We've had 2 of these in the clinic in the past year. Its no joke they really do die quite often. We've been
very lucky in that the owners felt that something was wrong quickly enough to do something. They got
them in and yes literally we have to open wounds to provide drainage anywhere they are swollen. Its a
bad deal. Hopefully more people will realize they could be next.
Tim Stewart, DVM
If you are receiving this email then you are either a friend or fellow barrel racer. We have all given our
share of shots especially banamine. Most of us carry it in our trailers for emergencies and are not afraid
to give our horse a shot if we think something is wrong or if the threat of colic appears. I have been
around horses all my life and I too have given hundreds of banamine shots in the muscle-because as it
says on the bottle-its safe either IV or IM. Well, I hope this will make you think twice about giving your
horse another banamine shot in the muscle.
I gave my horse Harley 10cc of banamine and B12 (in the neck) last Tuesday night because she wasn't
acting like herself, wasn't eating, labored breathing, slight temp, etc. Her run at Cullman was not up to
her ability and she was acting funny Monday and Tuesday. I figured it couldn't hurt her right? By
Thursday morning she could hardly walk and something was obviously wrong. I loaded up and went to
MSU. She was admitted that afternoon and she is still their. Your probably saying that I used a
contaminated syringe or needle or I had a bad bottle of banamine or I didn't give it in the right place or
this could never happen to me or my horse, right?!!! Well I assure you that this is not the case. This only
happens with banamine (she had a B12 shot on the other side of her neck). It is very rare and there
hasn't been a case at MSU in 5 or 6 years. Somehow a strain of bacteria grows at the injection site and
causes swelling (which is fluid and infection) and if not treated it is fatal. The bacteria grows in the dark
and doesn't require air to survive. There is no cure, no magical antibiotic for this type of bacteria
(Clostridium I think its called). The only cure is cutting through flesh, fat, and muscle to allow light and air
to, hopefully, kill the bacteria. This is VERY expensive to treat. So, after looking at the pictures of my
mare please ask yourself "Is a $10 shot of banamine worth $6,000-$8,000 in vet bills or possibly your
horses' life?? I'm not saying to stop using banamine. It is safe to give it IV or orally.
I hope you can learn something from my nightmare. Pictures are pretty graphic. Please say a prayer for
her. She is not "out of the woods" yet.
very lucky in that the owners felt that something was wrong quickly enough to do something. They got
them in and yes literally we have to open wounds to provide drainage anywhere they are swollen. Its a
bad deal. Hopefully more people will realize they could be next.
Tim Stewart, DVM
If you are receiving this email then you are either a friend or fellow barrel racer. We have all given our
share of shots especially banamine. Most of us carry it in our trailers for emergencies and are not afraid
to give our horse a shot if we think something is wrong or if the threat of colic appears. I have been
around horses all my life and I too have given hundreds of banamine shots in the muscle-because as it
says on the bottle-its safe either IV or IM. Well, I hope this will make you think twice about giving your
horse another banamine shot in the muscle.
I gave my horse Harley 10cc of banamine and B12 (in the neck) last Tuesday night because she wasn't
acting like herself, wasn't eating, labored breathing, slight temp, etc. Her run at Cullman was not up to
her ability and she was acting funny Monday and Tuesday. I figured it couldn't hurt her right? By
Thursday morning she could hardly walk and something was obviously wrong. I loaded up and went to
MSU. She was admitted that afternoon and she is still their. Your probably saying that I used a
contaminated syringe or needle or I had a bad bottle of banamine or I didn't give it in the right place or
this could never happen to me or my horse, right?!!! Well I assure you that this is not the case. This only
happens with banamine (she had a B12 shot on the other side of her neck). It is very rare and there
hasn't been a case at MSU in 5 or 6 years. Somehow a strain of bacteria grows at the injection site and
causes swelling (which is fluid and infection) and if not treated it is fatal. The bacteria grows in the dark
and doesn't require air to survive. There is no cure, no magical antibiotic for this type of bacteria
(Clostridium I think its called). The only cure is cutting through flesh, fat, and muscle to allow light and air
to, hopefully, kill the bacteria. This is VERY expensive to treat. So, after looking at the pictures of my
mare please ask yourself "Is a $10 shot of banamine worth $6,000-$8,000 in vet bills or possibly your
horses' life?? I'm not saying to stop using banamine. It is safe to give it IV or orally.
I hope you can learn something from my nightmare. Pictures are pretty graphic. Please say a prayer for
her. She is not "out of the woods" yet.
| I received this article as an e-mail and thought it was very important to share with everyone. Please pass this information along to your friends and fellow horse owners. ~Samantha~ |
