Jill
Aspiring Cowgirl
Just an update requarding my post (below) about Lou, who had an apparent seizure this weekend. We noticed she was shaking, staggering, clenched teeth, etc. Had the vet out but she was much better by the short time it took the vet to arrive. She was mildy discoordinated when we checked her in different ways but improved to seemingly normal by the time the vet left. Similar happened to Lou in October, but at that time, we and the vet figured it was choke...
I just talked to Dr. Mattes, who said her bloodwork all looked normal with the exception of her LDH levels being high. She said that can indicate trouble with the liver, however, all other liver indicators are normal and she does not know of any trouble that would only be reflected with the higher LDH. She feels that is high from the muscle spasms. I remember years and years ago, Eclipse colicked and I think he also had higher LDH levels, due to muscle traumas.
SO, basically, we just watch Lou to see if it happens again and if so, I will video her so that Dr. Mattes will be able to see what happens. We've only seen this happen 2x though, last October and this past Saturday. I feel it probably has happened when we were not here to see it, however, I have never noticed hair knocked off her and we didn't see her fall except for once and immediately staggered back up.
I'm releived there is nothing that jumps out as very unusual with the bloodwork. I want to know what's wrong, but Lou would be one very hard horse to be without. I plan to drive her again (not for a few days, maybe longer with this heat) and just treat her as I always have, but will be watching her more closely.
She got to go out in her paddock this morning with her herd after being kept in a smallish pen all since Saturday afternoon. At 5:30am, she was taking a victory canter around her lot and demonstrating that the Boss Mare had returned...
I just talked to Dr. Mattes, who said her bloodwork all looked normal with the exception of her LDH levels being high. She said that can indicate trouble with the liver, however, all other liver indicators are normal and she does not know of any trouble that would only be reflected with the higher LDH. She feels that is high from the muscle spasms. I remember years and years ago, Eclipse colicked and I think he also had higher LDH levels, due to muscle traumas.
SO, basically, we just watch Lou to see if it happens again and if so, I will video her so that Dr. Mattes will be able to see what happens. We've only seen this happen 2x though, last October and this past Saturday. I feel it probably has happened when we were not here to see it, however, I have never noticed hair knocked off her and we didn't see her fall except for once and immediately staggered back up.
I'm releived there is nothing that jumps out as very unusual with the bloodwork. I want to know what's wrong, but Lou would be one very hard horse to be without. I plan to drive her again (not for a few days, maybe longer with this heat) and just treat her as I always have, but will be watching her more closely.
She got to go out in her paddock this morning with her herd after being kept in a smallish pen all since Saturday afternoon. At 5:30am, she was taking a victory canter around her lot and demonstrating that the Boss Mare had returned...
Jill said:Last October when Harvey and I went out to feed, we found that Lou, who is now 11yo, was staggering, quivering, sweating, nearly falling over, teeth clenched and foaming at the mouth.
We called the vet, of course. It took her about 45 minutes to arrive and by the time she did, Lou was nearly fine. If we hadn't known she was having trouble earlier, we would not have realized it from how she was acting by then. At that time, the vet diagnosed her as having had choke which resolved on its own.
Well, yesterday the same thing happened, minus the foaming at the mouth. This time, the vet took about 30 minutes to arrive. By the time she arrived, Lou was much, much better.
We did more with Lou yesterday to test her coordination, which was a little off, but not extremely off and improved to apparently normal by the time the vet left.
Like, when she first arrived, the vet pulled out Lou's tongue, which kind of flopped to the side of her mouth for a few seconds before she pulled it back in. Before she left, she did it again, and Lou immediately pulled her tongue back in as she should have the first time. I walked Lou with her head way high and nose in the air and she was a little drunk acting. She could trot, turn, three-sixty...
What do you all think this could be? We (the vet and us) feel now that last October and yesterday are connected and that it was not choke afterall. This could happen at times when we do not notice it and I feel it more likely has happened when we didn't see than not.
Lou is in a small pen with a stall until tomorrow morning, assuming she does okay. She is on banamine paste 2x a day today and tomorrow. The vet was going to leave Bute, and I didn't remember why but I know that's not something we think is good for minis...
I'm going to look up symptoms of EPM, but I am thinking if she had something like that, we'd see indications more than just 2x in 9 mos. She is FINE all other times and I drive her so she is very functional.
Does anyone have experience with epilepsy in horses? I am wondering if she could be having mild / petite seizures vs. grand mall (sp?) big ones? I am mystified. I think the vet kind of is as well. She's going to be making some calls and see if she can find anyone else who's had experience with something along these lines... She also drew blood but is not thinking it will reveal anything but "just in case" she drew some.
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