Possible reaction to bute?

Polos

Polos

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My horse has been on box rest for almost a week (due to come off on Wednesday) and has been having 1 sachet a day of bute for soundness issues. Over the course of the week he has been scouring and it's getting worst. Yesterday, his back end was disgusting, the yard staff washed him in the morning and I did him in the afternoon but in under an hour he was just as bad.

He has scoured before and is on protein gut balancer as a result and he had stopped scouring since we put him on it. But yesterday was the worst he has ever been. He was given a dose of quick start on Saturday and his dose of gut balancer has been upped but it is still not working.

On his weeks box rest he was also wormed (can't remember the name of it but it is used for horses with sensitive stomachs- it began with a p!).

Me and my ym are confused at why he is scouring so badly, we don't think it is the wormer as he has had it before and been fine and we think it may be the bute. My ym was ringing the vet today to ask if it would be possible to lower his dose of bute to see if it will make a difference. The vet is coming back on Wednesday anyway to reasses his unsoundness.

Has anyone else's horses had a reaction this bad to bute before?

Sorry it's so long!
 
My mare is on bute long term and no problem with scouring, but she did have a problem when on haylage. It may be as simple as the change of diet from box rest ie no grass and more of something else
 
My horse had a reaction to bute last year, though it wasn't scouring but I do believe this is one of the side effects of bute. I would definitely ring your vet and if it is a side effect should be stopping use as soon as possible. The only way to really determine thou if it is a reaction to bute is to stop it and see if your horse returns to normal. Good luck hope you get sorted soon.
 
I'm awaiting a call back from my ym so will see what she says.

It could be lack of grass but he has stayed in for a couple of days after worming/jabs etc and nine fine.

He doesn't get haylege so it can't be down to the bale being different (another known scourer began scouring but it was down to the new bale of haylege.
 
Has he got swollen back legs? There seems to be a dihorrea virus going round of scouring and swollen legs. Mine had it, cultures grew nothing, she was bright in herself but lost lots of weight as a result :(
 
My horse did this and it was the protexin that was the issue!

Would suggest trying danilion instead of bute to rule that out.
 
It's definatley not protexin as he has been on it for months and it has worked wonders on him.

I'll have a look at his back legs but I don't remember them being swollen yesterday.
 
My mare and a gelding on my yard have noth scoured on bute as a first symptom of hind gut ulcers which nearly killed both them. A fairly bad case scenario but I would definitely consider taking him off the bute and contacting your vet. Better safe than sorry x
 
I thought I'd give a little update. The vet said I can take him off the bute as I told her there had been improvement in his unsoundness. His back end was not quite so disgusting last night. My friend trotted him up for me and he seemed alright in himself especially as he dragged her into the muck heap!! The vet is still coming on Wednesday to reasses his unsoundness so if he is still scouring badly I can get them to look at it. I just hope he is sound enough for dressage camp next weekend!
 
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