Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Could it be a case of strangles?  Read through the articles below and ask the vet if this could be it.

 

 

http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/horses/facts/info_strangles.htm

http://evrp.lsu.edu/healthtips/Strangles.htm

http://www.in.gov/boah/pdfs/EQ-5301str.pdf

 

Tim

 

 

Jutta <leosch@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

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!