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  Discussion on Indications of Parasite Purge Damage to Horse?
Author Message
Member:
dtranch

Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 9:39 am:

Dr. O ...
One of my associates is fostering a rescue mare (5/6 year old). This mare appeared to be one of the healthier ones, good weight with plenty of attitude.

Once home, was instructed to administer full dose of quest which purged numerous long white worms. Within a few days, the horse developed a nasal discharge in the right nostril. This became very thick and foul smelling. Vet came out and put on antibiotics and advised that if it did not clear up, may require surgery.

The nasal discharge did seem to clear up, but the horse began to have problems walking. Did not stand in classic "park" position, and no heat was ever detected in the hoof, but was obviously having foot problems. Vet advised that it was laminitis and put on bute for 10 days and took off grain. Vet advised that there was no correlation to any of previous problems, she just got laminitis somehow. To date, she has been on grass hay only with no grain for several weeks, and no sign of improvement.

I have a hard time accepting that these events are totally unrelated and that laminitis just suddenly showed up with no apparent cause.

1.)What are typical indications of large parasite purge?
2.) What is recommended treatment?
3.) Can anything be done for this horse at this time, or is it too late?
4.) When could she be put back on grain feeding .. hate to see her go this long on only grass hay. She has DrOpped over 100 pounds since the onset of these problems.

Any help and advice greatly appreciated ..

DT
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 9:58 am:

Hello Dennis
While I cannot comment to the case in particular your questions can be answered in a general way:

1) A rapid killing of large number of parasites causes a enteritis/colitis. You would expect fever, colic, diarrhea, possibly bloody.
2) Consider evaluation and treating as a colitis, Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Diarrhea in Horses » Initial Evaluation of Colitis in Horses
3) Evaluating and treating the laminitis is covered in the Overview of Laminitis.
4) Grains should not be started back in laminitis cases until it is under control.
DrO
Member:
cheryl

Posted on Friday, Dec 7, 2007 - 10:23 am:

Dennis - if you want to get the mare on feed - you might consider beet pulp - LMF has a feed called Low Non-Structural Carbohydrate Complete - it's spendy but all my horses have liked it - I fed Lady 2 cups of soaked beet pulp with one cup of the LMF - That with oil turned my mares weight loss around - I don't "think" any of it would be contraindicated with laminitis.
Cheryl
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