Re: [RC] sick horse, need advice...(very long) - Heidi Smith
Just a few comments here....
1) Anemia (low HCT and low Hgb) are not
uncommon with infection, nor are they uncommon with horses that just "ain't
doin' right."
2) With the anemia, poor appetite, and poor
condition, have you had him scoped to rule out an ulcer? And why would you
want to treat him with UGard unless you KNOW he has an ulcer?
3) Have you looked at dental issues with this
horse previously? I do think you are on the right track checking out
dental issues.
4) You didn't tell us the MOST important
aspect of his diet--what sort of forage is he eating?
5) You might want to get some additional
selenium, vit E, and vit C into this horse, particularly in view of the
illness. I'd suspect that he has a poorly functioning immune system as
well as looking run down, judging by your description and by the fact that
whatever your group of horses has, he has it the worst.
Subject: [RC] sick horse, need
advice...(very long)
Hi, I need some advice from the vets on ridecamp.
My 5 year old gelding (the one I planned to start in LD's this year) is sick.
First his background: He is out 24/7 in pasture
with 3 other horses. He came through the winter a little on the skinny side,
and I have been having trouble putting weight on him. He gets a "coffee can"
(don't you love this unit of measure?) of grain, Pro Gold 200, a multi vitamin
supplement and Equijewel. I have tried to feed him beet pulp, but he is just
turning his nose up at it. He is a very picky and slow eater and doesn't seem
to have a big interest in food.
He was at the trainers for a month and there he
was in a big pen with about 10 other horses, although I took grain for him, I
don't think the trainer bothered to feed it to him. So he came back a bit
skinny. I got him back on May 10th.
Current on all vaccinations, even gave Pinnacle
before he went to the trainer. 2 West Nile Vac. last year, and a booster in
early April. Worming every two months with Ivermectin, Quest last
October.
On Monday he looked lethargic, had a snotty noose
(very yellow) and a temp of 102 . Not eating at all. Called vet and
started him on Penicillin 20cc. Took him to the vet for a work up Tuesday
morning.
Here is where it gets puzzeling. The vet did a
CBC and blood panel and the numbers are very puzzeling to me. I think there
are two things going on, an acute respiratory thing and something
else?
Here are his values
WBC 17.00
RBC 7.25
HGB 11.2
HCT 35.6
MCV 49
MCH 15.5
MCHC 32
RDW 14
PLATELETS 285
MPV 5.9
BANDS 23
SEG 50
LYMPH 17.0
MONO 5.0
EOS 4.0
BASO 1.0
NEUT 12.41
LYMPH 2.89
looks to me like infection, but why is his HGB
and crit low?
Albumin
2.7
A/G
0.4
GLUCOSE
162 (HE ATE
GRAIN ABOUT 2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE BLOODWORK)
BUN 16
pHOSPHERUS 3.5
URIC
ACID <=
0.5
AST 239
LD
260
VET
ALT 11
ALK PHOS
142
T.
BILI
0.5
T. PROTEIN
9.0
TRIG
8
CHOLESTEROL 63
SODIUM
131
POTASSIUM
3.5
CHLORIDE
99
CO2
25.0
CREATININE
8.7
CALCIUM
11.3
Vet says he got some kind of infection, also send
in a West Nile and a coggins, since I hope I'll need one anyway. Vet seems
concernexd about the high glucose and wants to do a urin test. Not sure
how many days it will take me to get a sample. He also wants me to stop
feeding him fat. Three more days of Penicillin. Didn't get no real answers.
Here are my questions. Is any of the chemistry
accurate if he has an infection right now? Should I worry about a glucose of
163 2 hours after eating sweet feed? Does he look slightly anemic? Why are his
e-lytes low? Shouldn't they be more concentraded if he is dehydrated? I have
not been working him hard at all.
I had an appointment set up for Equine dentist
for Friday, but they don't really want to tranque him while he is sick. Also
wonder about ulcers, but nobody has a scope around here, I am in North Dakota.
Should I try treating him with U Gard?
Sorry this got so long, I really like this guy
and worry about him.
Jutta
PS Tonight the other three horses all have snotty
noses too, but no temp, but then they have the "physique" of a wood tick just
before it's ready to fall off the dog. A snotty nose won't ruin their
appetite!
