What major organ can be damaged if a horse is being treated with bute while dehydrated? The¬† horse’s kidney can be damaged.
Administering bute to a dehydrated horse can cause kidney damage.
Bute, and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can restrict blood flow and therefore oxygen delivery to the kidneys (ischemia) in dehydrated horses. The lack of oxygen causes kidney tissue to die. Horses who are dehydrated are at the greatest risk of this complication.
It is important to note, however; this is JUST ONE of many things that can result in kidney damage.