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  Discussion on Penicillin injection soreness
Author Message
Member:
quatro

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 10:53 am:

the vet gave Levi 2 huge injections of penicillin in his neck yesterday. 2 different spots, but on the neck.
Today, he still has swelling on his fetlock, but putting weight on it. However, he is very stiff, and sore on his neck and front end.
The vet said to give him 2 gms to 3 grams of bute today, and then wean him off of it. He is definately depressed acting, not fighting for hay, like he usually does.
I wish I had more confidence in the vets around here.
Is this a reaction that can happen with penicillin loading dose, and is it ok to give the bute?
thanks
suz
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 12:45 pm:

Hi susan, boy Levi is having everything go wrong! I think he is even worse than Hank. I have had a few horses react to penicillin and it isn't my antibiotic choice anymore, I like Tribrison(sp) much better and it is a paste, which seems to do as good of job. More expensive, but at least you don't have to worry about injection sites.

I don't think there is a "loading" dose for penicillin, he may have just split the dosage to try and avoid the reaction....didn't work huh.
I would think buteing him would be O.K. along with cold hosing the injection sites. That helped mine quite a bit Good Luck I hope Levi is better SOON!
Member:
quatro

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 3:17 pm:

Thanks Diane, I gave him 2 gms of bute, wrapped his leg with vetwrap, duct tape, wrapped his foot with betadine soaked cotton, and duct tape, opened the door, and told him to go out and be a horse!!!
This is exhausting, worrying 1/2 the time I own this guy. I am so close to relocating all of the animals, getting a condo in the city, and calling it quits!
I don't know whoever said that animals are great for lowering blood pressure, but they are full of baloney.
I am heading for a nap!
suz
Member:
sunny66

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 7:17 pm:

Oh Susan, I'm sorry... you poor thing! I agree with Diane on the cold hosing if it's inflamed, or do you have a bag of peas in the freezer? Hold that on his neck for a bit...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 9:06 pm:

Well Susan,
You may be exhausted but it sounds like you are doing everything right. Bute should help with the soreness.

However I would like to critique Diane's suggestion of Tribrissen (potentiated sulfa drug). Though both are said to be a potential cause of colitis, I have seen two with the use of the p. sulfas and none with penicillin. And while p sulfa's have wider spectrums of activities the frequent use has created a bacterial population largely resistant.

So all of these drugs have good and bad aspects and always the real question is whether antibiotics are clearly indicated but if they are be diligent with whichever you choose.
DrO
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 11:00 pm:

Thanks for that info on tribrissen, I honestly haven't used antibiotics in many many years.

Many moons ago I had a mare have a terrible reaction to penicillin, it scared me so bad I was afraid to use it again. That's when the vet put me on to Tribrissen paste. The VERY FEW times I used it I had no problems and it seemed to take care of the infections well.
Member:
quatro

Posted on Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 - 11:43 pm:

Hi all, Cody, my other horse had terrible reaction to the sulfa drugs. He broke out in hives, the vet I was working with at the time did not make the connection. When I DrOve him to another vet hours away, she put him on penicillin, because the hives were from the sulfa drugs I guess.
I don't think I will give him the sulfa antibiotics that this vet left with me. I will keep an eye on him. I wrapped his back foot tonight, and will leave it on for a day or more. sounds as though you can do more damage by constantly exposing it to the elements, by unwrapping all the time.
The good news is Levi's resection looks pretty dry and clean. I don't know what they are going to do with this next vet/farrier visit. will have to get pics and post them
He seems a little better tonight, gave him a gm. of bute for bedtime. I gave me a glass or two of wine, so we should both be ok for the nite.
thanks all
suz
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 - 9:29 am:

Well the horses got better Diane but it is hard to say if it was because of the antibiotic, animals were fighting off infections millions of years prior to the invention of antibiotics, albeit occasionally they were not successful. But you must now remember you have a population of bacteria that have been exposed several times to the same antibiotic and they remember and even swap resistance genes with each other. If you get to dealing with a really serious infection where a antibiotic is indicated you should consider this in your decision making.

The real point of all this is that antibiotic use has to be considered with a number of different factors in mind and avoid "the one size fits all" mentality.
DrO
Member:
scooter

Posted on Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 - 9:57 am:

I guess I am behind the times Dr.O. the last time I used an antibiotic was was around 1992 I think.

I will keep this discussion in mind if the occasion arises that I should need one in the future. (I hope not). Thanks
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