[RC] ridecamp helped diagnosis my horse..... - Karen Sullivan
Sometimes in all the posts from ridecamp, something
catches my eye and really sticks in my brain. Thank goodness I remembered
the discussion about "swollen back legs" that was a month or so ago....poster
had horse with sudden stocking up in back legs.....and another poster mentioned
it might be a symptom of tick fever (Ehrlichiosis).
Last week on Thursday eve., I noticed that Fawn
(the 6 year old Arab/QH) had sort of stocked up back legs. The otherwise
seemed just fine, appetite okay, walking okay.....she had not been ridden that
week, just the usual running around the pasture; had cleaned up another mares
very rich alfalfa (Fawn usually doesn't get much alfalfa), and that was all that
was out of ordinary.
That morning I went through ridecamp archives
looking for the posts on the swollen back legs......and when I saw tick fever,
well, went out to barn to check her when I fed. Her back legs were much
worse....and her front legs starting to stock up. My equine thermometer broken,
I ran to the feed store and bought another and took her temp. It was
totally normal.
Called vet and discussed it, she said we could do
wait and see, or get her in; do blood panel to at least eliminate tick
fever, and blood could go out that day...
Threw horse in trailer and hauled to vet. Vet
was stumped; had seen a couple of stocked up back legs this year with no solid
diagnosis; horses had shown negative on the tick titer. Horses eventually
recovered and swelling went away.
We drew blood anyway, and she said to give bute
twice a day, and keep eye on temp. This care and watching caused me to
cancel a long-awaited horse camping trip with another horse, sigh.
Legs were still stocked up Saturday, Fawn moving
around pasture with other horses and eating like a horse.....by Sunday night all
the swelling was gone....still never any temp. I was grumpy that I had spent
probably $200 for blood work on an obviously well horse...and missed a fun
camping trip.
No word Monday on blood work, legs still back to
normal, so this morning I took FAwn for short ride, walking with friends.
She was her usual laid back self.
Got home to find message from vet-bloodwork
confirmed Tick Fever, come in immediately for antibiotics
(doxy-tetracycline)....blood work looks really bad, compromised liver and kidney
function, severe anemia and very low red blood cell count.....she gets shots
every other day...
Vet was out when I dropped by to get shots, talked
to tech...said untreated Tick fever can be very serious as the parasite just
keeps attacking the red blood cells, horses can die, etc...
This is very scary in light of the fact the horse
seemed fine other than the stocking up...which went away. I am very glad I
read it on ridecamp...have never dealt with tick fever before or new
symptoms.....so that was a real help in encouraging me to just take her in to
the vet right away, instead of a "wait and see."
