How to get my horse to take his medication?

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patp

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HELP! Our horse has muscle spasm problems and has been on Gabapentin capsules for almost a year now. These control all his symptoms. However, over the last couple of weeks he is starting to resist taking these capsules. He has to have 10 capsules in the morning and 10 at night. We have tried giving them with feed, with polos, with carrots, with pears and covered in Lickit stuff but he just spits them out!

Anyone have any revolutionary ideas about what else we could try please?

If he continues to spit them out and all his symptoms come back - we will have a huge problem!

Thanks for reading this post
 
I would speak to your vet asap and see what they can suggest. Possibly they may be able to give you a powder form or something (not sure myself if they can or not, but it's worth a go)?
 
Are they like capsules that have powder inside? Maybe mix the powder with something liquidy and sloppy to then put in a worming tube?
 
Yes, they are capsules with powder in side. We will try all your various suggestions Thank you for taking the time to reply! Fingers crossed!
 
Have you tried opening them and mixing powder with speedibeet - mine loves it - even with wormer in it gets eaten. I give it in his normal feed bowl but in just enough to mask the taste - then he gets his normal feed afterwards.
Black treacle is yummy but sugary
powder will be less easy to pick out of a nice tasting feed!
 
When I've had to give bute in powdered form (which is apparently very bitter) I've mixed it with a jar of applesauce - the babyfood variety - and stirred in a handful of sunflower seeds and a dash of molasses, my horse couldn't get enough of the stuff. I found syringing is quite difficult if a horse is determined not to take the medication.
 
Polos Mum said:
Have you tried opening them and mixing powder with speedibeet - mine loves it - even with wormer in it gets eaten. I give it in his normal feed bowl but in just enough to mask the taste - then he gets his normal feed afterwards.
Black treacle is yummy but sugary
powder will be less easy to pick out of a nice tasting feed!
Click to expand...

I agree with this, I use sugar beat, and she woofs it up, worth a try :D
 
my old section A wouldn't take bute unless it was mixed with maple syrup and a handfull of pony cubes!

good luck, must be a hellish worry for you ....
 
Marmite sarnies!

Slice of bread, thin spread of flora, good layer of Marmite with medication spread on it, top with another slice and cut into soldiers. Works for Bute so might be worth trying for other things.

Try the sarnies minus the medication first to see if your horse likes it, but mine goes crazy for it. Worth a go.....
 
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