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  Discussion on Sick Horse
Author Message
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 10:01 pm:

Okay all first let me say that my vet is on vacation and I cannot afford $300.00 min for the vet 2 1/2 hours away to come. Any advice will be helpful. I will try to make this short. I have a 7 yr old mare who is in with 5 other horses which none show any symptoms. She is out during the day and stalled at night. This morning when I went down to feed she refused her grain and hay. Also is not drinking. Looks very sick and depressed. I went up to the house to get something. When I got back down to the barn she was down. Had a hard time gettting her up. I put her in the stall. She went down again. I called my friend who said to start her on 25cc of penicillin 2x day for 2 days. Then go to 1x day. She weighs between 1100 and 1200 hundred pounds. She has minimal stomach sounds and her eyes are glossy. Her gums are pale pink. She was very cold and trembling. She just looks very sick with her head down.
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 10:43 pm:

Leona, have you taken her temperature. Sounds like it could be colic, in which case she needs to be tubed with oil/water, etc. Dr. O help here.
Do you have any Banamine or Bute?
Sounds serious to me and you may have to get a vet to save her. Just praying for you and hoping Dr. O responds. Meanwhile read the articles on Colic. Let us know how she/you are. Shirley
Member:
Ejar

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 10:43 pm:

My first thought is colic, with or without stomach sounds. I've found accupressure applied on either side of the hip bone near the spine helps colic move along a little faster. We've used it on my neighbor's colic-prone horses who normally take 5 to 6 hours to recover, and they've recovered in half the time.

If I were in your shoes, I'd treat it like a colic to begin with -- keep her walking, keep offering water, try the accupressure. Give a mineral oil enema if you are comfortable with it.

Bottom line, though, you are going to need to consider at what point this mare is worth the $300. Not drinking is a huge deal. Set yourself a deadline: if she's not drinking by x time, we're either letting her go or calling in the emergency vet.

Good luck. Have somebody make you a pot of coffee, and keep your spirits up.

Erin
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 10:59 pm:

Leona, where are you located?
Shirl
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 11:11 pm:

I am located in Oregon. She has had the 5 way shot and west nile shot. She is definately woth $300.00 to us but the vet wants cash and I dont have it right now. ANy more advice would be appreciated. Does anyone know if the correct dose of pencillin? We are going to call the vet if not better tomorrow after her 2 dose of antibiotics.
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 11:16 pm:

Also want to add that she doesnt appear to be in pain. Not pawing or looking at side.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 11:46 pm:

Leona, along with the other members, my first thought is always colic when a horse stops eating and goes down, and as you may know, there can be many things that cause colic.
What is the mare's temperature?
Keep her blanketed and keep plenty of water nearby. If you are experiencing terribly cold weather, I would make sure she has warm water available . . . I have even dissolved peppermints in the water before to entice an old horse to drink, and it worked in that case.
It sounds like a vet is needed for this, and without a fever, I wouldn't think she needs antibiotics. I hope you will be able to check on her and sit with her through out the night. You will be better able to offer accurate info to the vet if you are able to keep her under observation before he arrives.
This is a scary time. I feel for you.
Member:
Shirl

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 12:08 am:

Leona, Sorry for all these questions, but we're all here for you, and now I have another ?. How long ago did she have the WNV injection and/or other shots?
Shirl
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 1:06 am:

No problem on the questions. I am sitting with her tonight thats why I am back and forth here. The WNV/5 way were giving about 3 mos ago.(I give them once a year.) We just finished walking her for about an hour. She seems to be kinda stiff. She was not happy that we were walking. Also can anyone tell me where pencillin should be given hind quarter, neck?
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 1:08 am:

Oh forgot to add that ivermectim was giving on Saturday and we do this every 6-8 weeks.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 3:43 am:

Leona, it is a lonely thing to stay with a sick horse all night. Many of us have been in your shoes. Do you have banamine? That would be the best thing to give if the horse has signs of colic. 10cc for a 1000 lb horse, usually.
Were you able to get her temperature?
Hang on until the vet arrives. Please let us know what happens.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 8:35 am:

Leona,
If the horse's temperature is normal, colic is most likely. If the horse is still sick this morning you you need to get a truck and trailer and trailer her to the veterinarian so that you can get appropriate diagnosis and treatment for what ever is wrong.
DrO
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 10:36 am:

Good Morning all. Well this morning she ate everything and is drinking and she looks alot better. Through the night(which I froze) she got a running nose but it was clear. She still has it this morning. Thank you all for your advice. And Dr.O I was so scared never thought of trailering her to the vets. But I will keep that in mind for the next emergency. Do you all think I still need to see a vet?
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 10:52 am:

Hi Leona,

I'm so glad she's feeling better! If I were in your shoes, I would take her temperature, then take her pulse, if it's elevated, I would call the vet, report your findings -- well, I would call the vet regardless and also ask for a supply of banamine.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 11:37 am:

I'm so glad you both made it through the night and she is feeling better! I think we all know how "great" it is to take care of a sick horse all night. Lonely and usually cold! Too say nothing of being worried sick. And, for some reason horses, like children, always get sick at night, on a weekend or holiday, etc.

