Still lame on bute

[lucylocket]

Horse been on bute for 10 days now as diagnosed with bi lateral lameness, 2.10ths. Posted some weeks ago, vet thinks its DJD and says to keep riding. However, on 2 bute a day he is not sound. I would have thought there should be some improvement, although he weighs 730 kg so perhaps I should up the dose? Bute is so well used for lameness I am surprises no improvement.

 

[Jemayni]

well, my horse was bilaterally lame last summer (2 & 5/10ths), went on 2 bute a day, and was still quite lame. He only weighs 370 kg.

But I (personally) wouldnt recommend you up the vet without speaking to you vet, just because you never know whats round the corner with horses!

 

[amzy]

Bute kept an old pony of mine sound for the rest of her life but it didn't make a scrap of difference to another horse of mine. I have heard that it doesn't always work with some horses.

 

[mrussell]

it may well be a mechanical lameness (like walking with 2 different height heels on - its doesnt hurt but you cant walk properly either).

Have you had a second opinion on hoff balance? Made ALL the difference to my boy.

 

[Wellshod_Warrior]

Would recommend you get the vet out as if your horse is still lame on two bute, then it needs to be assesed as to why as normally most horses should go sound on that amount!! May be get a second opion on foot balance or second vet opion as I wouldnt be happy if my horse was still lame on two bute.

 

[lucylocket]

He has remedial shoes anyway as when he first went lame vet thought it could be navicular, so he has egg bars and shod every 5 weeks. Hes been to vet clinic for nerve blocks,ultrasound, scintigraphy in the past, and "possible" diagnosis was an old tear to a ligament in the shoulder area which may have caused djd etc due to more movement in the joint than normal. HOwever because hes a big lad it was difficult to get really good x rays etc, so I do wonder if it wasa
guess on the part of the vets. Anyway I was told to carry on with light hacking on bute, and after a while I couldnt feel anything wrong with him or see any nodding. I took him off
the bute but when ther back man came out he said he was lame on both front legs "but dont worry about it". Of course I am worried! Vet also said the same when he came out recently. and thought probably compensating because of other leg. Cant understand why bute not working, but is there anything else I could use as an alternative. Hes on supplements, cod liver oil etc. Insurance Co will not pay out for anything to do with arthritis now as already spent £3000
on initial investigations so if I go through everyting again and it ends up arthritis in other leg I will be bankrupt!

 

[hunteress]

I have a friend who this week has taken his horse down to Newmarket no cost too much after he became lame he was diagnosed ages ago with Arthritus in both front feet and given bute when he got to Newmarket they scanned him and found an abcess in his shoulder and it had gone into his bone very badly result put to sleep also Newmarket found NO arthritus in his feet !!!!

 

[lucylocket]

Thats really cheered me up, thanks !