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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | Update: Thanks for the ideas everyone, he didn't make it through the night. I think we all kind of expected it, him being 34 years old. My poor mare is having a hard time as they were pasturemates...luckily my 3 year old is coming back from the trainer this weekend and will keep be there to keep her company.
We thought the horse had choke because of the foaming at the mouth, that is why it originally wasn't deemed a medical emergency. I had to work until 5 last night, and by the time I got out there, the vets office had closed and that was when I discovered his issue.
My friend's horse is almost 34 years old, and since last night has not been eating and has not been doing well. My friend called the vet this morning, but the vet had a full day and hasn't seen him yet.
The horse has a 103.5 degree temperature, is not eating, is foaming at the mouth, has labored breating (I think from infection), has lack of coordination in his hind legs (which I find strange), and appears to me to have an anal fistula (if that isn't the correct term, forgive me, I'm only knowledgeable about that problem in dogs!) that is infected. The infected fistula, in my guess, is what is causing the whole trouble. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of it, and my friend (who is in her 70's) didn't know about the fistula until I saw it taking the horse's temperature.
We gave the horse banamine, via the vet's instructions before we knew about the fistula, and it obviously made him feel better, but still not good. He has been around no other horses, and no new horses have been brought to the property since October. It is also pretty much too early for us to have mosquitoes yet.
My friend hopes to have the vet out tomorrow. She hasn't been negligent, this came on last night, and she asked me first thing this morning who my vet was, because she was likely closest and knew right where to go.
So, my questions are, 1) are fistulas common in horse and can they cause all these symptoms? 2) at this horse's age, is there a chance for a good prognosis? 3) What, likely, be our best option?
Please don't jump down my throat, I'm trying to help my friend out with her horse. I know over the internet it is hard to diagnose things. We know he is an old horse and we are prepared for having to put him down, should that be the case.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2015-04-16 10:35 AM
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Bless your heart for being there for your friend in her time of need! I can't say for sure what is going on with that horse, other than that he is at an advanced age and anything compromising him at this point could be the end.... a high temp like that is not a good thing to have with even a young healthy horse. Darn it, all I can say is your friend is lucky to have someone like you to go towards at times like these.... keep us updated! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I know that this would be considered an emergency at our clinic. Just going by what you are telling us on this post (take this for what it's worth, I'm not a vet, just work for one and have seen my fair share), I don't see this ending well. The foaming and labored breathing along with the fever are all very concerning, but it's the lack of coordination that is throwing me off. Only time I have seen all of these together did not end well, the horse was given IV fluids and antibiotics, started getting better, then got worse quick and passed on 3 days after the symptoms started. | |
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Location: delaWHERE? | First, prayers to your friend and her horse. I am a nurse at a large animal hospital and my first guess would be botulism.
I've seen quite a few like this, kind of the end stages, unfortunately. They get paralysis of the throat and it makes a foam due to their lack of ability to swallow. They get very unstable.
Even if this was a young horse the treatment is very tough and extremely expensive.
Just a guess, no promises I'm correct.
This case, in our hospital, would definitely considered a high priority emergency. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Update: Thanks for the ideas everyone, he didn't make it through the night. I think we all kind of expected it, him being 34 years old. My poor mare is having a hard time as they were pasturemates...luckily my 3 year old is coming back from the trainer this weekend and will keep be there to keep her company.
We thought the horse had choke because of the foaming at the mouth, that is why it originally wasn't deemed a medical emergency. I had to work until 5 last night, and by the time I got out there, the vets office had closed and that was when I discovered his issue. | |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
Location: In The Land of Cotton | You were a good friend and you tried. Hugs and prayers for his momma. | |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I'm so sorry. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Sorry to hear this  | |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Aww, so sad to hear he didn't make it. | |
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 Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | I'm so sorry :( Teehaha ia 31 and I'm just dreading the day her time comes.
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thank you guys, it means a lot. This horse (his name was Diamonds) was a show horse and won a lot of ribbons before retiring, and became a kids horse for my friend's grand kids, and after that he just lived the rest of his days doing pretty much what he want. And, luckily for the most part he went fairly quickly, and that is better than something that is drawn out for months. So there is a lot of things that are better than they could have been. Thank you again. | |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| Very sorry for your loss. Many prayers! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I'm sorry to hear this. | |
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Questions for those knowledgeable: Update, he's passed on...