How to spot side effects of long term bute??

[hotdog]

I've had my old horse on bute for 5months now and being a worried owner I would like to know what to look out for as the side effects to bute - I've heard one of them is gastric ulcers - what sympons should I be looking for?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Gastric ulcers would show as colicky symptoms and a change in demeanour as he would be in low grade pain most of the time. How much bute is he on hotdog? My old boy (RIP xxx) had to be on long term bute and I asked whether it was safe and they said that 1 or 2 sachets a day wouldn't be a problem for an elderly horse. If the horse was say a 7 yr old and needed to be on high levels of bute for the rest of its life, then that could eventually be a big problem. I think long term usage of high levels of bute can also cause liver damage so watch out for photosensitivty, jaundice, weight loss, depression. There's other products out there that relieve pain but don't have the side effects of bute: I've never tried it but No-Bute seems to be quite highly regarded and I think Danilon gives similar pain relief but is safer. I'd check with your vet re the level of bute your ned is on, his age and any associated risks before you worry unduly. Good luck xxx

 

[hotdog]

Thanks

He's 22 and a 17.2h on one sachet a day. I'm just a worried owner and want to do the best for him and I'm wondering whether he should be on bute or danillon or an alternative. Vet advises one bute a day, and says danillon is more expensive. I haven't talked to him about any alternatives yet as I have done much research into them yet.

 

[Pasha]

Danillon is more expensive, but I get a box of 60 sachets (so roughly 2 months) for £45 from my vet including postage, so not too expensive!

My old boy (21) has been on Danillon for a year now due to arthritis (we tried the joint injections and they didn't work).... we have blood tests every 6 months to check everything is ok

 

[Shiraz]

My mare (15yo) is on Danolin 1/2-1sachet a day and month's supply is around £23.

My vet prescribed bute but let me swap to Danolin as I'm a paranoid owner too! He said those quantities aren't anything to worry about but anything to get a bit of peace!

 

[mle22]

This is really useful info for me, I was trying to find this out the other day but the post kind of got sidetracked. (My fault for not being clear enough) so thanks to OP and respondants!

 

[loopylucifer]

my horse is 15.2 tb and has been on danilon for 1- 2 years now and is usually on one a day but sometimes in summer two in winter sometimes come off it for a few months with the softer ground and my vet said even two a day was still a relatively low dose to be on for her size.