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  Discussion on Urgent - fever, lameness for 5 weeks
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New Member:
Racefan

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003 - 3:57 pm:

Subject is a 4 year old ARAB gelding. Current on all vaccinations, share pasture and barn with another 4year old ARAB mare. Both eat same diet of pasture grass supplemented with stategy pellets and some grass/alfalfa mix in extreme cold, drink from same safe water source. Gelding experienced a fever of 104 about five weeks ago and extreme stiffness and muscle soreness. Took to vet, probed feet for founder,(negative), cbc blood tests showed nothing abnormal, determined horse possibly slipped on snow or ice, may have fallen. Horse remained about the same stiffnes for about a week when we returned to vet clinic for yearly checkup and vaccinations which he received. Questioned vet on giving vaccinations because of horses stiffness and asked for further blood testing. Blood was taken and sent in for Rhino and horse was given his yearly vaccinations. Two days later horse was down, temp 104, horse so lame he could barely walk. Returned to vet for third time, seen a different vet at same clinic, again tested for founder,(negative),blood taken again showing low white cell count indicating a possible bacterial infection, horse was placed on uniprim and butte. Horse seemed to improve over about a two week period of stalling, exercising twice per day for 15min. each time. Vet told us to try letting him in pasture for 2 hours per day. The following morning after the third pasture session the horses fever skyroceted to 104.7, horse was extremely stiff and lame.Hosed horses feet in icewater for several hours and temp returned to 100.7. Took horse to third vet whom x-rayed feet, coffin bone very slightly rotated, placed corrective shoes with pads on feet. Fever has been absent for 2 days but I am frightened it will again return. Horse is currently stalled with very limited hand walking, eating grass hay and 3lbs stategy twice per day. Is currently very stiff and lame and is still on butte. Does anyone have a direction they can point me as to what to do next, what could this be or what other tests could be taken to help this situation?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003 - 8:49 pm:

A coupla of comments Brian, first a fever of 105 degrees is no big deal: if happens all the time, it is usually diphasic (up and down twice in a 2 to 4 day period) and horse always recover without incident. The fact the horses are current on vaccintions and not in contact with other horses does not rule out infectious diseases. Though I am unsure what organism you are dealing with (herpes most likely) it is something I see it all the time.

The lameness does concern me as to this is not a regular feature of common viral infections of horses. I don't know of any test where you can say this is not founder: I often see founders that are not clearly diagnosable with hoof testors. On the other hand many other problems will present as shortness and stiffness including vaccine reactions that is hard to distinguish from founder. Note: there is no excuse for giving a vaccine during a poorly explained illness if only because of diagnostic confusion.

You want to know what to do next...You have seen three vets and now the last one thinks your horse is foundering: temperature and physical exam are normal and otherwise your horse is eating and otherwise seems OK. ...I say go with that, maybe it is less serious (vaccine reaction) but at least you will have the worse base covered. Our recommendations are at, » Equine Diseases » Lameness » Foot and Sole Problems » Founder & Laminitis.
DrO
Member:
Racefan

Posted on Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 - 11:26 am:

DrO, I have more information on horse,the vet received the results on the Rhino test and told us that the titer was elevated indicating a possible herpes strain as you suggested. This is what I believe happened to the horse, I would like to know how accurate you think I am. I belive the horse contracted a herpes type virus which is where the original fever and stiffness came from. I then believe the situation was greatly increased by the vet giving the horse his yearly vaccinations increasing the fever even more on his already taxed immune system and prolonged the fever resulting in the founder and damage to the hoof laminae. I have read all your columns on laminitis and founder. The vet that x-rayed his feet told me that the coffin bone has rotated about 3mm. I have looked at your diagram and I believe this is about 5 degress. Does this seem accurate to you? If it is accurate according to your prognosis chart the horse should have a good chance for recovery. With the corrective shoes and rubber pads in place is there any chance of exercising the horse under saddle in a soft arena after a few months recovery or should we wait for 8-10 months for the grow out process? I really dont want to cause any further damage and can wait as long as needed.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 17, 2003 - 10:39 pm:

Brian, without having seen the horse myself I cannot speculate on your scenerio. I can't even be sure the diagnosis presented above are correct from here.

I am not sure how to translate his linear measurements to radial ones, so this is best discussed with him.

Following mild founder episodes light riding in a few months is possible but if there is significant rotation best to wait.
DrO
Board Administrator
Username: Admin

Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2003 - 11:18 am:

Am J Vet Res 2002 Dec;63(12):1707-13</b><br>
Sound signature for identification and quantification of upper airway disease in horses.<br><br>Cable CS, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Erb HN, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV.<br>Equine Performance Testing Clinic, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sound analysis might be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment of horses with upper airway obstruction, but would appear to require close attention to exercise intensity. Multiple measurements of recorded sounds might be needed to obtain sufficient accuracy for clinical use.<hr><br>
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Am J Vet Res 2002 Dec;63(12):1629-33<br>
Short-term effect of therapeutic shoeing on severity of lameness in horses with chronic laminitis.<br><br>Taylor D, Hood DM, Wagner IP.<br>Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, TX 77843-4466, USA.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results were interpreted to imply that substantial clinical improvement should not be expected during the first 7 days after therapeutic shoeing for the specific shoes tested in this study. On the basis of our results, we hypothesize that when used as the lone indicator of therapeutic success, severity of lameness may not be a valid indicator.<hr><br>
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J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2002 Nov;49(9):478-81<br>
Effects of analgesia of the distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa on experimental lameness caused by solar pain in horses.<br><br>Sardari K, Kazemi H, Mohri M.<br>Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. k_sardari@yahoo.com<br><br> Analgesia of the DIP joint as well as the NB appeared to be able to desensitize a portion of the sole. It was concluded that pain arising from the toe region of the sole should not be excluded as a cause of lameness when lameness is attenuated by analgesia of the DIP joint, or of the NB.<hr><br>
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Vet Microbiol 2003 Mar 20;92(1-2):1-17<br>
Equid herpesvirus (EHV-1) live vaccine strain C147: efficacy against respiratory diseases following EHV types 1 and 4 challenges.<br><br>Patel JR, Foldi J, Bateman H, Williams J, Didlick S, Stark R.<br>Intervet UK Ltd., The Elms, Thicket Road, Houghton, PE28 2BQ, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon, UK<br><br>



