CHOOSE BUTEC® FOR PAIN RELIEF AT MARKING

Dr. Kristabel Lewis, BSc BVMS(Hons), Technical Services Veterinarian, Troy Animal Healthcare

Providing pain relief during routine procedures such as castration and tail docking helps animals return to normal behaviours — such as grazing, suckling and bonding — sooner than untreated animals. ¹  Unmanaged pain can lead to stress, reduced feed intake, suppression of the immune system and, in severe cases, death.

BUTEC® is an oral transmucosal formulation of meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Meloxicam has been widely used in veterinary medicine for many years. This formulation provides an over-the-counter option registered for the alleviation of pain associated with routine husbandry procedures in cattle and sheep.

Oral transmucosal administration means the medication is absorbed through the mucous membrane of the mouth, bypassing the digestive system. This is similar to dissolvable tablets or wafers used under the tongue in human medicine. It’s not so easy to place a tablet under the tongue of an animal, so BUTEC® was developed as a gel designed to adhere inside the cheek pouch.

The BUTEC® applicator is designed to slide into the cheek pouch and deliver the medication onto the buccal papillae — the small, finger-like projections on the gums that help hold feed in the mouth while animals chew. The thick blue gel can then be absorbed through the mucous membrane.

This means that the medication can be rapidly delivered to the blood stream, providing a much faster onset of action than a medication given orally (drenched) that needs to be processed through the rumen.It also avoids the need for more invasive injections.

To enable the gel to ‘stick’ on the gums long enough to be absorbed, it needs to be viscous and thick. In cold weather, it can become even thicker, which may affect flow through the draw-off tube and applicator gun. To help with this, place the bottle in warm, clean potable water before use. Once warmed, the bottle can be placed in a neoprene sleeve to help maintain temperature during use.

Draw-off tubes can be cut as short as practicable. This can help with barrel reloading and reduce cooling of the product within the draw-off tube.

BUTEC® has a 6-month in-use shelf life after broaching, meaning that once opened, the product can be stored and used multiple times within that 6-month period. Between uses, clean the gun and draw-off tube using warm water only. Do not refrigerate leftover product. Keep the bottle upright and out of direct sunlight.

BUTEC® offers systemic, long-lasting relief from pain and inflammation across multiple procedures – with a single, needle-free dose.  Contact our Key Account Managers at Troy Animal Healthcare if you would like more information about BUTEC®.

SHOP BUTEC HERE