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  Discussion on Another anemic horse
Author Message
New Member:
codyboy

Posted on Friday, Jun 8, 2007 - 12:01 pm:

Dear Forum Members,

I just joined and have already learned so much! I am back to horses after 20 years and loving every moment.

I have a 6yo quarterhorse gelding (purchased Nov 2006). He is the poster child for equine health - super conformation, great hooves, shiny coat, clear eyes, etc. etc. When vetted, the vet said I was a lucky girl to find such a healthy, well mannered boy.

Last week he seemed fatigued after a very short, easy ride. I thought it might be due to heat, so I gave him a bath, which he loved. Next day, he was more lethargic. I took his temp, 105 F. Scared me to death and I called the vet. He said probably a cold, give him a dose of banamine for the fever and keep an eye on him. His fever broke and he was eating and drinking okay but I took him off grain for now.

Next day, fever back, 104 F. Another dose of banamine, fever broke. He was clearly unhappy, turned to corner of stall and ignored me (broke my heart...) His hind limbs looked puffy. The barn owner was upset that the vet hadn't come. So I called and asked him to come. He said he would come the next day, and asked me not to give him banamine in the AM.

Next day, vet came, temp was normal and he said he was pretty sure it was a cold (due to a virus). I asked him to take blood work and he said it wasn't necessary. I insisted and he humored me, even said I was a nervous nelly. He did not run the horse first, and I hadn't yet learned that it was important. He said to put him back on grain and just keep an eye on him.

Since then his temp is normal, he is eating well and appears to be back in pretty good health.

however, the blood tests came back and may indicate anemia. The vet asked me to look at his urine - I did and it is slightly brownish. I will look at it through a scope tonight and will culture it (microbiologist when not in barn!).

Could anyone tell me if the blood results are as bad as I interpret them? I have asked a friend who is also a vet to take a look at him today and get a second blood work (5 days later). Anything else anyone can suggest?

I'm a worried mom, but trying to keep it all in perspective as he IS looking and acting much better.
Thanks, peg

The blood came back pretty bad:
Hb 7.9
Htc 21.9
WBC 3.2
RBC 4.7
MCV 47
MCH 17
MCHC 36
platelet 37
neutrophils 63%
lymphocytes 30%
monocytes 6%
eosinophils 1$
He is low on total protein (5.2), ALT (3), AST (172), calcium (10), amylase (1) CPK (73).
He is high on total bilirubin (6.7)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 7:30 pm:

Welcome Margaret,
Sorry for the delayed response, you joined on a day I unexpectedly lost contact with the Internet for a few days. You do have interesting blood work but first lets be clear that anemia is a symptom of many diseases and not a disease in itself.

The interesting thing about your blood work is that the WBC count is reacting to something and the Hct, Hb, and Total Bili suggest that your horse may have a hemolytic anemia: the anemia is because of increased destruction, the article on anemia covers this somewhat but this is a very complicated subject about which whole books (many whole books are written).

The most important thing to discover at this time is whether this is a worsening or improving anemia, though clinically it would seem he is improving, the acute episode may be followed by a chronic episode that comparatively may look improved.

So if any questions remain the CBD (which should include the Hct), and bilirubin needs to be repeated and compared to the first one and this time I would ask for the direct and indirect (conjugated and unconjugated) bilirubin levels (this is explained in the article). I need to ask: does your horse have a recent negative Coggins test?
DrO
New Member:
codyboy

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 - 5:07 pm:

Dear DrO,

First, YES he has a recent negative coggins (two months ago)! I should have mentioned that, of course.

Second, I have had a second blood test done, which I should learn about today or tomorrow. I will provide an update at that time.

The second vet who visited immediately suggested Erlichiosis. This makes quite a bit of sense as he is in a pretty heavily tick infested area and there were two weeks when I moved to this new barn during which I had not yet treated him with frontline and pulled many ticks off his legs and chest. This second vet suggested that the swollen legs and the bouts of fever seemed a clear indication and he would confirm or reject this idea with an erlichiosis specific assay asap. The vet also looked at the urine I collected and said it is clear, no traces of blood visible.

In the meantime, Cody now has no fever and is acting his usual old self, although a bit less energetic (80%).

I was going to wait until the next blood test to see if the counts are better and if the erlichiosis was diagnosed positive.

Thank you for your reply and I will be back in touch with more data as soon as it arrives.

Best regards,

Peg
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