Bute

[Mike435]

Hiya as some of you will know lulu has navicular syndrome and today its really bothering her. So i want to give her some bute but she is still lactating. So my questions is can she be given it whilst the foal is still taking her milk?

On a different note. I thought this foal thing was supposed to be a challenge. I dont want to jinx it but link is being so good!! I can lead her on her own without lulu, put fly spray on, groom her all over, pick out her front feet, take her headcollar on and off and she has only been with me for three weeks. She acts like shes 5 years not 2 months!!
Anyway look forward to your replies.

Cheers guys.

Mike

[black crow]

Yes, she could be given bute while lactating, but it is highly adviseable not to. It's never been fully looked into as how dangerous it can be. Did she have navicular when she was bred?

Are you 100% it is navicular? it is often overdiagnosed, and i'd be especially worried about the foal if it is navicular as the weaknesses in the legs can be passed on.

If you want to give her bute, you will need to get it from a vet, so the best bet would be to have a serious talk with the vet about what they think is the best course of action and if she could have a less severe substitute.

[Mike435]

The vets have said its naicular. I have spoken to the vet efore breeding her and he is the leading person in the uk on navicualr research and he sai that it is not hereditary.

I will ask him about the bute thanks for your help.

Mike

[black crow]

No it isnt hereditary, but the weaknesses in conformation can be passed on to the foal. It's also not kind for them to be in foal as having navicular is very painful. Have known three people to breed from navicular mares, all 3 had to be PTS before the foal was weaned.

[Mike435]

Again, i checked all this with the vet before breeding from her and he said no. I too was also worried about the pain aspect. Lulu coped really well during pregnancy. She just seems to be having an off day. Been down since putting up the post and shes back to her normal self.

[Indi_Jo]

I dont think anyone here would feel comfortable saying yes to give her bute if shes lactating hun, best bet is to speak to your vet on this one im affraid :/

[CityLights]

navicular its self isnt heridtery but as it can be considered a problem down to undesirable conformation, which can be passed to offspring that is why some people would avoid using a horse with a problem like navicular to breed from, but as you know about it im sure you picked an approprite stallion and will get a good farrier to help with her feet if necessary

also the weight from being pregnant can make some mares very lame and is another reason why some people wont breed from them

the odd bute here and there shouldnt do any serious harm to the foal but long term it will pass through the milk and can cause digestive upset to the foal, a broodmare i looked after had navicular so we occasionally had to give her some bute so we would also give the foal something for its tummy like Gaviscon to settle it, im not sure if it works but its what i was told to do

there might be some bute type susbtitiue you could feed her that shouldnt upset the foal but you would have to check with the vet and feed companies, vetrofen is a new bute subsititue that could be worht looking at or something devils claw like but i imagine that will probably still upset the foals and mares tummy

is she shod at the moment? shoes, hoof boots or something like that might help her out, maybe talk to the farrier

well done on the foal handling, if you introduce it soon enough or in the right way everything is a breeze with them, my little boy, well big now, is going out to a youngstock grading in two weeks so we have been loading him up everynight, he is absolutley good as gold, just follows mum in and stands there, taking it so well