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Discussion on Possible bite or poisoning - very strange symptoms
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New Member:
Mulelvr
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005 - 9:08 pm:
Dr. O,
My friends horse is displaying some very unusual symptoms. First, he seemed a little neurotic, swaying his head, occassionally banging it into the fence. Then he was swaying and seemed "drunk". He then developed strange "rippling" on his skin on his shoulders and ribcage. There are literally ripples on his skin that have rumpled his coat and hard stiff to the touch. His muzzle his raw and cracking and oozing blood. The local vet does not know what it could be. We were wondering snake bit or even spider, i.e. brown recleuse, as the festering of his skin all around his noze and mouth resembles what I have seen from those spider bites. His legs are excessively swollen and are hard to the touch. He was put on some type of antibiotic and the head swaying stopped and he will actually come over for a pet, but the festering muzzle and swelling is still present. Any ideas??
Thank you.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 12:07 pm:
Hello Christy,
I have found doing advice third hand very unsatisfactory in the past and avoid it. Also trying to do consults for non-members takes away from the time I have to help our members. That said I must say it is an interesting case but there are many possibilities here and suspect a generalized toxic or inflammatory disease. This would include venomous bites and particularly since there is a festering wound on the muzzle, the most common place bit by snakes in my experience. I do have the recommendation that if the veterinarian continues to be perplexed that a second opinion be sought by someone who can examine the horse. Check out the article Equine Diseases » Lameness » Leg Swellings » Hot & Painful Legs for some ideas on the legs but the neurological conditions suggest a more generalized disease than some of the rules outs on that page alone. Perhaps a biopsy of the abnormal skin might narrow down the list of possiblities.
DrO
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