I also recently learned from a vet, if you think a horse has an abscess, but aren't sure, administer Bute. If the horse improves significantly, then it isn't an abcess. More Bute info...
- Use Bute for musculoskeletal disorders including navicular disease, laminitis, osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.
- It is less effective in the therapy of colic and endotoxemia than flunixin meglumine (Banamine®).
- Phenylbutazone has less anti-clotting activity than aspirin and clinical use is not associated with increased bleeding.
- An initial dose of 4.4 mg/kg every 12 hours for the first day of therapy is followed by 2.2 mg/kg once a day for several days.
- Due to drug accumulation from the slow excretion of oxyphenbutazone, long-term PBZ therapy for chronic lameness conditions should be on an every other day basis with the lowest effective dose.
- The maximum dosage is 2 to 4 grams per 1,000 lbs of body weight per day and is best given half in the morning and half at night. Overdose or prolonged use can cause ulcers or kidney damage.
This is an interesting series. Using the administration of Bute to diagnose an abscess is interesting.
ReplyDeleteSomething in part II caught my attention. Banamine is not to be given by IM injection? I thought this was routine practice . Can you share your source for this information?
And, for the love of God, do not abuse the use of Bute. Stacey mentioned this earlier, but because Bute blocks prostaglandins in the body, horses are at a higher risk for developing ulcers. The most annoying? Your already stressed show horse gets stomach ulcers and it mildly colicky and off. The worst? Right dorsal colitis, which is ulceration in the colon due to too much Bute given over too long of a time. If people thought that osteoarthritis or flare ups with founder were annoying - it's better to address the original issue than have a horse wind up in Isolation at the hospital.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Val, the article that Stacey posted in the comments of Pt. II is accurate and a good resource.