Hock Injury ~ Overuse Of Bute & Possible Kidney Problems? **Graphic Photos**

Bute is probably one of the oldest of the pain meds and there are many newer safer drugs on the market now for long term use
I don't think that your friends horse has reached the point yet where risks are going to kick in so probably no need to worry yet though something to counteract the risk of stomach ulcers would be a good idea
You don't mention if the horse has been on antibiotics but if not its possible that there is some infection going on that's getting into the bloodstream and affecting the kidneys
I would have some bloods taken if only to rule out anything

I really feel like it depends on the specific horse as to whether bute is "safer" or more dangerous.

I know that Lacey, who has uvietis and so gets bute during an attack, she gets weird and tummy-uncomfortable on just 1/4g of bute if she gets it daily for about 2 weeks. She has to get 2g of bute/day during an attack but the vet advised a daily low-dose bute regimen to keep her pain levels low during the summer. 1/4g was just enough to ease pain so I tried that. And it went sour fast.
For what it's worth, she also gets really "loopy" on bute. She starts taking risks she would never consider when she doesn't have bute in her system and basically goes a bit bananas. She's usually very sensible but bute seems to take away some of her inhibitions. I guess she's just extra sensitive to it. The vet's seen her on it before and couldn't believe what it does to her. After an episode, after I take her off the 2g of bute/day, she literally behaves like someone withdrawing from a drug. All mopey and depressed for a couple of days. It's ridiculous.

Anyway, I got her on Devil's Claw and Yucca for summer pain-relief. It's similarly pain-relieving but slightly safer over the long haul and she doesn't have any adverse reaction to it. She still gets 2g of bute/day for 3 days during an episode but I try to get her off that and back on to the DC+Y as fast as possible to avoid issues.

Wallaby bute is well known for causeing gastric ulcers, if your mare is prone to them already then this may be your problem. Perhaps try Danilon instead, same pain relief properties but without the tummy upset (it is however about 3x the price)

Reeco had a fractured pelvis, hence the very high bute dose for a conciderable amount of time.

I saw the graphic photo warning, why did I look?!

I hope her horse is better soon!

This horse is doing much better. Whatever he had going on subsided when she cut out the bute. Probably just irritated stomach lining. His owner sent me this photo last night. It's zoomed in a lot, so it still looks big, but it's actually shrunk a lot. She said he'll never be the same, but damage is cosmetic. Amazingly he doesn't have any joint or tendon damage; just an unsightly capped hock.

Has the vet suggested ulcergaurd? I would definitely consider a treatment for ulcers after that much bute.

I am surprised they didn't put him on equioxx instead, it can be used for 14 consecutive days I think it is....