I'd just check her vitals as suggested, and report to the vet; he may or may not want to see her. Just from what you say it sounds like colic and that she's recovered IF she doesn't have a temp, and her vitals are o.k. I'd keep an eye on her, though, for the next few days.

I'd also put together an emergency kit so as to be prepared for the next time. Also, there are some great books on emergency treatment for horses and what to do until you can get hold of the vet.

So glad she's better!
Member:
Miamoo

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 11:54 am:

You might also make arrangements with some area vets to have a credit card on some other means to pay when in a pinch. We have something here called Farm Plan. It is much easier than having cash on hand.

I know no one likes to have to use a credit card but in a pinch it is better than suffering or losing a good friend. Also you have till the end of the month to pay it off and have no extra fees.

Ella :-)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 7:19 pm:

Leona, with the idea that this was probably a colic the article Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Colic in Horses » First Aid for Colic gives guidelines for after the pain is gone.
DrO
New Member:
Fripp

Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 9:34 pm:

Please get her to a vet, my horse colic and died last night. I miss her so much
Michelle
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 12:01 am:

Okay all. Update.... When I called the vet this morning he said that with her doing better with one dose penicillin that it probably wasnt colic but the begining of phnuemonia(SP). He wants me to give her 2 doses today and call him in the morning. She is looking alot better and is feeling better. In fact I had to fight her to give her the shot tonight. I did contact the old owners and they claim that this sort of thing happened to them 2 years in a row with her just after the first frost. So now any ideas.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 1:22 am:

I don't know...it's just impossible to diagnose anything over the internet. For that matter, I'd say the same about over the phone. If a horse has pneumonia I would think it would have a temp., it's respirations would perhaps be more rapid and shallow than normal, and you would hear a rattle or noise in it's lungs if you listen with either a stethoscope or even sometimes with your ears pressed over where it's lungs are.

Did the horse have a temp or any symptoms of pneumonia? If not, I still wouldn't rule out colic. It is really common for some horses to colic with changes in the weather like a storms coming, or when the seasons change. Infact, I was always told that if the horse is on pasture, a frost can affect the grass and cause colic in some horses.

It's hard to diagnose colic after the fact, but I'd still have the horse looked at by the vet if it were mine.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 6:52 am:

I agree with Sara, from the information we have the veterinarians conclusion is unfounded. Colics come and go like this all the time but not pneumonias. The lack of symptoms of pneumonia and the symptoms that are all consistant with colic put it at the top of the list for me however neither can we rule out the possibility of pneumonia.
DrO
Member:
Christel

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 9:40 am:

Hi Leona, glad she is doing better.
In you last post you mentioned that she had done this in the 2 previous years, at the same time of year. Makes me wonder if is caused by the migration (wrong word) of 3rd stage small strongles?
I have a friend, (God love her) that is not the best in keeping up with a deworming program. She has a mare that colics every fall due to worms, when given ivermectin (??supposedly ivermectin doesn't get this 3rd stage strongle??) she gets over it. Your deworming program sounds right on, so I wouldn't think you had that problem but throwing it out there for you anyway.
The Power Pak (double dosing for 5 days) is designed to rid the horse of this stage strongle , it is recommended to be given in Oct. and April. Am wondering if your horse could not benefit from this?
Dr O am curious what your thoughts are on the strongles. Gosh it seems the more I know the confusder I get. If you deworm on a regular basis a horse should never have this stage of strongle- is this a correct line of thinking?
Chris
Member:
Fripp

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 11:07 am:

Dr.Oglesby, Thank you for writing kind words. I just get so frustrated I take care of my horses daily wormer. . Why do some horses that people don't bother with seem to do alright? We had an Ap that we lost he was 25 years old we had him for three years he colic last fall too. He had to be put down we tried everything. My husband and I loved him so. I make sure they drink when the weather changes. We live in Georgia. What am I not doing. My husband and I are in the Biomedical field.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 11:57 am:

Michelle, it will take time for you to recover. There just isn't a "reason" ...because your horse coliced doesn't mean you did something wrong. We currently have a dozen horse, all of which get the best care we can give to them. We have one gelding, who for whatever reason is our "problem child." He is taken care of the same as the rest, yet he has almost died three times form choke, from colic, from injury. Right now he has Ringbone. I have no idea why he has problems and the other horses almost never do. Every time I call the vet on an emergency, he asks if it's the gelding. To the best of our knowledge and our vets, we do all we can to properly take care of this guy.

You sound like you really care about and try to properly take care of your horses. Don't blame yourself, and there is no answer to the question "why" most of the time.
Member:
Fripp

Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 1:33 pm:

Thanks Sara, Hearing that made me think she was our problem child too. She went to a show 2 months ago with FFA my Daughter Mattie showed her and won. She was not in her own trailer and hit her head that was bad. We had boy's on a 4 wheel who were riding down are road to go hunting shot her in the ear, that was really bad. She came out of all of these things and was still the gently lady. I don't think I will find one like Gee again.

Love to all you that care
Member:
Jlhill7

Posted on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 - 8:48 pm:

Okay all that sounds like it could be. I did miss some dewormers and she did get bots on her this year. So i need more info on 3rd stage small strongles. Where do i find that info?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Dec 4, 2005 - 10:00 am:

Check out Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Parasites and Worms.
DrO
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