Bute - how many years have you had your arthritic horses on it?

C

Clip1clop1

Active Member
Joined
31 July 2014
Messages
46
Visit site
As title really. My 18 yr old has been on 1 sachet a day for 4.5 years, initially for a back injury and then for general stiffness and arthritis. He is very comfy and looks pretty good until he has a mad 1/2 half hour thundering round his field, next day can sometimes look a bit rickety after his blow. Would like to know how many years folks have had their neds on Bute without any Bute related issues?
 
What does your vet say? I'm not convinced I'd go that long but not really experienced enough on the question so interesting to follow this thread.
 
One of mine had 1/2-1 sachet a day, on and off for around 6 years. I would give him a break and a course of Global Herbs Restore once a year for a fortnight-3 weeks. He was a big lad and PTS at 27 due to colic. Having the bute enabled him to keep working and he was in great form, not needing any bute for all his niggles when he died. If it helps keep them moving, IMO it’s better than letting them stiffen up and be uncomfortable.
 
To be honest it’s irrelevant if your horse cannot live a happy pain free life without it. I would continue as long as your horse benefits from it.
 
Really interesting as it’s something I’ve worried a lot about, I was very reluctant to bute my horse at all because stupidly in my head that was the beginning of the end. I did start a sachet a day though years back but was able to stop after a year on it. Several times he’s gone back onto a sachet for a few weeks/months but I stop when he’s looking good to give him a break. I suspect he will need it more often as time gos on though. :(
 
Sussexbythesea said:
To be honest it’s irrelevant if your horse cannot live a happy pain free life without it. I would continue as long as your horse benefits from it.
Click to expand...

Agree with this. My 25 year old has been having it for almost 2 years. However, I usually only give it every other day during Summer as she doesn't need it so much.

During Winter she has it every day and I don't have a problem with that. I'd far rather her latter years are pain free than worry about the effects of the painkiller. :)
 
Sussexbythesea said:
To be honest it’s irrelevant if your horse cannot live a happy pain free life without it. I would continue as long as your horse benefits from it.
Click to expand...

Yep, agree. I have a 28yo who has a few joint conditions. She struggled a bit last winter with the cold weather and bute helped her. She will be going onto a maintenance dose of 1 sachet this winter and I will then keep her on it as long as she is around. I have decided once she is not comfortable/field sound on 2 sachets a day, I will let her go.
 
My two are both 22 and have had bute short term several times for various issues - all of which are likely to lead to long term use sooner or later. When that time comes they will get all the bute they need for as long as they need. If that shortens their life, so be it. I'd rather them have a shorter pain free existence than a longer stiff one to avoid tummy trouble.
 
I had my girl on bute for 3.5 years for arthritis varying from 1/2 sachet to 2 sachets a day depending on how she was and she was only 14.2 ( well legs of a 14.2 body of a 15.2!!) She was semi retired and gently hacked for the first 3 years during which time she had 2 rounds of steroid injections. She had arthritis in all four legs. Although she would forget all about her stiffness if she heard the hunt! or the on the last couple of fun rides I took her on. She was fully retired for the last 6 months to enjoy the summer with the sun on her back after a final hack when I just felt it wasn't right to ride her anymore. I pts last autumn as I had made the decision in the spring that I wouldn't put her through another winter. During her time on bute she didn't present with any side effects and the vet was happy for me to adjust the dose as I felt was necessary to keep her comfortable. She certainly maintained all her personality to the end!
My only caveat is on the last day when I bought her in and groomed her, her coat was still dull after grooming so I guess there was more going on beneath the surface than I was aware of. Having said that she was still completely herself.
I still think that I did the best for her by keeping her comfortable during those years than worry about the side effects.
 
There is a huge difference between giving an old horse a maintenance dose of Bute to help their quality of life, and using it to mask an injury.

The decision should be between you and your vet - discuss it fully with your vet, including what it is useful for and what it is not. Each horse is an individual and what's right for one is not right for another. Ultimattely it's about doing right for YOUR horse and only you know the full situation.

FWIW - I have had one semi-retired arthritic-y old horse on bute for years. She lived until she was 28 and died of something unconnected. The little old companion pony I have now has a vet's prescription for bute to be used 'as and when' - it helps her through very damp weather but she doesn't need it all the time. Her ailments are different from the other mare.
 
My retired horse is 27 and has 1 danillon/day. He started on half a sachet, I think he has been on it 9 years? If it keeps him comfy I'm happy. He is 16.3 so its a very low dose for a big horse. If he gets a bit too creaky in the winter I may give him 2 but that's the occasional day not on a regular basis
 
My pony was on 1/2 sachet upped eventually to 1 sachet a day for many, many years from his mid twenties - he sadly died of colic in his late thirties. It kept him comfortable and happy.
 
We had one who was on bute from the age of about 15 to when he died (non bute related) at 32. Started off on one every other day, and then went on to one a day. Caused him no problems at all.
 
Thanks for all the replies. My boy is under the largest Equine Hospital in the UK and they are happy to keep issuing repeat prescriptions. On occasions I half the sachet but when he looks a bit stiff I give him the one sachet. He mainly looks stiff when he has been tearing round the field bucking and squealing like a very well loony. Very interesting to hear all your experiences. Thank you ��
 
AandK said:
Yep, agree. I have a 28yo who has a few joint conditions. She struggled a bit last winter with the cold weather and bute helped her. She will be going onto a maintenance dose of 1 sachet this winter and I will then keep her on it as long as she is around. I have decided once she is not comfortable/field sound on 2 sachets a day, I will let her go.
Click to expand...

This. I have a 22 year old, not old but her conformation is poor and she hasn't aged well. She's been on a sachet a day for about 2 years, we cut down to half for a while but she struggles on hard ground. Like you, 2 bute a day to be field sound is my cut off. She's only 13.3hh so she's needing a fair amount now.
 
Macs passport led us to believe he was about 7 when I got him, so would now be about 21. (Vet thinks he’s closer to 30, but not overly relevant). After having him around 2 years, he was diagnosed with ringbone, then arthritis in his hocks a year or so after that. He was on 1 Bute a day for a few years, still hacked and did fun rides. He had periods of time over summer when out 24/7 that he looked really good, so then stopped the bute unless I felt he needed the odd time. Went back on one a day when stabled over night during winter. We retired him 4 years ago, and since we moved 2.5 years ago, he’s been out 24/7 all year round. He only has a bute now night before farrier due for his trim. All in all, he’s been on it semi regularly for about 14 years. He came out of last winter very poor, but full mot and all bloods run show a healthy horse. His teeth, and cushings are letting him down, but no long term bute affects.
 
My 24 yo mare was diagnosed with arthritis in her two front legs last summer. She was put on a daily dose of 1 sachet Danilon and continued to be gently hacked. She has become a little more shuffly and this summer has been retired and is now on 1.5 sachets per day. She is 16 hh ID so a low dose for a large horse & I plan for her to most likely to be on some form of painkillers for life as long as it keeps her comfortable
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top