POM-V Prescription Required

Butaleve 1 g Oral Powder for Horses and Ponies

Active ingredient: Phenylbutazone

Form

Powder

Species

Horses

Manufacturer

Dechra Regulatory B.V.

VMD MA No.

50406/3042

What it's used for

Examples of conditions normally considered suitable for treatment with phenylbutazone include lameness associated with osteoarthritic conditions, acute and...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Phenylbutazone

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

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Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Butaleve 1 g Oral Powder for Horses and Ponies — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

Examples of conditions normally considered suitable for treatment with
phenylbutazone include lameness associated with osteoarthritic conditions, acute
and chronic laminitis, bursitis and carpitis, and in the reduction of post-surgical soft
tissue reaction.

was shown to be palatable to horses.
The dosage should be adjusted according to the individual animal’s response, but
the following may be taken as a guide:
Horses
administered twice on day 1 of treatment (equivalent to 8.8 mg/kg/day) followed by
the contents of one sachet twice daily for four days (4.4 mg/kg/day), then one
sachet daily, or on alternate days, sufficient to keep the horse comfortable
(2.2 mg/kg/day).
Ponies 225 kg (500 lb) body weight, one sachet (4.4 mg/kg) on alternate days.
AN: 00767/2025Page 4 of 6
Discontinue treatment if no response is evident after four to five days treatment.
For ease of administration mix the powder with a small quantity of feed.
Dampening of the veterinary medicinal product in feed 5 minutes prior to feeding
has been shown to have no detrimental influence on the palatability of the
veterinary medicinal product. However, the influence of prolonged dampening on
palatability or stability of the veterinary medicinal product is not known.

Do not administer with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
concurrently or within 24 hours of each other.
Do not use in animals suffering from cardiac, hepatic or renal disease; where there
is the possibility of gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding; or where there is
evidence of a blood dyscrasia.
AN: 00767/2025Page 2 of 6
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients.

Horses and ponies (non-food producing):
AN: 00767/2025Page 3 of 6
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Gastric intolerance*
Renal disorder*
* In common with other NSAIDs that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, there may be
gastric and/or renal intolerance. This is usually associated with overdosage.
Recovery is usual on cessation of treatment and following the initiation of
supportive symptomatic therapy (see 3.10 for further information).
If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a
veterinarian should be sought.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian,
to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the
national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package
leaflet for respective contact details.

The clinical effect of phenylbutazone can be evident for at least three days
following cessation of administration. This should be borne in mind when
examining horses for soundness.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
The therapeutic index of phenylbutazone is low. Do not exceed the stated dose or
the duration of treatment.
Use in any animal under six weeks of age, or in aged animals, may involve
additional risks. If such use cannot be avoided, animals may require a reduced
dosage and special clinical management.
Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal as there is a
risk of increased toxicity.
It is preferable that NSAIDs which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis are not
administered to animals undergoing general anaesthesia until fully recovered.
Response to long-term therapy should be monitored at regular intervals by a
veterinary practitioner.
NSAIDs can cause inhibition of phagocytosis and hence in the treatment of
inflammatory conditions associated with bacterial infections, appropriate
concurrent antimicrobial therapy should be instigated.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary
medicinal product to animals
The veterinary medicinal product should be handled with care at all times to
reduce the risk of accidental ingestion, skin contact or dust inhalation. If accidental
skin or eye contact occurs, the site should be washed immediately with water. If
the product is ingested, seek medical advice and show the product packaging.
Advice to doctors: gastric lavage (emesis in children) should be performed
urgently. Charcoal haemoperfusion has also been shown to be beneficial.
Treatment should then be administered symptomatically.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

Some NSAIDs may be highly bound to plasma proteins and compete with other
highly bound drugs to produce an increase in non-bound pharmacologically active
concentrations which can lead to toxic effects. Concurrent administration of
potential nephrotoxic drugs (e.g. aminoglycoside antibiotics) should be avoided.
Gastrointestinal tract ulceration may be exacerbated by corticosteroids in animals
given NSAIDs.

Do not store above 25 °C.
Store in a dry place.

Not authorised for use in horses intended for human consumption.
Treated horses may never be slaughtered for human consumption. The horse
must have been declared as not intended for human consumption under national
horse passport legislation.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.