Kim~Crayonboxminiatures
Well-Known Member
I've had a trying week!
Wed. morning my favorite mare Spring was acting colicky, but with treatment seemed okay, then was back to acting "off" again on Thursday so I had the vet out to see her, she ended up pulling blood as well because she had a bit of jaundice, liver enzymes were slightly elevated, but nothing too crazy. We tubed her with water and a little oil, banamine, etc. and by Friday morning she was doing much better. I also gave her electrolyte paste several times. My vet thinks she had a high impaction, she said they are seeing a lot of impaction colics in their practice because of the fall weather/temperature changes. Thought the jaundice could be something she ate in the pasture and the colid too. Wed morning when she first showed signs of colic, I pulled the other two mares from the pasture so I could watch them all better.
Friday morning one of the other mares in with Spring, Frosty Chip didn't eat her pellets and seemed depressed, her temp was 99 degrees at 9am, then when I checked her again at 11am and her temp has spiked to 104 degrees. Vet came out, she had elevated heart rate and respirtory rate from being stressed, gums were tacky, so also a bit dehydrated, and she looked a little jaundice too. Vet gave her banemine, oxytet (antibiotic), and pulled blood to test her as well. Test results are back and at this point she could have some kind of virus, or possibly an odd late case of Potomac. WBC count was good, she was mildly dehydrated so had to keep her drinking. It is possible that Spring & Frosty ate something in the big pasture they were in that is causing this, the only difference is the fever, Spring has a normal temp.
This morning (Saturday) Frosty Chip nibbled on a little warm mash I made her for breakfast this morning, but wasn't really intersted in eating much of it, or any treats, she is grazing on hay & grass, so has a pretty good appetite. She drank some water overnight, and pooped too! She has developed thumps this morning, so I had to call the vet, I've never seen anything like it! It's like hiccups, her diaphragm (sp?) contracts in time with her heart, it's caused by a calcium deficiency. I am treating her with liquid calcium per the vet and I'm watching her closely for any changes for the worse or better! She is passing some manure, so that is good, and her temp is staying down. It's still a wait and see, I sure hope she is feeling better by tomorrow, I'm trying not to worry!
Spring is very bright today, eating, pooping and eager to share the warm mash I made for Frosty Chip. I think she is on the mend and is pretty much back to normal. I've never been so happy to see a stall full of poop!!
I'm very confident in my vets, they are very good at what they do, and they always have someone on call 24/7 which is awesome!
And to add to my troubles my dog is also sick, so I'm nursing him as well. I would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers for all of us!
Sorry this turned into a bit of a book, but I wanted to share, be sure to watch the pastures after a frost, and be sure to offer warm water. I didn't plan to have them in that particular pasture, but because of some other horses leaving later than I planned I had to have them out there a week or two longer than ideal, of course I'm kicking myself now...
Wed. morning my favorite mare Spring was acting colicky, but with treatment seemed okay, then was back to acting "off" again on Thursday so I had the vet out to see her, she ended up pulling blood as well because she had a bit of jaundice, liver enzymes were slightly elevated, but nothing too crazy. We tubed her with water and a little oil, banamine, etc. and by Friday morning she was doing much better. I also gave her electrolyte paste several times. My vet thinks she had a high impaction, she said they are seeing a lot of impaction colics in their practice because of the fall weather/temperature changes. Thought the jaundice could be something she ate in the pasture and the colid too. Wed morning when she first showed signs of colic, I pulled the other two mares from the pasture so I could watch them all better.
Friday morning one of the other mares in with Spring, Frosty Chip didn't eat her pellets and seemed depressed, her temp was 99 degrees at 9am, then when I checked her again at 11am and her temp has spiked to 104 degrees. Vet came out, she had elevated heart rate and respirtory rate from being stressed, gums were tacky, so also a bit dehydrated, and she looked a little jaundice too. Vet gave her banemine, oxytet (antibiotic), and pulled blood to test her as well. Test results are back and at this point she could have some kind of virus, or possibly an odd late case of Potomac. WBC count was good, she was mildly dehydrated so had to keep her drinking. It is possible that Spring & Frosty ate something in the big pasture they were in that is causing this, the only difference is the fever, Spring has a normal temp.
This morning (Saturday) Frosty Chip nibbled on a little warm mash I made her for breakfast this morning, but wasn't really intersted in eating much of it, or any treats, she is grazing on hay & grass, so has a pretty good appetite. She drank some water overnight, and pooped too! She has developed thumps this morning, so I had to call the vet, I've never seen anything like it! It's like hiccups, her diaphragm (sp?) contracts in time with her heart, it's caused by a calcium deficiency. I am treating her with liquid calcium per the vet and I'm watching her closely for any changes for the worse or better! She is passing some manure, so that is good, and her temp is staying down. It's still a wait and see, I sure hope she is feeling better by tomorrow, I'm trying not to worry!
Spring is very bright today, eating, pooping and eager to share the warm mash I made for Frosty Chip. I think she is on the mend and is pretty much back to normal. I've never been so happy to see a stall full of poop!!
I'm very confident in my vets, they are very good at what they do, and they always have someone on call 24/7 which is awesome!
And to add to my troubles my dog is also sick, so I'm nursing him as well. I would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers for all of us!
Sorry this turned into a bit of a book, but I wanted to share, be sure to watch the pastures after a frost, and be sure to offer warm water. I didn't plan to have them in that particular pasture, but because of some other horses leaving later than I planned I had to have them out there a week or two longer than ideal, of course I'm kicking myself now...
