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  Discussion on Dog attack- orphan foal with injuries
Author Message
New Member:
Rpotter

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 9:29 am:

I am a small animal vet who recently aquired a 2 week old QH colt that was orphaned due to a dog attack on the herd. The mother was killed in the incident and the foal suffered a bite wound to the hock. This injury went untreated for 2 days and resulted in swelling and lameness in that leg. The original owner thought it was ok until he became lame on day 2. I started treating this foal with Penicillin Procaine BID, DMSO Topically SID, and Banamine IM SID. Within 12 hours, he was weight bearing on the leg with no limp. The swelling is persistent, although decreased and the lameness has started to return on day 4( at this point weight bearing, but walks with an obvious limp)
He has taken to a bucket well, and is consuming 2pts of Foal- Lac every 4-6 hours, and nibbling on Foal-Lac pellets, Omalene 300 and hay. Attitude is bight and alert. Temperature is within normal limits at this time and checked twice daily.
Does this sound like a reasonable treatement regime? My concern is that the lameness returned and the swelling persists. I realize we are still early in the treament course and perhaps I should just be patient. If anyone has any advise on perhaps a better antibiotic selection, that would be well tolerated in this foal I'd appreciate it.
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 9:50 am:

I will leave the antibiotic part to Dr. O but would hot packing with epsom salts be therapeutic at all Dr. O?
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 12:38 pm:

How bad was the bite to the hock? I know we had to irrigate the holes on a horse that was bitten. And the vet gave my colt that was recent dog attack victim ,Naxcel. His swelling was gone in about a week and a half. Dog bites are very ugly.

Dog teeth can fragment the bone are there any chips? We just had a baby at the barn I work at that was on antibiotics and the vet had us give probiotics to the baby. It might be a good idea for your little guy.

My neighbors dog keeps attacking my horses and animal control did nothing except quarantine the dog and fine the lady. The last time I caught the dog on the property I tackled it and my brother was right with me, the dog went for my face, my brother put his hand there fast and he got bit on his hand. It turned really ugly fast, and we took him to the emergency room, the teeth actually chipped of small fragments of bone. Animal control told me off the record next time make the animal disappear. Any where else and the dog would have been put down...Go figure.

I hope your little one gets better. Good luck.
Cheryl Hohler
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 1:10 pm:

That was my thought when I read this. Dissappear.
EO
Member:
Bethyg2

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 2:58 pm:

Rachel- Just out of curiosity, what kind of dog can take down and kill a full sized mare? I have never heard of this, maybe a wolf pack. Wow- clearly the same dog can easily kill a person.
Take care, and good luck. -Beth
Member:
Rpotter

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 3:56 pm:

I am unsure of all the details of the attack. This happened at a barn about 1-1/2 away where my mare was being bred (she was kept in a stall). From the accounts I heard... it was a couple of pit bull dogs (around a year old), that belonged to someone who also kept their horses at the barn. That guy hadn't owned them very long and now we are assuming they had trained to fight by a previous owner. The dogs are gone... but from what I've heard still alive.
Like I said... I just kinda entered into the equation when I went to pick up my mare after I had heard of the incident. Several other mares w/ foals were attacked.. but strangely no foals were killed. I don't really understand that one either unless this mare was putting herself inbetween the rest of the herd and the dogs.
Member:
Rpotter

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 3:57 pm:

I am unsure of all the details of the attack. This happened at a barn about 1-1/2 hours away where my mare was being bred (she was kept in a stall). From the accounts I heard... it was a couple of pit bull dogs (around a year old), that belonged to someone who also kept their horses at the barn. That guy hadn't owned them very long and now we are assuming they had trained to fight by a previous owner. The dogs are gone... but from what I've heard still alive.
Like I said... I just kinda entered into the equation when I went to pick up my mare after I had heard of the incident. Several other mares w/ foals were attacked.. but strangely no foals were killed. I don't really understand that one either unless this mare was putting herself inbetween the rest of the herd and the dogs.
Member:
Warwick

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 4:30 pm:

What a terrible experience for those poor horses to go through and thank goodness this little guy has you to look after him, Rachel. Very tragic about the mare though.

I know Dr O will have good counsel for you and I wish you all the best with this little fellow.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005 - 11:06 pm:

I am concerned about gram negative intra-articular infections DrP. I would begin amikacin or gentamycin. Foals process it quicker than adults so the pros recommend blood level monitoring for dosage adjustment. I have never been in a position where this was practical so use adult doses and the once daily treatment regimen and never had nephrotoxicity troubles and good results. Of course any open wounds need exploration. If response is not rapid the joints need to be tapped and flushed if infected. Keep us appraised.
DrO
Member:
Rpotter

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005 - 7:46 am:

Thanks for the advice. I was considering using gentamicin, but had been concerned about it b/c blood level monitoring is also impractical in this situation. He has increased his fluid intake dramatically over the last 24 hours, so I feel better about using your treatment recomendations. The swelling was down some at last check (3 a.m.) The wounds are just 3 punctures which have been clipped and scrubbed and flushed out as much as they can be. I'll keep everyone updated.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005 - 1:09 pm:

I wish your little guy the best. Keep us updated.

I have seen dogs and coyotes go after horses and cattle the adults do like oxen and stand between the threat and the baby so for the most part unless there are many dogs the adult horse is usually the one to sustain the most injuries. I watched a coyote take down a neighbors cow. I was supprised as heck. The coyote is now a pair of slippers.

My neighbor has been warned. Her dog would go for legs and faces. My 2 year old would protect the weanlings so he sustained most of the injuries in the last attack. My neighbors all think Im a hag cause I go out of my way to trap all dogs now. It fustrating my horses get hurt and I pay the bill and now my horses don't tollerate dogs so I can't ride with my own dogs.
Member:
Rpotter

Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 7:26 am:

For an Update. So far so good. He is full weight bearing on the leg now without banamine, and the swelling is continuing to decrease. Thanks everyone for your input and encouragement!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 4:54 pm:

That sounds very good!
DrO
Member:
Rpotter

Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2005 - 7:01 am:

Well, we had to tap the joint Friday because the swelling and lameness returned. We are sending results off for culture... I'll keep you all posted...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2005 - 7:57 am:

How did the fluid look?
DrO
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