I bought some aniprin and when I opened it I was hit with the smell of vinegar… It is also brown.
Is it supposed to be like that? It hasn’t expired but the smell of vinegar makes me worry it has started to degrade.
I don’t know about the brown part (sounds right since it’s supposed to have molasses added?), but aniprin is aspirin from what I’m reading, and that does smell like vinegar. I’m guessing you are not of an age where you remember when asprin was a common household medication, and often not enteric coated, and getting hit with the smell when you open a bottle.
Truthfully I don’t think I have ever taken aspirin! I have always used aleve or something like that.
I guess I was just kind of surprised it wasn’t a white or off white color since I had made aspirin powder in lab in college. But I guess if it has molasses added that makes sense.
aspirin is acidic and that alone might contribute to the vinegar smell of the mix I find molasses a somewhat rancid acid smell in itself.
hard to believe there are people who have never used aspirin. Showing my age I guess. Un-coated aspirin has a pretty distinctive smell and taste; sour bitter. It is my first go to, still dont jump to the other NSAIDs unless I have more severe discomfort.
Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. It decomposes into a mixture of salicylic acid and acetic acid. Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid.
2 Likes
In doubt, always call your vet!
It’s an supplement so I doubt they would know. 
I’m taking back to the feed store to ask. I was hoping someone on COTH had fed it and knew if it was correct.
I worry it’s started to break down as Peggy mentioned and that it is pretty much useless, since I don’t think vinegar and acne treatment will do much for the horse! :lol:
Salicylic acid is also an anti-inflammatory and the basis for chewing willow bark for that effect. But I’d take it back.
Just because it’s sold OTC doesn’t make it a supplement that your vet would know nothing about–aspirin is still a DRUG. I’ve even had vets prescribe it.
You might take a huff of some regular people aspirin before you send back your horse stuff. It sounds like you don’t know what aspirin is supposed to smell like at all? Your aniprin might be fine…
I’ve used Aniprin in the past and while it does have a strong bitter scent (aspirin), I don’t recall it smelling like vinegar and I don’t remember it being brown…it could have changed since then as it’s been a couple of years, but I’d return it.
When aspirin degrades, it smells like vinegar. I’d return it. Might not hurt the horse but probably won’t be effective.
1 Like
My vet knows everything!
And I kinda check with him for everything, supplement included, I gave the horses that are under my care.
Calls for small questions are always free!
Love my vet.
No. It’s a drug. Acetylsalicylic acid is not “vinegar and acne treatment.” It’s a drug. It’s a drug with some potentially serious side effects. There are reasons it’s not used much in the horse industry anymore, and those potentially severe side effects would be why.
Please don’t think just because you buy something at a tack shop it is safe or harmless.
1 Like
I think she is making a joke in response to this post.
“Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. It decomposes into a mixture of salicylic acid and acetic acid. Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid.”
Basically if it has decomposed it is now broken into salicylic acid (active ingredient in many Acne treatments) and Acetic Acid (which is in vinegar). Hence the tongue in cheek comment about acne treatment and vinegar.
She is obviously worried about it being no longer safe or effective and that is why she started the thread.
Yes, that was a joke I think it flew over most COTHers heads.
I took it back and the feed store agreed it was bad. I exchanged it and the new product is less smelly haha
1 Like
Yeah I think the combination aspirin being linked to Reye Syndrome and ibuprofen becoming available OTC in the '80s means that very few people under 40 have ever had aspirin!
They’ll learn about it if daily aspirin therapy is still around when they get old. 
