There’s nothing worse than our goats being in pain—except perhaps having to stand by and watch without being able to help.
There are a wide variety of commercially available treatments for pain in animals, and one of the most common is Bute—but is Bute safe for goats?
So, the safest answer is no.
While some would argue that Bute is in fact perfectly safe for goats, there is an equally coherent argument that it is not safe for them, or at the very least, there are lots of better options.
Let’s look further into this.
What painkillers should goats have?
There are a variety of painkillers that goats can have.
Generally speaking, as I said, Banamine is what is recommended by vets for goats.
This is a widely used livestock medication used to treat inflammation, muscle pain, and skeletal pain.
If you are going to be keeping goats, having Banamine on hand at all times is a good idea.
Consult with a vet about doses and how to administer it, but it’s fairly simple.
If you don’t have Banamine, generic painkillers will do fine to an extent.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen, for example.
These can help your goat until more help arrives, but I do want to stress you shouldn’t be in the habit of giving them generic painkillers like this that don’t properly address the problem.
Bute, though, is generally off limits, as far as most vets are concerned.
There is a range of reasons for this, not least the long withdrawal times.
Many do claim to use Bute on their goats without any issue, but again, the point is that there are far better painkillers you can give to your goat that all vets agree are perfectly safe.
Be sure to have stocks of Banamine available for when you need it.
Let’s look at anti-inflammatories.
What anti-inflammatories can I give my goat?
There are many anti-inflammatories that are widely used in goats.
They have widely different properties and advantages, so again, it’s always vital you speak to a vet if you think your goat needs some kind of anti-inflammatory.
Often, though, vets will prescribe opiod analgesics, such as Butorphanol, Buprenorphine, and Pethidine hydrochloride.
They might also prescribe injectable drugs, like Carprofen, Flunixin meglumine, Ketoprofen, or meloxicam.
Meloxicam is one of the most common anti-inflammatories used to treat goats.
Finally, they may use some generic oral drugs like Aspirin, or oral meloxicam.
If a lot of this sounds like gibberish to you, then I hope that helps you to understand the sensitivity of the job of prescribing the right drugs for your goats.
Vets study for a long time to be able to apply the proper treatment—so don’t skip out on the vet in treating your goat.
Can you give a goat Bute paste?
Bute paste is another form of the drug, and it is outright not currently approved for use in sheep and goats.
It is more or less exclusively an equine drug, meant to treat symptoms in horses.
It is not good for your goat for a whole host of reasons.
One thing is the dosage. Horses, naturally, are much bigger animals than goats.
Bute paste is very strong and would most likely cause some serious side effects in goats.
Everything from general fatigue to diarrhea and internal illness.
Your goats should not eat Bute paste under any circumstances.
There are plenty of other pastes you can give them.
Can you give a goat Bute-Less?
Bute-Less is a somewhat stripped back version of Bute, though there are high strength versions.
Again, Bute-Less is intended for use in horses, and not really in anything else.
While some may suggest that giving goats Bute-Less is perfectly safe, there are plenty of other options that will be better formulated for your goat.
It’s very unlikely that a vet would prescribe Bute-Less for goats, so remember, don’t try to diagnose and prescribe treatment on your own.
Bute-Less will, again, be too strong for your goat, and could cause a variety of problems.
It’s used for treatment of aches and discomfort associated with horse levels of activity—goats just aren’t this active.
What can you give a goat for arthritis?
Arthritis is a common issue in goats for which there is, unfortunately, no reliable treatment.
You cannot rid goats of arthritis, though you can treat the symptoms.
You can make them comfortable by correctly trimming their hooves, making sure food and water are easily accessible for them, and, again, through long-term veterinary care.
The vet will most likely prescribe something like Banamine for your goats.
They will not prescribe Bute.
This will give your goat the best quality of life given its condition, acting as an anti-inflammatory, and quelling your goat’s joint pain.
Pain medication is a more sensitive thing for goats than you might expect, then.
Ultimately, I do want to hammer home the point that you’ll always get the best results when you consult with a vet and let them see your goat.
They will be able to tell you the best treatment, dosage, and give the right diagnosis for your goat’s particular issue.