So the horse I had been posting about being lame was just found to have Lyme disease. Not terribly happy as this test is what I requested from the vet when I called in the first place... and instead got ultrasounds, x-rays, nerve blocks... but anyways we finally have some answer. But my question now it what to treat him with. He is on Vetimycin200 IV for the next 5 days then needs to switch to an oral med. Vet wants to put him on a med that I believe is called Metronidazole if I am remembering correctly. I have never heard of this. We have always used doxy, but vet is saying this is not a really effective drug for treating horses as they only absorb 8% of the drug. She says they will absorb 20% of the other, but its also about $400-500. Has anyone ever even heard of this?
Posted 2015-08-22 8:30 AM Subject: RE: Lyme disease
Butter my Biscuits
Posts: 2948 Location: MI
Metronidazole (Flagyll) is the drug we use for our foals when they contracted clostridium infections. Pretty strong antibiotic for bacterial infections. Will warn that it ulcerated almost every babies stomach when we used it, but did have a 75% survival rate when we used it. Not sure on Lymes how it would work, but have a student who has been living the Lymes nightmare for far too long. She would be better versed to tell you what her journey has been like and what has seemed to work and what hasnt. Good Luck.
Posted 2015-08-22 9:11 AM Subject: RE: Lyme disease
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304 Location: Up and over to the right
Your vet is right in the fact that Doxy is only effective on very few horses. We go for 1 month of Minocycline and if they don't react go for Oxy Tet IV - but this is more expensive and the vet has to administer.
Lyme disease
