This is why I prefer to the injectable.
I think it is much easier to squirt that small amount of liquid under the tongue or between the cheek and gum than it is to get them to keep the amount of paste required in their mouth.
I too am impressed by those that can do them.
I’ve seen needle abcess & never want the responsibility of causing that 
I keep 4 tubes for 2 horses, but they are draft crosses that require more by weight. They eat the paste in their feed no problem.
I’ve done the IV under the tongue and it really is awful, but in an emergency would be a lot easier to administer than the paste due to volume. I’ve worried before about the IV after puncturing the top - the instructions say the shelf life is drastically shortened after multiple punctures. Does anyone have an opinion on that?
Other thing I’d recommend to have on hand is 1-2 days of SMZs. I’ve been prescribed SMZs over the phone with my vet, but they aren’t close to me so if I want it ASAP it’s nice to have a couple day’s worth on hand.
Antibiotics can be called into a local pharmacy for easy pick-up.
This is how I’ve done it for ages, ever since I saw an expert horsewoman use the squirt method and quizzed her about it.
I have one dose in my tack trunk with a needle attached (that I’m unlikely to use) and keep a bottle or two in my fridge.
I try to keep Flunixin (Banamine is the trade name), Bute, Xylazine, SMZs, and Dexamethasone (this one is because my mare has had several random allergic reactions to unknown allergens in the past - hives or a swollen-shut eye). I also keep Ranitidine, as it works better than omeprazole for my mare when needed. But since it’s no longer sold, I’ll sadly have to find something else to keep on-hand for her here soon.
I typically keep paste because it’s easy to administer, and while the liquid may have a longer shelf life, it’s recommended to use within 28 days of first puncture. So, am I likely to use 10 doses in a month? Probably not. But once opened, it’s more likely I’ll go through a 3000lb tube before it expires. I also don’t like to give IV shots, and the paste is way less offensive orally. If I have a colic situation, my vet is usually reasonably reachable, and they don’t like me to medicate prior to an exam if possible. So if we need IV drugs, the vet can give it. I’ve known a couple of horses that appeared to present as colic, but it was really a kidney issue, and giving Banamine put them into kidney failure. So if the horse is dehydrated or something of that nature, I like to get the vet involved if possible.
I prefer the injectable. It’s much less expensive per dose than the paste, which is valuable to me in the event of an acute injury or illness, where I may give the medication twice a day for several days in a row. IV injections are very easy to do on horses (compared to pets, people, etc.) and ensure that all the medication goes into the horse. With a paste, there is always going to be some portion of the dose that doesn’t get swallowed, even with very cooperative animals. The injectable, when given sublingually for those uncomfortable administering IV injections or with difficult horses, works almost as quickly as an IV injection, whereas the paste will take much longer to take effect because it has to be digested before it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. In a colic situation, that is importantly information to understand.
^^^^. This is valuable information. Thank you.
I was talking to my vet a few years ago and we were discussing IM banamine and giving the dose orally. He said he had read a study showing oral doses of banamine were very caustic to the esophagus. I think this primarily addressed giving the injectable form orally. Plus, he said. it tastes terrible.
Then a while back we were talking about banamine again and he said “You know you can give it orally”. I replied that it was very caustic given that way. “Who told you that?” “You did”. “Oh”. So I guess you can’t win! I think a one time dose that way would not be problematic but something to think about if you are giving multiple doses.
Maybe not true for everyone, but when I say “orally,” I mean what other people mean with sublingually -under the tongue or along the gum to be absorbed. It shouldn’t be going down their throat.
Flunixin does appear to be somewhat irritating, but not caustic, to mucous membranes, but it is at a fairly low concentration in the injection. I believe the solvent is water and propylene glycol, which are both non-hazardous. So, I wouldn’t expect any issues from administering the injectable liquid sublingually.
As a FYI, I had a veterinarian tell me it was very good for hangovers mixed w orange juice. I was not hung over-we were just chatting.
Edited to add I don’t know the dosage or if it is true.
i’ve tried it. it’s 1 cc and was too bitter/disgusting for me to drink it.
I have this info about a current ranitidine source filed for next time I need! There are also a few compounders selling it that come up with Google…
I keep my horses at home, I keep a tube of banamine, bute, enough ace drawn up for each horse to have a dose if needed. I don’t keep dex or antibiotics on hand. If I’m giving that I usually want to see a vet anyway.
If you want the banamine to taste better, you can add some flavor water mix to it. Just draw it up with the needle, shake, remove needle and squirt under the tongue.
Yay thank you! TBH I hadn’t even looked in a while, after the 2019 recall eventually reached the vet-prescribed stuff.
I use the injectable banamine… But you do have to be sure that doing the IV injection is something that you are comfortable with, because “missing” isn’t a good situation with this stuff. But it is getting harder to get a veterinarian to sell the injectable option to horse owners, at least, it is around here. Which irritates me no end, because for the last 40 years or so, it’s been no problem. Getting a veterinarian to attend here, especially in an emergency situation is both difficult, and expensive. Last I heard, an “emergency call fee” was $1000 and it would take a minimum of an hour or so for someone to show up. Since moving here 15 years ago, I have not signed up for an “emergency call fee”. And have had injectable banamine shipped in the mail from my previous veterinarians. But this is a real problem if I run out of stuff I need. Many of my previous veterinarians have retired, are no longer practicing.
Banamine for bellies, Bute for bones.
That’s how I think about what I give, when.
Colicky, eye injury, or other soft tissue not muscle: injectable banamine drawn up and squirted in the mouth under the tongue.
Body sore from trauma, hard work, long travel…powdered Bute in their feed.
I keep dex on hand only because of the one horse with RAO. Otherwise b&b have carried me through most of my 40 years owning horses.
Both the paste and the IV liquid given SL cause mouth ulceration when used long-term.
But that’s not a reason to avoid it for illness or injury, just a consideration if the horse will be receiving it therapeutically over many days.
I wouldn’t keep ulcer guard on hand as you’re unlikely to use it before it expires, unless you have an ulcer-prone horse. Also, ulcers are not generally an acute condition that requires immediate attention, you could pick it up when you need it. I would be more inclined to keep the electrolyte paste on hand.
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