Bute can be used for laminitis but the more commonly used drug is meloxicam (Metacam). However, both Bute and Meloxicam are NSAIDs and they can both cause GI upsets, especially in the early stages of treatment. Metacam is a safer option than Bute but if you do use Bute, a horse needs to take it regularly and at the same time as Metacam. This is because Metacam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and can have a direct effect on a horse's gut. You can use Bute if your horse is showing signs of laminitis but has not yet started to show symptoms of a hot-box or cold-box reaction. If you think that your horse is showing signs of laminitis, you need to be really careful with the way you are treating him. If you want to treat laminitis, make sure you follow the advice of a professional farrier who has experience of dealing with horses with laminitis.