ridecamp@endurance.net: strange illness

strange illness

Patty A Lambert (esppatty@juno.com)
Wed, 28 May 1997 10:17:28 PST

My horse, Trenton, who's been competing for 16 years, recently had a bout
with an as yet undiagnosed illness which at first appeared to be an
allergic reaction (swollen eyes, progressing to swollen lymph nodes &
noisy breathing). The first sypmtom, the swollen eyes, appeared 12 days
after vaccines were given (flurhino, tetanus, rabies, EWV). He had not
been in contact with any other horses except his pasture mate, who had
also not been around other horses since last fall. Eye ointments were of
no help. Nearly 3 weeks later, he suddenly appeared ataxic in the hind
end and I immediately took him to the hospital at New Bolton. He tested
negative for strangles on three tries. He did not have a high
temperature or any nasal discharge at any time during the course of the
illness and always had a good appetite. He stayed at the hospital for a
week, had multiple medications including DMSO by IV,
anti-inflammatories, antibiotic, and improved dramatically. Test results
from blood and spinal fluid are pending. He has now been home for almost
2 weeks (off medication for one week) and I rode him for the first time
today. There is still a slight hindlimb deficit which shows up as
occasional knuckling over at the fetlock at the walk. He catches himself
and has not ever gone down. Suspects are rhino and EPM, more likely
rhino, but as he had had no contact with other horses for many months,
it is still very much in question. Does anyone have any experience with
vaccines causing illness they are supposed to prevent? Or any other
thoughts?

Please reply to me privately, so as not to clutter up the net; I'll put
replies on later if there seems to be a pattern or anything others could
benefit from. Thanks.

Patty Lambert esppatty@juno.com

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