Posted 2007-11-22 11:24 AM (#71674 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
How do they treat colitis? Is it treatable? We are into our fifth week here. She's no better.The Naxcel did nothing. She's going to get Oxytetracycaline tomorrow night. The vet said that if that's going to work we will know in 24-36 hours. I got some nice second-crop hay which she is nibbling at, and I have switched to a sweet feed, which she will also nibble on. Her face it unbelieveable.The irritation has moved into her eyes. I will post another picture soon. If the Oxytetracycaline doesn't work, he wants to try steroids. I am not sure I want to continue. She's so sick. I am exhausted and totally discouraged.
Posted 2007-11-22 11:30 AM (#71675 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
She continues to rub her face, the vet said this will get worse before it gets better. IF we do treat with steroids, it will help her with the itching. In the meantime I am applying aloe vera/vitamin D & E ointment. It seems to help.
Posted 2007-11-22 11:34 AM (#71676 - in reply to #71674) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 294 Location: Fort Worth, Tx
i don't know a bunch about it other than what she went through...certain anitbiotics can actually cause it and others get rid of it. Was the mare on any antibiotics for anything in the time before she got sick? I also was thinking that you might contact some good vet schools for a alternate diagnosis...maybe email some with the description of symptoms and see if any of them have any ideas. Is there a "Dr. House" for horses that anyone knows of?
If it can't be figured out, it isn't for the lack of your care. Don't beat yourself up for it.
Searching the web..found some intersting stuff on "right dorsal colitis" for horses. Also found something on "ulcerative colitis" in humans..that one caught my eye because one of the symptoms is skin lesions. But I couldn't find anything on it for horses. The RDC can be caused by daily bute..was she on bute before this? The treatment seems to be steroids for many types of colitis to reduce the inflammation. Steroids can also help if it is an enterolith (sp) or sand in the intestines. Also have you tried psyllium? If is is sand (which i believe has already been a suggestion) then psyllium for a week may help.
Posted 2007-11-22 12:30 PM (#71677 - in reply to #71674) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
Fluid and eletrolytes and/or bicarbonate and/or nsaids and/or anitbiotics. I would do as the vet recommends. Hypocalcemia happens when a horse doesn't eat, so you have to try to get the horse to eat. Right now you don't know what is the root cause. Some things you can rule out, some you can't. The horse isn't toxic, so some of these causes you can rule out. Keep up the good hard work
Posted 2007-11-22 8:17 PM (#71692 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Location: KY
Barstow
You might try diaper rash ointment....as you probably know the main ingredient is zinc oxide....and it is so thick and gooey it stays on the skin. Also sending you a pm.
Also, if you can, spend some time just softly talking to the horse; softly massaging her head around the base of the ears....sort of a relaxation therapy....I like to play classical music in the barn too. You are in my prayers.
Posted 2007-11-28 5:20 PM (#72013 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Your ponys issue is very similar to a nightmare I went through 15 years or so ago.Any type of steroids being used? Had one get sick years ago started with colic and very loose manure. To get him to eat,mask gut issues etc.steroids were used.They worked.Never did figure out what was wrong with him other then terms like "wasting disease" was used.Anyhow tried weaning him off steroids and would get sick real quick.About 3 months into it did a wean off steriods and he was fine and stayed fine for years.Vet back then wrote a paper on him and the results.One comment he had was it didn't matter if it was parrot,cat,dog or horse if it didn't eat,drink and acted colickly was use steriods to mask the issue and keep animal alive and buy time.Worked on my gelding back 15 years ago.I did do the UGA vet school thing with him and they had no clue.By the time I got another vet involved he was a bone rack and had sores poping up all over his skin.Also had fliud pockets in the lowest part of his belly.He got worse before he got better.He did come back 100 percent but took a long time.
Posted 2007-12-02 6:59 AM (#72231 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
Hounddog - Your story sounds so much like my horse's story. Unfortunately, ours does not have a happy ending. We euthanized Winter yesterday. I could not bare to see her in this condition anymore. She was failing fast. The one thing we stopped short at was steroids. I was nervous about using them in her degraded condition -fearful of foundering her on top of all else that was going on.
She was exactly as you described: rack of bones (she had lost a total of 200 lbs and was only 14h tall); she didn't have "sores" so to speak, but had been so itchy all over that she rubbed herself raw where ever she could reach. Her face, neck, legs and butt were the most hard hit. The skin seemed to have dried up and was sloughing off with the hair, and she rubbed and scratched constantly... she also had pockets of ventral edema.
I am not going to second-guess my decision. The subject of steroids had come up, but it was going to be our last "kick at the can." By the time we had exhausted all other options, Winter was in such a horrible state, that I dared not drag it out any longer.
What we did try was:
Panacur Power Pack (encysted bloodworms)-(one week of treatment, additional week to see results - none)
Naxcel (broad spectrum anti-biotic)- three days of intramuscle injections - no results)
Oxytetracycaline (targeted at Potomac Fever, spechetes, tick-borne illnesses) - two IV injections with fluids - nothing)
Rheaform -(iodochlorhydroxyquin )- (aimed at protozoal organisms)- 3 days of powder syringed orally - no change
Interesting to note, when the vet gave our dear Winter her lethal injection, she was dead in less than 20 seconds. I had two others euthanized this way and it took more than several minutes for them to finally pass. In fact, my daughter's elderly arab, who we suspected had a stroke, kept breathing, the vet had to send the tech back to the clinic for more drugs.