Vet Rec 2002 Nov 23;151(21):623-6<br>
Incidence and risk factors for exertional rhabdomyolysis in thoroughbred racehorses in the United Kingdom.<br><br>McGowan CM, Fordham T, Christley RM.<br>Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield AL9 7TA.<br><br>The overall incidence of the synDrOme was 6.7 per cent and 80 per cent of the trainers had at least one affected horse. In 74 per cent of the affected horses it frequently recurred, with an average of six lost training days per episode. Risk factors identified for the synDrOme included being female, having a nervous, excitable temperament, and being two years old.<hr><br>
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J Vet Intern Med 2002 Nov-Dec;16(6):742-6<br>
Treatment with pergolide or cyproheptadine of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing's disease).<br><br>Donaldson MT, LaMonte BH, Morresey P, Smith G, Beech J.<br>Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. mtd@vet.upenn.edu<br><br>
Significantly (P = .02) more owners of horses treated with pergolide (85%, 17/20) reported an improvement in clinical signs compared to owners of horses treated with cyproheptadine (28%, 2/7).<hr><br>
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J Vet Intern Med 2002 Nov-Dec;16(6):697-703<br>
Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in 33 horses (1993-2000).<br><br>Walker AM, Sellon DC, Cornelisse CJ, Hines MT, Ragle CA, Cohen N, Schott HC 2nd.<br>Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.<br><br>Nineteen of 20 surviving horses (95%) were considered by the owner or trainer to be suitable for athletic use. Twelve surviving horses (60%) had residual facial nerve deficits; 11 horses (55%) had residual vestibulocochlear nerve deficits. Horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy have a fair prognosis for return to some type of athletic function, but there is risk of acute death. The majority of horses would be expected to have some residual cranial nerve dysfunction, and it could take a year or longer for maximal improvement to occur.<hr><br>
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Vet J 1997 Mar;153(2):185-96<br>
Thermoregulation in sick foals aged less than one week.<br><br>Ousey JC, McArthur AJ, Rossdale PD.<br>Beaufort Cottage Stables, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JS, UK.<br><br>Methods to prevent excessive heat loss from sick foals are suggested.<hr><br>
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J Anim Sci 2002 Nov;80(11):2960-6<br>
Matua bromegrass hay for mares in gestation and lactation.<br><br>Guay KA, Brady HA, Allen VG, Pond KR, Wester DB, Janecka LA, Heninger NL.<br>Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, USA.<br><br>Our results indicate that Matua hay is a forage that can be used safely for mares during gestation and early lactation and for their young foals.<hr><br>
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J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health 2002 Oct;49(8):394-9<br>
Detection and isolation of equine herpesviruses 1 and 4 from horses in Normandy: an autopsy study of tissue distribution in relation to vaccination status.<br><br>Taouji S, Collobert C, Gicquel B, Sailleau C, Brisseau N, Moussu C, Breuil MF, Pronost S, Borchers K, Zientara S.<br>AFSSA, Laboratoire d'etudes et de recherches en pathologie equine, Dozule, France. s.taouji@dozule.afssa.fr<br><br>The percentage of EHV-1- and EHV-4-positive horses between vaccinates and unvaccinates was similar. Both viruses were detected in all tissues of both groups; in particular, lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract, nasal epithelium and nervous ganglia [i.e. trigeminal ganglia (TG)], which represent the main positive sites for EHV-1 and EHV-4. In vaccinated animals, the nervous ganglia (i.e. TG) were less frequently positive than in unvaccinated animals. Detection of positive TG was strongly correlated to the presence of EHV-1 in nasal epithelium.<hr><br>
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Vet Ther 2002 Fall;3(3):334-46<br>
Survival of foals with experimentally induced Rhodococcus equi infection given either hyperimmune plasma containing R. equi antibody or normal equine plasma.<br><br>Perkins GA, Yeager A, Erb HN, Nydam DV, Divers TJ, Bowman JL.<br>Cornell University, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.<br><br> Mortality rates and severity of disease were statistically similar (P &gt;.05) for the groups. Although none of the foals was treated with antibiotics, several with severe R. equi pneumonia recovered. Either HI or normal equine plasma administered to foals in the first few weeks of life caused no adverse effects and may be protective against R. equi, although the exact constituent responsible for protection is undetermined and requires further investigation.<hr><br>
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Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2002 Oct;144(10):545-8<br>
[Copper and zinc in animal feed for the adult horses in Switzerland]<br><br>[Article in French]<br><br>Reiwald D, Riond JL.<br>Institut de l'Alimentation Animale, Universite de Zurich.<br><br>Furthermore, many rations which include commercial feed also do not cover the requirements of these two elements. The importance of these observations is discussed in the light of the eventual need to complete the rations.<hr><br>
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