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  Discussion on Managing Persistent Fever
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New Member:
Huntjump

Posted on Monday, Oct 24, 2005 - 2:48 pm:

DrO,
My horse has been running a fever for several weeks. After many tests done by my veterinarian, he referred us to Marion duPont Equine Med Center in VA last week. After a belly tap and tracheal was, my horse was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma metastis (sp?) of the abdominal and thoracic. Just to note, his ultrasounds and chest radiographs showed no evident tumors at this time, but the rectal exam showed signs of tumors in his adrenal glands. He currently has a good quality of life, has a great appetite, has no weight loss and no swelling at this time, and has a bright, energetic and alert attitude. They have advised me to just manage his fever and let him be content and happy as he has shown that he is. My question is on the best way to manage his fever and I would like your advice. At this time, a 500 lb dose and even a 250 lb dose of Banamine brings his fever down for about 24 hours. Economically, it would be better to get him on a maintenance system of bute. We have tried 2 grams of bute in his AM feeding daily since Friday Oct. 21. The following day he did not spike a fever but, Sunday am he had a low grade fever and by Sunday afternoon it was 103. Same thing happened today. A small dose of Banamine brings the fever down. What is your suggestion on how to treat with bute? My vet suggested trying 2 grams of bute when his fever spikes as opposed to feeding it in his am feed as maintenance. I board him so I have been relying heavily on the owner to check his temp around 1-2 pm every day. I was hoping to get him closer to evening feeding time so I can administer the bute then and hope that his fever comes down and stays down for the next 24 hours. I would like to note that even when his fever has raised to 104-105, he still has an appetite and wants to eat. He has not gone off his feed at all.
Do you have any advice for me on the best way to manage this?
Thanks.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 - 7:02 am:

Welcome Kristen,
It would appear your next step is to try 1 gr of bute to see if you get the same good response. You should keep a diary of time and dosage of treatments and daily temps. You will find that the response to treatment will vary a bit so don't look at any one experiment as the final word.

Once you have found the lowest effective dosage of bute and Banamine (flunixin) I would consider this regimen: bute moday - friday and flunixin to cover the weekend. This allows accumulated drug to clear the system.
DrO
New Member:
Huntjump

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 - 7:58 am:

Thanks DrO- We have been keeping a diary of when he has a temp, and when he receives the Banamine and dosage amount. Today we are going to try 1 gram of bute in AM feed and then I will temp after work and if he has a temp, I will give him 1-2 gr of Bute. For his condition, what would recommend to be the maximum dosage of Bute per day to be? I am a bit frustrated right now and I am trying to make this easy on the farm owners and myself and at the same time keep this manageable and him happy.
New Member:
Huntjump

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 25, 2005 - 8:56 pm:

Just wanted to add, today we did the 1 gr of bute in AM feed. When I got off work and went to the farm at 4 pm, his temp was 102. I gave him 2 gr of bute and DrOve back out to farm at 7:30 pm and re-checked his temp. It was 101.6. My hope is to at least keep his maximum temp at 102 or alittle above.
Farm owner is going to give 1 gr of bute in AM feed again Wednesday morning and we will then see again in the afternoon what his temp is and then dose accordingly. Also due to bad weather his was in all day today. When he is turned out during the day, it may be coincidental but his temp rises higher in the afternoon.
Also he is on Cimitidine for a few weeks (recommendation by Leesburg). Will this hamper the efficacy of the bute and/or will it help with any stomach irritation that the bute may cause?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 - 8:07 am:

I would prefer Ranitidine, for more on why and dosages see, Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Gastric Ulcers.
DrO
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