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  Discussion on Lymphosarcoma in 13 year old QH????????????
Author Message
New Member:
dundee12

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008 - 11:34 pm:

Hi everyone. My 13 year old QH gelding has been sick for 5 weeks now. It started as a fever with runny nose,decreased appetite, and lethargy. He was put on antibiotics and eventually} a "belly tap" test was done. The results of the belly tap came back with abnormal cells that were sent to a cytologist. The cytologist said that they were abnormal but not linked to anything specific. His blood work has been as follows: Low WBC, Low RBC, High fibrinogen. He has been IM antibiotics (Gent and another one I can't remember) and Dexamethasone PO for 10 days. I stopped the IM antbiotics (per my vet's advice) 10 days ago and he has just been on the Dexamethasone. He seemed to be making some improvement. Now, today his fever was 101.3 and his lethargic. My vet said that my next step is to scope his stomach. If that comes back normal to do an abdomen ultrasound. All of his organ function (kidneys, liver, etc) are fine. He's pooping and peeing fine. And appetite has been up and down. My vet did say that it could be lymphosarcoma. We have done EVERY test that my vet can think of to get a diagnosis. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I will do ANYTHING for my horse. Thank you.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - 8:28 am:

Welcome Jennifer,
Cancer or possibly internal abscesses and yes, chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases including gastric ulcers would all be on the list of possibilities drawn from the information you provide. Note that while lymphosarcoma is not treatable but internal abscesses might be. However it would require months of antibiotic therapy specifically designed to penetrate an abscesses wall.

And what was the explanation for the initial runny nose and how does it figure into the diagnosis? What exactly did the whole report on the belly tap say? What were the CBD results and which chemistries were normal?
DrO
Member:
jojo15

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - 8:50 am:

not sure if this helps. but my goat was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. the abscesses did present all throughout the lymph nodes all over the body. That is how i found it first the glands under his neck were swollen and hardish. then it followed the rest of the body. If its that i would start checking were all lymph nodes are and monitor for their increasing in size. I'm sorry to say if it is this? its not treatable. and it takes them pretty fast. i think i diagnosed in January 07 and he was gone by April. Lancing an abscess is how we determined.
New Member:
dundee12

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 - 1:07 pm:

Hello and thank you for your help. The inital runny nose was just an upper respirtory infection as far as I know. That cleared up with antibiotics. I'm not sure of the exact diagnosis of the belly tap. The vet said that they were abnormal cells that she had not see before. She sent them to a cytologist and he said that yes, they were abnormal but not linked to anything specific. His CBD results have improved over the last 2 draws. His WBC count is normalizing, and his anemia is improving. I forgot to mention that he has had some intermittent "lameness' I wouldn't call it that exactly. But, he just shifts his weight back and forth on his feet with periodic laying down. None of the lymph nodes we have checked have been swollen. His blook work as been initally a little off. With his Creatnine (I think) being high. But, he got IV fluids and that went down. I'm just so frustrated and running out of options. What specific tests are done to diagnose lymphosarcoma? Would it not show up in the belly tap test?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 - 9:33 am:

Jennifer so far the vague lab information provided is nonspecific for any particular problem and could even be found in a healthy or recovering horse on steroid medication. Reviewing your posts the nature of your horses problem remains uncertain to me. Was your horse recovering fine but then this recent bout of fever and lethargy has you spooked? I am concerned about the weaving as this may be a sign of founder. If the horse walks "short" or stiffly you should have this lameness evaluated quickly.
DrO
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