I have tried everything to get one of my elderly horses to take the bute pills when she is noting doing so well.

Don't get me wrong I don't over medicate for no reason. But when I have to give her the bute she can tell it is hidden in whatever I try to disguise it in.

Now I love this old gal, It doesn't seem to upset her stomach or have any adverse effects. It just seems in all her wisdom over the years she is tired of its flavor.

Has anyone here ever tasted it? It is awful. Give me some "wisdom".

Spud,

If you have bute paste just give it to her like a dewormer. If you use the pills this is how I give it and how we gave it at the clinic I worked at. This works for any medication that you need to give in a pill form. Take a 20 cc (ml) Syringe or larger and cut the end off so you can push the plunger all the way through. Once this is done crush you tablets into a fine powder. Pull the plunger back and Put a small amount of Pancake syrup in the syringe to cover the plunger top, then add your crushed tablets then top the syringe off with more syrup and mix well. Add just enough syrup that it mixes well, don't add to much. A 20cc syringe is the perfect size for 2 grams of bute. Then give it to your horse like a dewormer. Some people will use different things to mix it in but we have found that kayro syrup or molasses is a little to thich and is easier to spit out. Pancake syrup seems to be the right consistancey and coats the mouth making it hard to spit out. IF you need to hold the horses head up you can. Most will naturally want to put their heads up and I let them that way it runs to the back of their mouths. Bute is bitter and the pancake syrup is sweet, also by doing it this way you know they get what you are giving them. Hope this helps..

Good luck they get smart with old age.

I do it two different ways. I crush it up and put it in their food. Either beet pulp or I put liquid molasas and mix it up. Another way is that I put it in a suringe with water and just squirt it in their mouth.

Spud;

I had the same kind of problem I just kept trying different mixtures when needed. I keep one of those hand blenders and a metal cup in the tack room and just through in whatever I have for my old guy.

Sometimes a fresh apple, Carrot or even used a granola bar once. That way he never knows if he is getting a treat or the bute. Sometimes if the items isn't strong enough he will try and refuse it and I have throw in some karo syrup. Works everytime. You know when we get older we like the treats!

You didn't mention why you are giving your horse bute. Are you using it to control arthritis?

It really wasn't for what reason just when I needed to .. a leg injury, colic"e" , whatever the issue.

Over the years He has just gotten used to the smell I guess. But thanks for all the good ideas..

Hello ~ There is a new device out that makes giving Bute to your horse a snap! It is called Easy Bute & the web address is www.EasyBute.com. It is just $8.00, ($10.00 with shipping,) & I can't remember the last time I purchased something for my horse for ten dollars! This device is so easy & fast, I will never go back to Bute paste or pouring powder over grain.

Although slightly more expensive than the pill/powder form bute does come in a paste. Instead of going to all the trouble of crushing,adding,mixing to put in a syringe. Just buy it already in the tube and just like wormers it has gram marks on it.