Banamine IM?

My trainer, who was a vet tech for many years, told me to never give Banamine in the muscle. I just saw a picture on Facebook (and yes, I know you can't believe everything you see there) that showed a horse with huge holes in her neck that were attributed to a Banamine injection. My vet had me give my mare an IM injection last week, and so far, no reaction like that, thank goodness.

So my question is, does anyone on here give it that way? Has anyone seen a horrible outcome attributed to it?
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I may be wrong but most of the time a banamine shot is given in the neck it's in the vein..I've given my share of shots IM, I'm not confident enough to give in the vein so if I have to give the shot I do it IM..

Now, I am far from an expert or vet so don't take too much from that. I haven't had to use banamine shots too many times myself and usual vaccinations are done at my vet's office.

Yes, I have one buried here who received a shot before the complications were well known.

Any shot can cause problems but Banamine more so due to whatever is mixed with it, it creates the perfect environment for organisms to thrive & cause gas gangrene.
It's still labeled for use IM but my suspicious nature makes me believe that is due to fear of lawsuits from the manufactuers if they admit there is a problem.
People still give it IM though, even some vets, without problems but no way I ever would nor would I allow any vet to. It's not a risk I'm willing to take. Now & then I come across a vet who still recommends the IM & that is a vet I would not use as I think they have not kept up with the research or are willing to take a chance with my horse that I wouldn't take.
Sure, the IM is given often without problems but if there is a problem it's terrible.
If someone needs to give Banamine & can't do the IV, the injectable can be given orally (without the needle of course). It won't work as quickly but it will still work without the worry.
They make an oral paste which is handy to have around.

Just give Banamine orally. If you are injecting it IV you must be absolutely sure you go in the vein or you you risk perivascular necrosis (like you saw on FB). It is still very effective orally, it just takes a bit longer to act. And I am a veterinarian so I am very sure about this! ;) Personally I don't like the paste because I have seen too many people accidentally give the whole tube, mistaking it for dewormer or because they were confused on how to dose it.

FYI - Banamine is the brand - flunixin is the actual drug.

Schering lists the issues with IM use:

Medi-Vet Animal Health - Detail1 - 10393 - Banamine (Flunixin Meglumine) Injectable Solution, 50mg/ml, 100ml - Horse Medications, Medical Devices & Supplies - Search By Brand - Medi-Vet Animal Health

Oh my.. yeah, I won't ever be giving shots myself again..

I do all my own shots and, touch wood, have never had a major problem. I did have a site reaction to a Strangles shot before there were nasal Strangles vaccines, but that's been the worst of it.

I have given banamine in the neck, back before we knew of the problems, but now I give it IV or oral if the horse is either too dodgy for me to be comfortable going for the vein or if the horse's condition is poor enough that I question whether I would be able to hit the vein. And of course, any time I think I can't accomplish something, I leave it for the vet.

One thing I do that I've not seen a lot of horse people (or livestock people in general) do is, I clean the injection site right down to the skin, every shot, every time. I don't want to push a pathogen IN when I stick them with the needle. So far in almost 50 years of being with horses, I've not had any injection site abcesses, again touch wood.

I've given IM shots over and over again and never heard of complications like that....so forgive me if this is a silly question, but wouldn't the possibility of those complications occuring be present with any IM injection, not just banamine? (*hopes this doesn't come off as completely naive*)

My horse is prone to colic so we keep banamine handy and my coach would always administer it to him IM (I'm 99.9% sure as I recall) without any adverse side affects. How common is this side effect of perivascular necrosis??

Tealamutt, is orally administered banamine given at the same dosage as it would be by injection? The reason I ask is that I've never heard of banamine given orally. You learn something new everyday! :)

Yes, the dose is the same. They make a paste that is easy to give & measure.

If you have a queasy stomach don't open this link. It shows a Banamine reaction. I tried to find the nicest one to post. Yes, they can be worse.
It is a rare occurance but if it happens to your horse that fact means very little.
BANAMINE NIGHTMARE