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  Discussion on Possible viral pneumonia in four month old foal
Author Message
Member:
juliem

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 8:07 pm:

Dr. O, One of the two rescue fillies I have taken on had a laceration that required stitches and when my vet listened to her lungs he felt she had some respiratory issues. She came from the perfect envionrment to set her up for that: extremely over crowded, very dusty, non existent mare care and a terribly undernourished dam. While the baby was not terribly thin (only ribby) she is very small for 4 months. The mare had no fat and very little muscle tissue left, really just bones and hide. Then the added stress of abrupt weaning and transport. At any rate, he put her on 3 SMZ tabs twice a day and wants me to continue until her temp is normal in the evening for two days. This was initially because of the laceration but he also felt it may keep her from progressing to a bacterial pneumonia. She has been on these meds now for 10 days and I can't get her temp below 102.6. He says continue the meds. He hasn't seen her again, but knows she has a good appetite, isn't acting depressed although not as playful as a normal foal, and no runny nose. How long would you continue these meds? The laceration is still very open and "gooey" (technical term). Thanks again, Julie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 - 3:40 am:

Julie after 3 days of no change I would reconsider the diagnosis and if I still believed pneumonia reconsider the possible etiologies and effective treatments.

First, are there any other reasons that the body temperature might be high? The wound for instance could be a cause, most open wounds will have some inflammation that might cause a increase. Have environmental temperatures been challenging? Is your thermometer working properly?

To rule in or out bacterial pneumonia you might consider further diagnostic work as described in the article and in a foal thoracic radiography is a possibility. Lastly there are chronic pneumonia problems in foals with your history including roundworm migration and Rhodococcus. For more on these see:
Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Parasites and Worms » Roundworm Infection, Parascaris equorum

Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Foal Pneumonia: Rhodococcus.
DrO
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 - 8:52 am:

Thanks for the reply. Temps here are typical for August if not a little cooler--mid eighties to mid nineties. The open wound certainly has some inflamation. I switched from a digital to a regular thermometer thinking possible inaccuracy, but the regular one reads the same--when I get my old lady reading glasses on! I'll read the suggested topics. I had given each a half dose (according to their weight) of strongid three weeks ago. Can I safely give a full dose of strongid while she's on meds? They both do need it I'm sure. I'm also giving probiotics which very effectively stopped the very loose stools that resulted from the antibiotics. Thanks again, Julie
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 - 8:59 am:

Thanks for the reply. Temps here are typical for August if not a little cooler--mid eighties to mid nineties. The open wound certainly has some inflamation. I switched from a digital to a regular thermometer thinking possible inaccuracy, but the regular one reads the same--when I get my old lady reading glasses on! I'll read the suggested topics. I had given each a half dose (according to their weight) of strongid three weeks ago. Can I safely give a full dose of strongid while she's on meds? They both do need it I'm sure. I'm also giving probiotics which very effectively stopped the very loose stools that resulted from the antibiotics. Thanks again, Julie
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 21, 2009 - 3:07 am:

Julie, I would note that probiotics have not been that effective experimentally and that loose stools from antibiotic administration is usually a transient problem making our efforts at treating it, no matter what we use, look successful.
DrO
Member:
erika

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 - 11:58 am:

How's the foal doing, Julie?
Erika
Member:
juliem

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009 - 11:58 am:

Hi Erica, she's still running a fever, but the last two nights it's been under 102, which the vet says he's happy with. If I can get it to normal for two days, I can discontinue antibiotics. She doesn't have any other real red flags--runny nose, cough, etc. and is eating well. She still seems a bit lethargic and lies down a lot, but not depressed. The wound is healing very well. Poor girl--rough start in life and I hope she doesn't hold a grudge for all the treatment! She actually comes to get her meds--crushed up in a syringe with Karo syrup! She's putting on weight too, so I think she's going to be fine. The other one seems to be thriving after her equally sad early enviornment. Thanks for asking after her, Julie
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009 - 6:35 pm:

Hi Julie, how are her lungs sounding? I hope she continues to improve. Being lethargic isn't normal for a foal her age. I've fed yogurt to young foals with loose stools from antibiotics and it seemed to help. Peach seemed to be the favorite flavor..or vanilla mixed with applesauce.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009 - 7:55 pm:

Hi Sara, I don't have a stethescope and I probably wouldn't know what to listen for anyway. Her temp tonight was back up to 102.4. I take it while she's eating her hay. Wonder if that makes a difference? She did run a few laps around the little pasture while waiting to be let in for pellets tonight as well. I'm very tempted to discontinue the SMZ's--it's been 17 days. My vet thought it was viral and the antibiotics were to keep a bacterial pneumonia from developing. We do have temps in the 90's and I feel lethargic too, but I'm no youngster! This is frustrating!
Member:
scooter

Posted on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 - 2:13 am:

Hi Julie, what is a normal foal temp? I forget anymore, but do remember 101 being acceptable for a foal.

YEARS ago a friend rescued 2 4mo. old weanlings that sound remarkably like your girl minus the owie. They also had low grade temps.

The vet at the time said to worm them with a half dose of strongid as you did then follow up with daily pellets dosed accordingly for their weight. I have never seen soooo many huge worms come out of a horse in my life. Those poor weanlings were loaded with roundworms, it was a good thing she didn't try to get them all at once. I didn't realize roundworms were so big...they were all over their paddock...EEECK

She kept them on the daily until there was no visible worms in their feces, then gave them Ivermectin.....What a difference!
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 - 6:38 am:

Dr.O would have to comment on the SMZ. We once had a foal with bacterial pnuemonia, and he had to be on an IV antibiotic for 10 days, then continued with a different oral antibiotic for either another week or 10 days (was years ago and I don't remember.) I don't think eating would affect her temp. Running around, standing in the sun, and even time of day will however. You should try and take it at least 2x/day and at the same times of day to get an accurate feel for what her temp is doing imo.
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