how to get bute in fussy horse

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jessikaGinger

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ive tried in her feed with garlic with some oil with grass all mixed in ( all her fave things) and she still wont eat it??

any suggestions?
 
Could you try Danilon instead? Mine definitely seem to prefer it.

Otherwise, ask the vets for a large syringe, mix with hot water, leave to cool, then syringe in? You could use apple juice or something that tastes nice if it's suitable for your horse.

Good luck!
 
i have always just grated half a ton of apples and carrots handful of chaff and they have always taken it like that.
not over keen on syringing it in as i like them to be good for worming but i would have thought if you mix it with apple sauce and syringe it in it may be a more pleasant experience for them
 
Marmite, jam, honey, golden syrup, peppermint cordial, apple juice, orange juice, mashed banana but as sychnant suggests Danilon is much easier!
 
We used two apples - half first as a 'decoy apple' then gave him the whole one to chomp - with a little hole bored into it and filled with bute! - followed by the other half of the decoy apple to make sure he didn't get suspicious next time :)

If yours will eat a whole banana that works well as you can open it a little, loosen the skin and pour it inside. That didn't trick our chap for long though!
 
I use a large 60ml syringe. I cut off the narrow needle end and make the hole larger so the product can be dispensed easily. Then I mix the Bute into runny natural yogurt and use the syringe to administer the medicine like I would a wormer. I find this works best for short periods of treatment. Although not sure I'd want to be doing this if the horse is on Bute indefinitely. I've also tried 'hiding' medication in apples, etc., but mine are far too cunning to fall for that old one! LOL.

If you can, I'd also recommend contacting your vet and switching to a more palatable medication. None of my horses have ever liked the contents of the small white sachets of bute, but they will eat some of the other versions quite happily. Best ask your vet if you could try something that's more palatable. :)
 
Bute sandwich, worked a treat :) Mine's had so much bute over the past year that she just doesn't bother turning her nose up at it anymore. That or syringe with a bit of water, hold the head up until they swallow, but they can get wise and refuse to swallow!
 
sychnant said:
Could you try Danilon instead? Mine definitely seem to prefer it.
Click to expand...

This is what I was going to suggest - I have one that is impossible to get bute down, no matter how little you give him or how well disguised it is - can't get near him with a syringe any more either, it's nightmare!
Tried Danilon and he just eats it with his dinner as if it's not even there, don't need to do any disguising at all.
Our other horse wouldn't touch bute & would eat danilon happily too.

I'd give your vet a ring and ask if you could try this instead, it's the same thing but tastes nicer - good luck x
 
AprilBlossom said:
We used two apples - half first as a 'decoy apple' then gave him the whole one to chomp - with a little hole bored into it and filled with bute! - followed by the other half of the decoy apple to make sure he didn't get suspicious next time :)

If yours will eat a whole banana that works well as you can open it a little, loosen the skin and pour it inside. That didn't trick our chap for long though!
Click to expand...

^^^ This or a treacle/mollasses/syrup sandwich. Work with even the fussiest
 
I know the syringing is a complete pain, but I suggested it as my Cushing's pony had to have bute every day when he got laminitis, he wouldn't eat it, and couldn't have anything like carrots, apples, treacle etc as far too sugary for him.

However, he happily eats his Danilon :)
 
Sandwiches! Gets it in quick and the full dosage. Marmite, jam, honey or apple sauce.... with bute/Danilon spread in between. If you make it a few minutes beforehand the granules go soft so they don't even feel the crunch as they chew!! You can always make a couple of decoy "normal" sandwiches first....
 
I use an old wormer syringe and syringe in the bute dry. It seems to stick to the mouth and is definitely working, so must be getting into the horse's system.
 
I have a pot of garden mint growing on the yard and get a big leaf chopp it up really fine so the oil is released and mix it in a small bowl of whatever the horse is fed.

It smells lovely and is strong enough to disguise the bute. I have had far more success with mint than I have had with sweet things.
 
Cut a hole in the top of an apple were the core is, pour the bute in, then slot the chunk back in! or...

apple juice in the feed with apples and carrots!?

The apple chunk one worked best for me! mine never had a clue and if she did it was far to late! ;)
Hope this helps!
 
mix one sachet of bute with 25ml apple juice, suck it up in a syringe and syringe it in. This is what I have been doing for my horse who has just come off 6 weeks box rest. Worked a treat, don't mix with water, he hated that!
 
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