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Discussion on Possible COPD on very old horse
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 9:24 pm:
Hello Dr O and everyone,
I have just acquired a very old horse I do not know his exact age but he is about 27yo he was dumped in a stable, so he is still emaciated with long curly hair that fells off in big tuffs and short of breath it seems to me that it could be COPD
Chaman has been with us for about 5 weeks now, although he is putting on some weight and his hair is no longer falling off so much and he seems happy enough for his age, poor darling, he has been so ill treated for the most part of his life I first saw him about 10 years ago in a sort of circus show, his owners left him behind and he has gone from yard to yard until he ended up just abandoned. My daughter rode him ten years ago so when she saw him it was tears and mum can we keep him please...I do not know how long he will last but at least we can try and make him happy for what ever time he has left.
Sorry I am doodling here, any way when I fed him today three scoops of bran and a scoop of Equina and fresh cut grass I noticed that there was a boogie in his bowl mucus. BIG
What medicine can I give this poor geriatric without harming his digestive system?
Any comments will be very much appreciated
Liliana
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 9:44 pm:
Liliana, With the long curly hair, the poor dear probably has Cushing's. Have you had any tests done. What you saw in his manure - are you talking worms?? I have no answer for the breathing but I'm sure Dr. O can help you there.
The best, Shirl
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 8:32 am:
I too am a little uncertain what your question is Lilliana: are you looking for medicine for the boogie? Otherwise from your post there is no medication clearly indicated just management of the COPD and weight loss. The COPD article explains that aspect and we have an article that helps with the emaciations: Care for Horses » Nutrition » Rehabilitating Malnourished Horses. It includes a protocol for deworming these very down horses. Note that a diet largely composed of bran is very calcium deficient.
DrO
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Member:
Oscarvv
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 9:39 am:
So glad this old guy found his way to you. No advice....I am just glad he is with someone who cares....
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 9:21 pm:
Thank you very much for your answers I am sorry I did not explain properly.
What I found in his feed bowl was some fleghm/ mucus green.
For some reason here in Cozumel as there is no grassing and we cut grass where ever we can find it, the normal diet for horses is bran.
I always assumed that it was to prevent colic, I must admit here in the tropical rain forest with no horse vets everything becomes a bit of guess work,
Chaman has been wormed with invermectine. Actually it seems that he is in his 30s also people here are so steroid happy that this practice was normal with Chaman.
People feed the grain dry like dogs biscuits here, it really is a miracle for this horse to have lived so long, horses here do not last more than 10 years. Posibly because of the excess bran?. But what can I mix their feed with should I just give them the Equina on its own, There isn't a lot of choice here there is only one type of feed which is rolled corn and oats which makes them really silly so I bring the Equina from Cancun. Some times we can get bales of hay but it is not a regular thing, also some alfalfa.
So I guess you can see my predicament, you are so lucky to have so many choices. The silly farrier that I was using insists in dumping the toe and lowering the heels so now they are beginning to get contracted heels.
I am trying to get my son in law and daughter trained so they can do it themselves.
Any way thank you so much and if there is any more advice, it is certainly welcome
Liliana
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Feb 11, 2005 - 8:04 am:
There is no doubt horses were not designed for the tropics: donkeys and mules do better with the heat and lack of lush grass. With short life spans I would also look closely at deworming procedures.
The problem with bran is the horrible Ca / Phos amounts and ratio. The disease this can create is even called "Bran's Disease". The problem is further exacerbated by feeding lots of grains which is also calcium deficient.
Considering the problems you have with feed I would not use corn but oats do to its higher fiber content and would hook up with one of the companies that produce bagged grass hay or hay cubes. Also consider beet pulp for forage as it is high in calcium. We have articles on all of these subjects in the nutrition section with specific recommendations.
DrO
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Friday, Feb 11, 2005 - 12:08 pm:
Liliana: Are their other horse owners in your area? You just might have a wonderful small business opportunity, or, at the least, a co-op buying situation.
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 9:17 pm:
Dr O and all of you who answered thank you very much, for some reason this thread is the only one that does not show on my tray, very odd, the first 2 answers were here no problem but I thought I go in last weeks post just in case, ( I was a bit upset thinking that you black balled me).
Good idea, I just have to find a way to get my feed here, by the way I read on this site that Pangola grass is very resilient to heat. I think I may have found the seed for it, cross your fingers.
I just need to find out what the name for beet will be in Spanish.
Any way thank you again and I will let you know how my dear Chaman goes on with me, he actually let me near him today and let me stroke his face...
Thanks again
Liliana
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 6:33 pm:
Well to those of you who were kind enough to care about my poor old Chaman, He passed away last night. Although his eyes were open he really did not seem to be distressed. I guess Dr. O can put me right on this assumption.
He was gaining a little weight and we managed, to get read of the green mucous he had, but his breathing was short at any rate, it got very hot this last few days and although on Sunday he was fine, talking as usual friendly, he did not want to eat his dinner on Monday night, just pecked at his alfalfa, and so it was Tuesday and Wednesday, he did not seem particularly, worse off than before just off his food a little. I can only think that it was the temperature rising to 38° that he could not cope with.
Alas it cooled down today with a rain storm if only he could have waited.
Any way that is the story for today. gotta stop as I am beginning to water my eyelashes as my kid used to say.
Liliana
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 6:51 pm:
Bless you, Liliana . . . "You done good" . . .
When it is time for them to go, then we can't hold them back . . . can only give them the best we can while they are with us . . . and that you did.
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 7:09 pm:
Thank you Holly, MMM head knows that, heart is stubborn, you know although he was only with us for a few months we became so attached to him, he was so happy to have a home, he would greet you with along wheeny as soon as he spotted you, he even let us touch his face in time. He really was a brave old boy.
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 8:31 pm:
Dear Liliana, So sorry for your loss. A friend of mine rescued an old, starved horse from a sale barn. She called him "Bones" and coddled and spoiled him for months. He too crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in time. But how wonderful for both of them to have known such warmth and love at the end of thier journey here on this plane, as opposed to what thier fate would have been, had you not brought them into your heart. Your were his special angel! Condolences
suz
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 6:41 am:
My condolences Liliana, I think you are right it did not sound like he was in distress and went quietly. It is comforting to think how much better this fellows life was the last month than the prior time.
DrO
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Member:
Lilo
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Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 10:50 am:
Dear Liliana,
Your horse was lucky to have found you during his last months.
My condolences,
Lilo
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Member:
Chohler
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Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 4:00 pm:
Dear Liliana, you were a blessing to your boy it's nice to be loved before going home. And it's the peak before the storm that they love to go home on.
Take care.
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Monday, Mar 21, 2005 - 1:32 pm:
Thank you very much to you all from the heart.
Chaman was buried at the yard with the rest of our loved ones that have gone before him.
Cozumel's ground (as some of you may know) has a very thin layer of soil and the rest is lime stone. So off went the jack hammer to break the ground running against the clock due to the heat! although it cooled off a bit it was still around 38° C 39° C that is around 90° F 100°F. once it stopped raining. The only thing that helped was that it was cloudy.
Some how having him there makes it easier, although I get a lump on my throat when I see the empty stable.
Thank very much to you all
Sincerely
Liliana
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