Putting a horse on bute long term?

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Marchtime

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Well as I'm sure some of you are aware my boy Jesper was diagnosed with collateral ligament damage some time ago. He's been intermittently lame for the past month and the vet is coming out Friday to discuss options. I'm thinking about putting him on bute so I can hack him. He's only 1/10th lame in the school and not lame out hacking but does shorten his stride and I'm not entirely certain he's always comfortable. I want to be able to stretch his legs in the school in the evening and hack with him being comfortable. I can't hack during the week as I work full time.
In my position what would you do? Retire him? (He can't/wont' live out, won't go out with other horses, and is a 10yr old TB). Put him on a low but regular dose of bute? Turn him away for six months? Other options?
I'd like to hear from others because I'm trying to work out all the things I want to discuss with the vet. Would you put a 10yr old on bute or is that too young? What questions would you want answered by the vet? Help, suggestions, ideas welcome!
 
If he only needs a lowdose of bute Im sure he will be fine. I had one of mine on 1 a day for many years without it causing a problem.
 
Hello,

I am so sad for you that Jesper isnt sound. You so,so deserve a bit of luck. In your position I would definitely put him on a low dose of bute. I feel that this would improve his quality of life considerably. Ok in fairness he may eventually deteriorate & you will have to reconsider your options.

You would be as well to start him off on a proper course of bute, 2 twice a day, 1 twice a day etc, etc so it is properly in his system & then you may even get him down to one everyother day eventually.

I think prolonged bute use is meant to compromise liver function (dont quote me, vet will tell you) but you can have a blood test once a year or so if you are worried about this.

IMO the pros of bute outweigh the cons, in this case.

Happy Christmas
x
 
Just like Santamental and her experience of bute, my friend had her aged gelding on one bute everyday for the four years I was at the yard and she had had him on it long before then - I think he was prone to laminitis. He never had any problems and I distinctly remember her telling me then that low dose is no problem at all over a long period of time, its just when you start increasing the dosage that it can cause cumulative effects. To my knowledge bute is the human equivalent of paracetamol, taken in moderation is safe, taken in excess will cause liver/kidney damage.
 
My horse damaged a tendon in may (he's 16yr TB ) He's been lame since, intermittenly from other things aswell including lymphangitis and possible Navicular which is being investigated. He is on one but as and when he needs it. Some times two a day, other times none.

I ve had no problems with it and i also find that the pros do definatly beat the cons..

If it was be, and with ligament damage, i would turn away for six omonths or so and see what happens.

lou x
 
I had an old polo pony that was on bute long term for arthritis in his hocks. He did very well on it - kept him in good nick for 5 years and he didn't show any signs of liver damage. For what it's worth, people with arthritis spend up to 40 years on the same sort of anti-inflammatories as bute and like everything, it has its side effects but often seriously improves quality of life.
 
We have a ?? 16 year old irsh boy who was diagnosed with sacro illiac probs a few years back. Due to his age we dedided not to investigate him further but put him a low dose of bute. He is on 1 a day and has been for the past year or so and is happily hacking out 2/3 times per week. We blood test him regularly to make sure he is having no side effects from the bute and so far all is well. I don't see a problem with it TBH its just like us taking regular paracentamol for a back problem for example!!!
 
Ollie had to go on danilon for his spavin op tendon tear and splint so he had to have it on long term regular basis.My vet told me it was kinder on the stomach ,hope that helps.
re ligament has he had a course of adequan we are now going to have a course for soft tissue damage in the coffin joint.Not sure what the extent of the damage is at the moment xrays are clear but adequan helps joint and or tendon/ligament repair. The other option is shock wave therapy , now ready to start treatment for 50 % tear vet told me that 6 months rest and treatment should give my 7 yr old tb a good chance.Sounds like your horse would be a candidate for the same treatment as mine.
 
babybells we have already previously turned him away. Sorry I should have specified in the first post. He had a year off and then was brought back in to light work. The vet feels that turning him away is unlikely to solve any problems as it obviously didn't work last time, however I will discuss it with him on Friday.
Cellie - he's had adequan, cortisone injections, shockwave and rest. The vet is adament there is are no 'treatment' options as such left.
Everyone - thank you for your support, I definitely feel happier about talking to my vet about bute. I thought I might be a bad mum riding him on bute, but now I think as long as I don't push him it's not a bad thing.
 
You have obviously explored every option available .If pain relief is his only option left to feel comfortable and have a reasonable standard of life i wouldnt feel bad about using it .Hes lucky that you have stuck by him .I hope things improve for you both good luck
 
Just a quick update. The vet came today and it was good news. He thinks the problems are being caused by a mixture of collateral ligament damage and suspensory damage, however none are severe and all are best treated with danilon. He feels because Jesper had previously injured his left hind suspensory and then his right fore collateral, the diagonal pair are weaker. So hopefully *fingers crossed* problems are now solved. Thanks for all your help.
 
Time will heal then thats good .We have had diagonal lameness from spavin then tendon and coffin joint.Its the extra strain across diagonal like Jespers lets hope in a few more months things will improve for us both .
 
My 10yr old warmblood mare was diagnosed with collateral ligament damage in July of this year we did three months box rest then shock wave therapy had no bute as vet said was not needed .ACP to keep her quiet . Then eight weeks of walking under saddle building up each week to an hour. We are now doing the same in trot and she is going out an hour a day , two hours today!She was so happy , reduced the acp to two a day. Has run round in her paddock though. Lunged her for the vet last week she is half a tenth lame on one rein so is getting a second opinion on the MRI as navicular could be playing a part and if it is will give Tildren .Could be same for Jesper. Discuss every option with your vet . Would use bute but it does disguise problems.
 
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