Antibiotics and Ventipulmin

[Sussexbythesea]

My horse hads got a cough and runny nose and has been prescribed antibiotics and Ventipulmin - Does anyone know why as per instructions on the packets / tub you should only add these to feeds just before you give it to the horse?

I wondered if it's because they easily degrade once exposed to air and moisture and are less effective? Or is it some other reason like safety and giving it to the wrong horse or something else eating it? I always follow instructions to the letter but my horse is currently on livery and I noticed tonight that they had already mixed his morning doses in his feed ready for tomorrow. I don't want to spend over a hundred pounds on medication that won't be effective.

Thanks

 

[CanadianGirl]

I'm interested to know what the answer is...

My mare was on Ventipulmin and Antibiotics a couple of months back and the vet didn't say anything to me about not mixing it into her feed ahead of time.

She was getting 2 doses a day. I would give her one dose by syringe, but the other one I would just mix into her feed in the afternoon and the YM would give it to her the next morning.

ETA - She is fine now and got over her cough/cold that required the treatment.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Hi CanadianGirl - glad your mare got better. My vet didn't say anything either but I think they have in the past - it's certainly written on both boxes I've got. I'm lucky as this is the first time since I've had this horse (over 5 years) that he has needed antibiotics (touch wood) although he has had plenty of other things!! Previous horses have been rather partial to a 5 day course for injuries not coughs.

Mine's getting two doses a day but I might have to get something to sweeten feed as he didn't look that keen last night - he only has a hi-fibre low cal feed so not that interesting.

Still hoping a nice vet might give the answer

 

[kirstyl]

We feed our donkey Ventipulmin syrup in a sandwich with a few pony nuts in, goes down well if horse/donkey likes bread. As far as adding them to the feed just before feeding, can you say to the yard that these are the instructions from the vet? I know it's not always that straight forward on livery. I personally don't like wetting or adding sugarbeet to a feed the night before either. Good luck getting the medicin into him!