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  Discussion on Unilateral nasal discharge
Author Message
Member:
skutyba

Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2011 - 12:09 am:

Hi all,

Would like to get some feedback on a situation.

Have a horse that started with unilateral nasal discharge Friday. Found it after getting off work (late).
Of course, it is the weekend. I was advised by my regular vet to monitor closely and put him on MSM until Monday (for exam and/or referral).

5 year old gelding. No prior history of respiratory issues. No exposure to outside horses and those here haven't been off property.
Strangles vaccination is not given to this horse due to a prior vaccination related purpura episode.

The discharge is yellow/green in color. No odor. Last night he had a caked layer of dried discharge and visible "snotty" drainage. I cleaned it off and put some neosporin on him to protect the tissue. Temp was normal.
Using a gloved hand I felt carefully and couldn't find any hint of injury.

This morning he had additional drainage.
He has no fever, temp is normal still. Eating and drinking well. No coughing, hacking. If I imagine hard enough I could maybe say he has an enlarged lymph node but that is probably me being a little neurotic. Face looked symmetrical, no swelling or sensitivity.
All the other horses in the barn appear clean and clear.

This evening I did see him doing a sort of "yawn" like open mouth motion (once). Temp continues to be normal.
It is clearly coming out of only one side, and is very off-color. Visibly, it looks like pus to me.

Soo, just trying to get a gauge about how concerned (and aggressive) I should be here.
Thank you
Member:
mrose

Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2011 - 2:56 am:

Is he eating, drinking and passing manure normally? If so, I would observe him closely and keep him away from other horses in case he has something contagious and if he is still this way on Monday I'd call the vet. If it a virus, you probably wouldn't want him on antibiotics, and if it's bacterial he might need a specific antibiotic. I'm not sure what the MSM will do for him? If you have a stethascope and know how to use it, you could make sure he has no crackling in his lungs. I am assuming this is snot and not drainage due to choke also. Hope he feels better soon.
Member:
skutyba

Posted on Sunday, Nov 20, 2011 - 11:17 am:

Hi Sara,

His vital signs are normal and he is eating well.
In fact, baring the yellow drainage, it's hard to appreciate any signs of illness.
Member:
lrhughes

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011 - 12:18 am:

Does he have a gutteral pouch infection?
LRH
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011 - 9:10 am:

Hello Skutyba,
Without a diagnosis it is hard to say how concerned you should be but at the least, the horse should be on antibiotics (I assume MSM stands for methylsufonylmethane which is not a antibiotic) at this time and if he does not respond have a endoscopic exam done. The article details this and the possibilities associate with a unilateral nasal discharge.
DrO
Member:
skutyba

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011 - 9:26 pm:

Dr. O.

Thank you for the response. My horse is scheduled for a workup at the university tomorrow morning (Wed.).
With his symptoms and amount of discharge my vet felt it best to got directly there for diagnostics.

LRH, Gutteral pouch infection is on the list of differentials. They are planning on scoping him.

Will let you know how it goes.
Thank you again.
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