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  Discussion on Bute and Mare in Foal
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Member:
Fouch

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 - 3:38 pm:

I have a 21 year-old quarter horse mare that is due in March. She is extremely lame in the front left knee and appears to be in considerable pain. About three weeks ago she looked as if she had lost complete control of her hind quarters. Although she has improved recently, she will hardly put any weight on the front leg and looks drawn-in in the flanks. I have a young vet that said she was at a loss as to what to do. She indicated that the mare had symptoms consistent with a neurological problem (west nile, epm or maybe an injury) along with the problem in the knee. After consulting with an equine vet, she told me to give her 1 gram of bute twice a day for the rest of her pregnancy. She indicated that if I didn't, she was virtually sure that the mare would abort from the prolonged pain. She also thought I should consider putting her on regumate as well. Given the potential adverse effects of bute on the pregnancy, is there any other pain reliever available? Any other suggestions?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 - 6:50 am:

Scott what is the diagnosis on the left knee and has anything else been done?

Considering your description I too would recommend you take the risks associated with bute and pregnancy, see the article for more on this. Though I have never seen a mare loose a pregnancy from lameness I have seen several horses that when non-weight bearing on one front leg for a week or more, founder in the other leg and have to be put down.
DrO
Member:
Fouch

Posted on Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 - 12:48 pm:

The vet put her on Isoxsuprine (30 tablets twice a day) and wanted me to give her glucosamine. She was concerned that the mare might also be exhibiting early stages of laminitis. The swelling in the knee is very hard. She indicated that it could be a fracture or arthritis. In either case there wasn't much we could do for her.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 28, 2005 - 7:10 am:

He would be wrong. If there is arthritis in the knee, a corticosteroid injection could make her remarkably more comfortable for quite some time. On the other hand the isoxsuprine is without any known value for either the arthritis or the founder.
DrO
Member:
Fouch

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2006 - 3:19 pm:

An update and question. The mare was checked in December and is not in foal. We had planned on using embryo transfers this spring since she was significantly lame in her front left leg and the vet thought it would be difficult for her to carry a foal. Yesterday when I let her out of the stall she had all of her weight on her bad leg and was standing with her good leg off of the ground and the toe pointed down. When she tried to walk she would just put the tip of the toe on the ground. I was sure she had foundered but when the vet came out she could find no sensitive area in the hoof. She thinks it may be an abscess that is too far up to be detected with hoof testers. She told me to give an antibiotic (tucaprin, or something), bute and to soak the hoof each day for ten days. The mare laid down for almost 8 hours yesterday and is in considerable pain. She wouldn't stand until I gave her 12cc of banamine. Is it possible the banamine kept her from being sensitive to the hoof testers? I had decided to put her down if it was founder but now I don't know what to do.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2006 - 10:13 pm:

If the banamine had relieved the pain she would not be lame. The same pain that is making your horse lame is what the hoof testers and the whole physical exam looks for. A horse that painful needs to be reevaluated quickly Scott.
DrO
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