin and ibuprofen are also NSAIDs. Bute is often a favorite choice because it is less expensive than other anti inflammatory drugs. It is convenient to give to horses because it is only given once or twice a day. Bute is available as one gram tablets that must be ground and made into a powder to administer orally, in a tube (like a dewormer) ready to give orally. Both are ways an individual may give the horse themselves. Bute is also available as a drug your veterinarian can inject.
Bute can have side effects. One common side effect that can appear in just a few days after giving a horse bute is ulcers. Ulcers can occur in the stomach of the horse or other places in the digestive tract. They can form anywhere from the horses mouth all the way through the colon. If a horse loses his appetite while bute is being administered for a while that can be a sign of an ulcer. Other signs the horse might have an ulcer could be eating less, especially grain, or taking longer than normal to finish his food. Another side effect of bute is kidney damage. Long term use of phenylbutazone can damage a horse's kidneys.
Local irritations like mouth sores can be caused by using injected bute. It can also impede the intestine of the horse inhibiting its natural ability of secreting a layer of protective mucus that normally guards against acids and other irritants. Giving bute in this form can be inconvenient also as it is usually given by a veterinarian. Bute can act like a blood thinner. It can affect the ability of the blood to clot. This can be particularly dangerous to horses that are "bleeders". Bute may cause some lowering of blood counts. It is rare but it can affect the bone
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