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  Discussion on Blood Loss Anemia post colic episode
Author Message
New Member:
tbhack

Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 2:25 am:

Hi,
My name is Kate... can anyone diagnose these symptoms or offer ideas for things I should look for next...? Anyone had similar issues? I'm at a loss, just spent $2k on vets, not getting anywhere fast enough really...

Symptoms - he has daily spells of going off hay, being lethargic, wobbly, very pale gums, like he will fall over but doesn't quite, stumbles if walking, will bang into the gate. Normally a very alert horse. He eats feed enthusiastically. Just noticed what looks like ringworm developing (about 3 tufts of hair gone, round-ish shape, one was VERY itchy for him on shoulder just before he broke the scab, others not itchy that I saw). He is recovering from colic... 'impaction' which they cleared with fluid and drugs and then turned to 'spasmodic' colic, which we think is still around as vet said very active gut sounds, he seems to have LOTS of gas when eating.

Blood test yesterday - vet said "slightly anaemic" and "low red blood cells" and data suggests some "blood loss" happening (must be internal, he's had no external injury), all other stuff normal, no infection, etc.

Medications - through the colic (about 10 days ago) he had usual sedation, fluid, anti-spasmodic, bute.

Horse details: 9y0 16.2 TB gelding, off track 1 year, had him 8 weeks

Feeding (light 10 days post impaction then spasmodic colic) - meadow hay, paddock grass, 2 x per day feed (lucern chaff, oaten chaff, small amount of extruded multivate gumnuts as gentle easy disgest feed for older horses normally).

Worming - had him 8 weeks. Wormed yesterday and I was told (but don't know) before I got him. Off the track 1 year, so probably wormed while on track. He had the equine influenza vaccine a few years ago too, on his record.

What might this be??? So confused right now! What else can I look for in paddock or ask vet to look for or do next?

Thanks kindly,
Kate
Member:
hollyw

Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 8:08 am:

Hi, Kate,
Sorry your guy is sick.
The internal blood loss made me think "ulcers," but I don't know if that goes along with the other symptoms of colic. Wouldn't the blood loss have to be pretty severe to create lethargy? Don't know.
Is he drinking well? What does his manure look like?
The skin problem may not be connected with the other problems. Did the vet see the itchy patches?
Member:
paul303

Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 11:47 pm:

Well, it's time for a very thorough diagnosis. Is there a clinic or a clinic affiliated with a vet school? He might need to be scoped. Have you changed his feed? As Holly mentioned, is there any change in his manure?

Any ticks where you are? My horses are being assaulted by ticks this year and their bites resemble your description of itchy round hairless patches - I know mine are tick bites because I've pulled the ticks off. Like Holly said, the skin thing may not be related.

Best of luck, Kate.
New Member:
tbhack

Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 7:16 pm:

Thanks Holly and Lee. Great questions and thoughts, very helpful. Yes, drinking well. Manure fairly normal now in size, colour, regularity. Changed his feed after colic as we had to and before colic soaked speedi-beet with chaff also grass and hay which we introduced gradually. No sign of ticks checked every sore or tuft... think you're right not related. Vet out in 5 days time to take blood again. Overall he's doing better, less 'dizzy spell' symptoms but still not really right. I'm hopeful we'll get there!

Thanks kindly,
Kate
Member:
tbhack

Posted on Friday, May 29, 2009 - 7:18 pm:

Lee, what happens when if he gets scoped? I've heard of that before, but don't know...

Kate
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