Daily Bute for older horse. Am I nuts?

[PiasaBird]

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. I really appreciate it. Love hearing the stories of the seniors.
I will try dosing the bute every other day. Great idea. I will also see how much we can take a break from bute while still remaining comfortable.

I called vet specifically to get an Rx for bute. Paid for vet visit and an exam. And then they don’t want to prescribe more than a small container of powdered bute when all is said and done. The whole experience has been frustrating. I asked for the tablets as I can put these in pill pockets for easy feeding. They called me back and literally said - “Wow! 100 tablets are in the bottle. That’s a lot of bute! Why do you want so much?!” Two years ago I got same bottle of bute pills and no one batted an eye.
I find it odd.

[vxf111]

If/When the horse has issues from the bute, he will be put down. It’s acceptable in my book for him to have fewer days that are good days rather than more days with less quality. If your calculus is different, that’s ok. If he gets ulcers and that hastens the end, I’m ok with that. I see no signs that this horse has them, but his lameness isn’t going to allow him to make it to kidney damage time, I don’t think

[JB]

For long-term NSAID use I’d probably do some preventive dose of ulcer medications, even if it’s just 1 dose of ranitidine a day, at either the 3mg/lb or 4.5mg/lb dose.

Or, 1 packet of abprazole.

[trubandloki]

@vxf111

If/When the horse has issues from the bute, he will be put down. It’s acceptable in my book for him to have fewer days that are good days rather than more days with less quality. If your calculus is different, that’s ok. If he gets ulcers and that hastens the end, I’m ok with that. I see no signs that this horse has them, but his lameness isn’t going to allow him to make it to kidney damage time, I don’t think

That is my thinking too.
You said it so well.

[TWH_Girl]

@JB

For long-term NSAID use I’d probably do some preventive dose of ulcer medications, even if it’s just 1 dose of ranitidine a day, at either the 3mg/lb or 4.5mg/lb dose.

Or, 1 packet of abprazole.

My retired horse is stabled at my daughter in law’s family’s farm. Their other horse was quite lame and didn’t respond much to Equioxx. Got him on daily bute with a few Tums each day and he’s doing great! He’s older and her mom just wanted him to be happy and comfortable which he finally is. Good thought on the pop rocks too.

[HappyTalk]

I have done 2 g of bute daily for about 3 years in my 26 year old. He has ringbone and knee arthritis. Keeps him comfortable in the pasture. I ran blood work on him recently and everything was WNL. My vet has had horses on it for even longer without ill effects.

[beau159]

@PiasaBird

I’ve got a 26 yr old WB cross. 16.2 hands. He has mild arthritic issues. I’ve found one gram of bute keeps him happy. He gets daily turnout and is ridden a couple times/week.

I don’t think you ever said: What joint(s) are affected with your horse?
Did the vet do x-rays at your recent visit?

Of course injections are not without their risks, but is it an option to inject the problematic joints, and then possibly not need the bute at all?

[lesson_junkie]

My old hunter was was very stiff for the last 4 of his 24 years, and a gram of bute in the morning helped him tons. We called it vitamin P.

[vxf111]

@lesson junkie

My old hunter was was very stiff for the last 4 of his 24 years, and a gram of bute in the morning helped him tons. We called it vitamin P.

Why “P”?

[PiasaBird]

Beau159 - During the exam I described Horse stumbling, tripping, taking the odd step with left front that seemed like it was ouchie. Sometimes horse has a hard time putting his head down to graze - it takes him a few tries. Vet said it most likely is a nerve getting impinged around the withers (or somewhere in the neck).

A few years ago I spent a day getting horse X-rayed, sonogrammed, joints injected with a steroid, nerve-blocked, etc. I did have his neck x-rayed too. After all was said and done and nothing found - other than still lame in the front - the vet says, “I guess he’s just a mystery.” Great.

At this point I’m in the “Let’s just keep him comfortable” category. If he can’t be semi-retired and happy I will put him down.

I am giving the bute every other day now. Horse actually moved quite nicely today.

[lesson_junkie]

@vxf111

Why “P”?

For Phenylbutazone-did I spell it right?

[vxf111]

@lesson junkie

For Phenylbutazone-did I spell it right?

I’m slow, now I get it