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When Does My Mare Need Meds?
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A pain reliever or analgesic should only be given if there's a medical reason that the drug is needed. "If the post-partum mare is painful to the point she needs pain medication, she should be seen by a vet," Semrad said.
"Normal" Pain
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A mare can pass medication to a nursing foal. If a mare needs pain relief after delivery, there may be an underlying health problem that needs to be addressed. "I want to know why she's painful" Semrad said. While the mare may experience short-term cramping of the uterus when her foal begins to nurse, that's not a condition requiring an analgesic.
Considerations
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Vets are not just concerned with underlying health conditions in the mare. They have to consider what medicinal properties may pass through the mare's milk and be ingested by her foal.
What Type of Analgesic Can be Used?
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A vet should always be consulted for equine pain issues. The type of analgesic depends on the type of pain a horse is experiencing. If a pain is skeletal, for example, the pain needs to be addressed differently than if the pain is organ-related.
What's Available?
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Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are sometimes used for equine pain relief. Some brands of Bute (Phenylbutazone) powder are available over the counter. Every other equine analgesic, including the commonly used Banamine (flunixin) paste, should only be used when prescribed by or under the supervision of a veterinarian.
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What Pain Meds Can I Give a Mare After Giving Birth?
A healthy, post-partum mare who experienced no complication with her delivery shouldn't even need an analgesic, according to Dr. Susan Semrad of the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.