Banamine vs Bute – Which and When? – Part II

Last week we talked about all the characteristics of Bute and when to use it.  This week we are going to talk about Banamine and when to use this medicine.

Hopefully, these articles will help you choose which medicine to use and when each one can be beneficial for your horse.

However, always use these medicines after discussing your horse’s issues with your vet.

Here is a quick summary:

BANAMINE (FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE)

Banamine is a trade name for the anti-inflammatory drug flunixin meglumine. Banamine was the only brand of this drug available for many years. As a result, the brand name stuck, despite the fact that the drug is now available generic from many manufacturers and has many different trade names.

The injectable solution is actually also absorbed given orally (which is how I use mine). This drug is somewhat irritating to the tissues when given in the muscle and in rare cases can cause significant muscle damage and severe bacterial infection.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever.
• Banamine can be given as a paste, in granules, or through IV injection.
  • Similar to Bute, it’s best to let your vet handle the injection but paste or granules are very effective.
  • It also should not be given intramuscularly.
• This medicine is most commonly used for abdominal or other visceral pain and gastrointestinal issues such as colic.
• While Banamine is great for helping a horse in an emergency colic situation, it’s important to remember that it’s not actually fixing the problem that causes the colic.
• If your horse colics frequently, talk to your vet about what could be causing the problem and if there’s a long-term solution.
• Banamine is more expensive than Bute but it is considered safer.

Just a side note:

Colic is not a disease but is the horse’s way of demonstrating abdominal pain. If the cause of colic is simply gas or a spasm, a “simple shot of Banamine®” may be all it takes to break the cycle and solve the problem.

If, however, there is a mechanical problem in the gut such as a severe feed impaction or mechanical displacement, Banamine might temporarily make the horse look better but does nothing to fix the underlying problem.

Unfortunately, this improvement can mislead horse owners into believing their horse has been cured. But the time wasted thinking that the horse has improved can be the difference between life and death.  So be careful!

General guidelines for using Banamine to treat a horse for signs of colic:

• First, call your vet to alert them to the colic symptoms and to the fact that you are giving Banamine to help your horse. Together you can decide whether or not to take the “wait and see” approach or have your vet visit. However, the safest idea would be to have your vet examine your horse.
• Take away all feed from your horse until your vet recommends replacing it. Once the horse looks better, only offer what fits in the palm of your hand, and only to test his appetite. This means no hay or free-range grass in the pasture.
• If the horse looks normal after the vet gives him a shot, monitor him every 1-2 hours, paying particular attention to attitude and appetite, intestinal sounds, heart rate, and gum color. I explain this in a past blog about Colic.
• The masking effects of Banamine last 6-12 hours. Your horse could return to colic pain when the pain-relieving effects of this medication begin to wear off.
• If a horse seems completely normal and with normal appetite past 8-12 hours post-administration, chances are that the problem causing colic is resolved. This is when you can slowly return to feeding (as per the advice of your vet).

General notes for NSAIDs:

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal (stomach ulcers, oral ulcers, right dorsal colitis) and urinary (kidney failure, hemorrhagic cystitis).

NSAIDs have the potential to interfere with everything from bone healing to parturition.

All NSAIDs have potential side effects that include:

• Intestinal and stomach side effects including gastric and colonic ulcers. Foals are especially sensitive to intestinal side effects and can easily develop ulcers.
• Kidney problems. This is especially true of young horses, but caution should always be used, especially in old horses and those that are otherwise ill or dehydrated.
• Importantly, NSAIDs have the ability to “mask” a problem, making it look less severe than it really is and giving cause for false hope and delayed treatment. You should keep in close contact with your vet even when you think your horse is feeling a little better.

It is always very important to consult your veterinarian before you administer these drugs to your horse.

So, in Conclusion:

Bute and Banamine are both extremely important drugs in equine medicine.

They offer excellent anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects for horses. However, they must be used appropriately. You should understand the basics of how these drugs work, their strengths, and their limitations. And always talk to your vet before you administer these drugs!

I always say that a veterinarian should always be called to evaluate any horse with persistent colic signs or other illnesses.  They can even do a diagnosis over the phone.

But this is crucial in order to diagnose the underlying cause and determine whether other types of medical or surgical treatments are required.

Horses are a part of the family and I firmly believe in “Family First”.  So don’t try to do it on your own.  Even if it’s a phone call to talk it through with your vet, talk it out before giving any medications.

I hope this helps and I hope you all have a little extra supply of Bute, Banamine, or both in your emergency medicine cabinet for your horse.  I do!

Until next week, Happy Horses!