Administering Medication Orally to Horses

Nov 21, 2011
Chris Thomas

Medication may be Given Orally to Horses - C. Thomas

There will no doubt be a time in a horse owner's life when they need to give something to their horse by mouth. Methods are considered here.

Medications that are administered enterally are given by the mouth with the view to working throughout the horse’s system. This can be achieved via administration:

Orally in a paste or fluid
In the feed or water
Via a stomach tube

Giving an Oral Medication

To administer medication via this method, a head collar and lead rope will aid in the restraint of the horse. Examples of medications administered this way may be phenylbutazone (bute) paste or a worming paste.

The tube can be placed at the side of the horse’s mouth and directed to the back of the tongue. It may be necessary to hold the horse’s head up slightly and keep the jaw closed to avoid the medication being spat out by the horse. Giving a medication orally may be desirable if a horse has a poor appetite or isn’t drinking well, limiting the success of putting treatment into a feed or water source.

Placing Medicines in Feed or Water

It may be possible to give medications via the horse’s feed. Powders or liquids can be mixed in with the horse’s feed with minimal fuss and given this way. It’s important to make sure that the horse who the medication is intended for, has sole access to the feed so that it isn’t consumed by others. Something like molasses may be necessary to disguise a taste that is unfamiliar to the horse and may be avoided.

The same goes for powders in a water source, suitable for a bucket of water that isn’t shared. In this way it’s known how much is consumed by that particular horse. Automatic waterers won’t be of much use for this method.

Treatment via Stomach Tube

Some horses are drenched by stomach tube or intubation, to treat for worms. Intubation may also be required in a case of impaction where the horse is displaying signs of colic. This process needs to be carried out by a veterinarian to ensure that the tube follows the right path of the digestive tract. An incorrect procedure could result in fluid going into the lungs and the horse drowning.

There are a few different methods available to the horse owner when it comes to getting horses to consume medications. Because treatments can be quite costly, the method that is most likely to result in the horse getting the desired treatment into its system without waste, or other horses also consuming the medication, should be considered and utilised. If unsure, veterinary assistance may be sought.