Bute to alleviate daily pain

[Allison]

Just wondering what the general thought was on using a small dose of bute daily to alleviate minor pain. I am a college student working on a project dealing with with chronic pain in horses used for therapeutic riding. Since most horses used for this discipline are usually older, there are lameness and health issues. Any thoughts or experiences?

[Sarah T]

Hello Allison,

We have had two horses on bute daily for a couple of years. Mind you they are older 29 and 26. Vets frown on bute being used for more than a few days because of the damage it can do to a horse's stomach. But if it is a low dose and mixed with grain and bran etc. its seems to be more tolerable. If we run out of bute for a few days it shows in our horses' demeanor and physical movement (lame). We didn't just jump on the bute wagon. We had lengthy conversations with several of our farm vets and found out there is no real substitute to give horses for orthopedic pain other than organic alternatives. If someone knows of any other meds please let us know.

Here is another question for you Allison.

Does it make a difference on the stomach if you use liquid bute instead of powder?

If you find out please let me know.

Please post your thoughts and findings Allison I would like to know. ;D

Sarah

[helenslink]

I have an arthritic mare. She has been this way for several years now from a hock accident. The joint is always enlarged. I have given her corticosteriod injections until they became uneffective. I now have her on a daily dose of MSM (methylsulfonyl methane) and I do think it helps her arthritis. There isn't a huge difference from when she wasn't on it, but I definitely think it makes her more comfortable. I also question the use of bute on a daily basis, because of stomach problems associated with it. If I have to give it to her for more than a few days, I prefer to switch to B-L Solution. It contains Devil's Claw and yucca.

[Sarah]

Hi Helen,

What is MSM (methylsulfonyl methane)? Where can you get it and how much does it cost?

Also, what is B-L Solution?

We want to get our mares off bute but with something that will give some sort of relief.

By the way the toerags are acting like they are 2 years old in the snow. Bucking and rearing. It scares the hell out of us when we look out and see Mishii jump with all four feet off the ground. It makes our heart stop. We tell her, 'You're too old for that kind of nonsense.'

Thanks Helen

SJ

[missyclare]

I agree with Helen about the bute causing stomach ulcers. I was with Helen when poor Slinky got a thorn in her foot. She was in extreme pain and wouldn't put her foot on the ground at all. She was still eating, but after a couple of days of small doses, she stopped eating and actually was interested but turned her nose up at any offerings. You could tell it was an ulcer. If it had just been the pain, she wouldn't have been interested at all. It seemed like within a couple of days, there was the ulcer....so fast to fall into a "darned if you, darned if you don't" situation. It was the beginning of her weight loss and if I remember correctly, it took a couple of weeks to get any real appetite back.
There's some new stuff out. It's called Legend. It's a cream that you apply and the pain killer goes into the system that way. It is effective and avoids the stomach. But whether it goes in the mouth or thru the skin, it will be the liver that gets the assault in the long run. (Had a Dr. tell me that once.)
MSM is an anti-inflammatory, I believe, but more importantly, they discovered some time ago, that it is a carrier drug that can be rubbed on the skin and will penetrate. Mix it with any other drug and the MSM will take that in too. My vet told me a story about how a collegue who almost died on a call where he mixed MSM with some drug and didn't wear gloves to apply it.
I haven't researched this Legend, but I'll bet that the carrier drug in it is MSM. Actually, now they are coming out with so many patches to deliver medicine to humans.....hmmmm...I wonder.....
Keep your eyes peeled for ads in mags. I've seen them, but they don't tell you much. They will probably be found at your better tack stores. Might be the answer you are looking for....atleast for the stomach. Good luck!

[helenslink]

Hi Sarah,
Sorry it's been so long to get back to you, had computer problems. MSM is a byproduct of DMSO. It is an organic source of sulfur which assists in the production of links between collagen molecules. These links add strength and stability to the structure of tendons, ligaments and joint and connective tissues. It has excellent absorbtion (even thru the skin). I get it from several places, Double Horseshoe Tack Shop, Greenhawk Equestrian Supplies, and State Line Tack in the states. It costs about $10 for 2lbs.
B-L Solution contains the anti-inflammatory herb's Devil's Claw and Yucca. Devil's Claw is an herb that contains several chemicals said to decrease pain and possibly inflammation. Tests carried out have shown the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects to be similar to cortizone and bute, without the side-effects. However, use on horses with gastric ulcers or pregnant mares is not recommended.
Yucca contains steroid saponins, which are related to cortisone. These decrease pain and inflammation by suppressing the body's immune response.
B-L Solution is sold by State Line Tack. It costs $14 US.
Hope this has helped.
Helen