Giving Bute to Foals?

[KateKat]

I am going to discuss this with my vet, but wanted to get other experienced opinions as well.

Foal is 6 weeks old today. We have been working to get his right front leg straightened out (was born with a pretty severe contraction behind the knee). Has improved immensely since birth but at times foal seems hesitant to put weight on the leg. He will when he nurses, but he’s kind of figured out how to get around the stall hopping like a rabbit on his one good front leg. I feel like its probably due to the contraction being painful when he’s standing on it/stretching the tendons out, and him figuring out that hey, I can get around just fine without using it.

So. Thoughts on using bute (or banamine) for a little bit to see if it helps him use the leg more? Any other options I should think about? Him and mom are still on stall rest, and I am already stretching him regularly.

[Zuri]

Can you pm Jackie Blue? She is an amazing fount of knowledge.

[KateKat]

I have actually contacted her already via email. I think she’s been pretty busy though and I don’t want to keep bugging her!

[Willesdon]

Bute has a lot more complications and side effects than most people are aware of. It is not like a human taking a mild painkiller for a headache. An incorrect dose can actually kill an adult horse and foals, being small, are even more vulnerable. Work closely with your vet.

Corrective trimming and shoeing by an experience farrier is often the best way forward. Time might also improve the situation.

http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/12/05/bute-and-horses-care-is-needed/#axzz37AEd3NdP

[Ghazzu]

Absolutely speak to your DVM before you administer bute to the baby.
Foals get severe ulcers if you look at them funny.
It may be indicated on the risk/benefit continuum, but you should likely use some sort of ulcer prophylaxis as well.

[Huntin_Pony]

Is the stall rest and stretching veterinarian’s orders?

My understanding is that contracted tendons are usually treated by providing support so that the tendons will have the opportunity to relax. Often I have seen them wrapped and yes, limited exercise. Raising the heels to take pressure off is also common IIRC. I have not heard of stretching, but I’ve never had to deal with this situation, so what do I know?

Bute - probably not. Certainly not without vet’s instructions.

[KateKat]

[QUOTE=Willesdon;7661336]
Bute has a lot more complications and side effects than most people are aware of. It is not like a human taking a mild painkiller for a headache. An incorrect dose can actually kill an adult horse and foals, being small, are even more vulnerable. Work closely with your vet.

Corrective trimming and shoeing by an experience farrier is often the best way forward. Time might also improve the situation.

http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/12/05/bute-and-horses-care-is-needed/#axzz37AEd3NdP[/QUOTE]

Would corrective shoeing/trimming help with a contraction at the knee? His foot is flat on the ground, just the knee remains bent forward.

[QUOTE=Ghazzu;7661342]Absolutely speak to your DVM before you administer bute to the baby.
Foals get severe ulcers if you look at them funny.
It may be indicated on the risk/benefit continuum, but you should likely use some sort of ulcer prophylaxis as well.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I imagine if we went the bute route I would do an ulcer preventative as well.

[QUOTE=Huntin’ Pony;7661347]Is the stall rest and stretching veterinarian’s orders?

My understanding is that contracted tendons are usually treated by providing support so that the tendons will have the opportunity to relax. Often I have seen them wrapped and yes, limited exercise. Raising the heels to take pressure off is also common IIRC. I have not heard of stretching, but I’ve never had to deal with this situation, so what do I know?

Bute - probably not. Certainly not without vet’s instructions.[/QUOTE]

Baby is actually still at the vets-has been there pretty much since birth.

I know that people also recommend time for this to straighten out and I’m not necessarily expecting that his leg will be totally fixed after 6 weeks. I just don’t want the baby to regularly get in the habit of walking around 3 legged.

[KateKat]

any thoughts on using banamine instead?

[Willesdon]

Would corrective shoeing/trimming help with a contraction at the knee? His foot is flat on the ground, just the knee remains bent forward.

A world class farrier in Newmarket once told me that the more he learned the more he realised how much the trimming and shoeing affected the entire leg. Correcting TB foals with leg problems is a substantial part of his business.

http://www.hoofcare.com/farriery_foal_to_racehorse.html

[Zuri]

My broodmare farm owner has given Banamine safely to foals. She does not use Bute for the above stated ulcer issues.

[spotted_draft_x_fill]

When I worked on the TB breeding farms we gave bute to the foals along with gastroguard. Call your vet and ask if it’s ok and what dose to give.

[independentlyawesome]

[QUOTE=Zuri;7661455]
My broodmare farm owner has given Banamine safely to foals. She does not use Bute for the above stated ulcer issues.[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure that’s a real thing… bute & banamine are very similar to each other in effects. If bute is likely to cause ulcers, then I’m not sure why banamine would be magically safe.

What does your vet think about the 3 legged issue since he’s still at the vet’s? I would have thought something like oxytetracycline would be on the table for contracted tendons before NSAIDs.

[KateKat]

[QUOTE=independentlyawesome;7661481]
I’m not sure that’s a real thing… bute & banamine are very similar to each other in effects. If bute is likely to cause ulcers, then I’m not sure why banamine would be magically safe.

What does your vet think about the 3 legged issue since he’s still at the vet’s? I would have thought something like oxytetracycline would be on the table for contracted tendons before NSAIDs.[/QUOTE]

It was used initially, within the first 10 days. Three doses were given. Completely straightened out his left leg within the first couple weeks, but the right leg was much worse to begin with. Isn’t it too late for more at this point in time?

[VirginiaBred]

I definitely think it’s too late. Foal is too old at this point to be beneficial.

[Highflyer]

Our vet recommends using banamine over bute in horses under a year old.

[clint]

I had a foal two years ago about that age with the same problem. She was born contracted and then had an injury to her fetlock, so she didn’t want to weight the leg, making stretching the tendon even worse. I took her to UC Davis and after ultrasounds and x-rays, they sent us home with wraps, banamine, and prophylactic ulcerguard. It took awhile, but it all had a happy ending, and she didn’t get ulcers. I absolutely wouldn’t start an NSAID in a foal without a vet overseeing everything.

[ise]

We have always had success by wrapping from the knee down to the ground. We use the big cotton wraps and then vet wrap. We unwrap and wrap daily to make sure it isn’t too tight or too loose It does relax the tendon behind the knee which is causing the contraction.
We never use bute on any of the foals - actually don’t use it much at all. If needed and the Vet agree we will use some banamine - just squirt it I their mouths. The gums absorb faster than an IV shot.

[KateKat]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will be discussing options with my vet tomorrow.

[tuckawayfarm]

[QUOTE=ise@ssl;7662150]
If needed and the Vet agree we will use some banamine - just squirt it I their mouths. The gums absorb faster than an IV shot.[/QUOTE]

Much easier to squirt it in the foals mouth and it absorbs very quickly. But not faster than IV.

It is difficult to accurately dose a foal from a tube of Banamine paste, so we squirt the paste into a small syringe if you go that route. The paste does taste better. (Wish I didn’t know that)