So, when I saw Winter go down within a few seconds, I knew her heart was weak, as well as the rest of her internal organs. I am sure we made the right decision to finally let her go. She was absolutely tormented. Now she is free.
Thanks to all the kind, compassionate and helpful postings. I know everyone here's been through this sort of thing. But it doesn't get any easier, does it.
God Bless.
Winter, Winnie, Wintie - Winston - you're running through fields of clover and dandelions (your FAVORITE) - We will see you again someday.
Posted 2007-12-02 7:41 AM (#72234 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
Hounddog - Do you have that vet's name who wrote the paper? I would like to put my 3 vets in touch with him/her. This case was so puzzling and frustrating to all of them. I would like for them to be able to learn from it, and perhaps save another horse by going the steroid route sooner.
If any good can come out of this....
Posted 2007-12-02 7:44 AM (#72235 - in reply to #72231) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 282 Location: southcentral pennsylvania
You did the right thing.......I have been with a total of 8 over the last 40 years as they drew their last breaths...it is never easy. Be kind to yourself over the next few weeks. Grief is the hardest work you will ever do.
Posted 2007-12-02 7:56 AM (#72236 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Hugh Worsham was the vet.He's also or was a high ranked Polo player.Been told he's around here in the Athens Ga.area. The term "wasting diease" has/was brought up several times.I bet now theres another term for it.The steriod thing as he told me was taught to him as BASIC to be used in many animals to keep them eating/drinking until eaither the issue was found or to buy time for them to get over what ever.Only side affect I had with mine was he looked like death warmed over and wanted to breed any thing walking by the round pen he was in.Towards the end of the treatment all it took for him not to colic was 5cc of Prednisone injected once daily.Did that for a long time and tried NOT doing that several times and he would colic.Then stopped it and he was ok and stayed ok for years.
Posted 2007-12-02 8:28 PM (#72276 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 362 Location: Allegan, Michigan
Huggs to you Barstow, it is never easy to say goodbye. Rest assured you did the right thing and she knows that. She is happy on the other side of Rainbow Bridge now. She was fortunate to have someone like you who gave her a chance and did everything they could for her. God Bless you.
Posted 2007-12-03 7:04 AM (#72302 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Veteran
Posts: 219 Location: Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
Barstow, Sorry for your pain. You did the right thing. You were with her through it all and never left her. You are very brave. You know she is in a better place where she does not feel pain, or sadness. Her new pasture are filled with her favorite foods and friends. Sweet apples and delicious carrots too. You are not alone-we are all here. Your far and understanding friend.
Posted 2007-12-03 8:16 AM (#72312 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Waverly TN
I am sorry for your loss. But I too think this was the best decision to have made at this point. I know it doesn't make it any easier, bu tyou did all you could for her. She IS in a better place now. Just remember the good times you had with her.
Posted 2007-12-03 8:45 AM (#72317 - in reply to #70322) Subject: Winter
Veteran
Posts: 243 Location: Maine
Thanks to all for the heartfelt condolences. This has been so very hard on my daughter and me. I still cannot stop the tears. I visited her grave this morning after feeding the others. I envisioned her standing there happy, fat and healthy. She was standing next to the other two that had gone before her. All in a row, looking peaceful and pain free, almost smiling...
A friend asked my daughter the question I was hesitant to ask - "do you want another horse?" Her immediate answer, through her tears, was "yes." So, we are trying to raise our spirts by looking around. It's not going to be easy, we've got some big "horse"shoes to fill here. Winter brought my daughter through a fearful stage- bringing back her confidence and courage and improving her riding skills. The next horse will have to be very special - we need something that is going to pick up exactly where Winter left off. Not an easy task. There was such a bond between the two. Winter tolerated me, but adored my daughter.
Again, to all - only other "horsepeople" can understand, sympathize and empathize with us through this pain. The kind words and prayers mean a great deal to us. Sincere gratitude from both of us.
Posted 2009-05-24 2:19 PM (#105401 - in reply to #70483) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
New User
Posts: 1
Location: AppleValley,Ca.
hello my name is Pam and my pony has the clear runs he first started passing piles of sand 3wks ago then he was trying to ly down and roll i have had to take him to the vet and they said he has about 30 to 40 lbs of sand in him. He probably did have that much, they did not see what i did. so they oiled him and said probios and electros and said change his feed to orchard grass , i did he still has the clear runs . What is magic earth? maybe this is the remedy sounds like barstows ponies story.
Posted 2009-05-24 5:57 PM (#105405 - in reply to #70322) Subject: RE: Help with horse & diarrhea
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Pam, continue with the Probios untill poop looks normal, because drugs can kill off good gut flora.Buy the big cattle pack with the caulking gun, it's loads cheaper than the litttle tubes labeled for horses and it's the exact same formula! You can also feed active culture yougurt if horse will eat it. Also TEST,TEST,TEST! Things like salmonella won't always show up in the first test or two. Best of luck.
Help with horse & diarrhea
