Discussion on Weanlings with diarrhea+fever
Use the navigation bar above to access articles and more discussions on this topic.
| Author |
Message |
    
Kristin Clemons
New Member
Username: Hughesqh
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 1, 2002 - 9:39 pm: |   |
Hello, Hoping to find some new suggestions here as we are stumped. I am a farm manager in TX. We have(had) 19 weanlings and seem to have some type of contagious diarrhea going through them.
The 1st one to become ill ran a fever and had watery loose stools. Her initial bloodwork looked "normal" so our vet put her on a low dose of banimine daily and we continued to monitor her food and fluid intake. Day 2 she was drinking well and eating small amounts of hay, bloodwork was still good. Day 3 she became dehydrated, white cells jumped to over 17000 and we began treating with penacillin and LOTS of fluids as she was also dehydrated at this time. The nexzt morning she went down and was unable to rise, lift her head, heart rate went up and became weaker. We had the vet out and chose to put her down. This was Thurs. We autopsied her and took stool cultures but will not have the results til the end of the week. Wed afternoon another foal became sick, same symptoms, fever over 104 watery diarrhea, listless and essentially no appetite. We started her immed on Flagyl and banimine and started running fluids as soon as bloodwork indicated it was needed. As of Fri evening her white count was around 6000. Over the weekend we have had 2 weanlings become ill. Same symptoms, treating with Flagyl and banimine right now. I am looking for suggestions as to what may be causing this. 2nd filly is "holding her own" but doesn't seem to be improving at all. We have also been giving horse pepto to all weanlings with diarrhea and most now have a cow patty type of stool. We also had a broodmare abort a 7 month fetus (may be coincidental) and another broodmare that was left open and was exposed to sick weanlings that seems to have a mild diarrhea and fever tonight. Thanks for any assistance you can offer. Oh, and yes I have read the articles. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7373
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 2, 2002 - 8:44 am: | |
Hello Kristin,
There is nothing in your post that differentiates the causes from those already listed in the article on infectious diarrhea (» Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Diarrhea in Horses » Colitis, Salmonella, Clostridiosis, Colitis X). The outdoor temperature lets out PHF of course but at this point you will have to wait for the results and maintain that hydration.
From a treatment standpoint if hydration remains a primary cause of mortality consider the use of loperamide (» Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Diarrhea in Horses » Diarrhea an Overview).
DrO |
Kristin Clemons
Member
Username: Hughesqh
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 14, 2002 - 10:18 am: | |
Hello again, Well my weanlings turned out to have salmonilla. In all 8 got sick and all but the 1st one made it with alot of supportive care. The loperimide seemed to help slow things down, thanks for the suggestion. Now, my next question; is there any way I can treat the pasture they were in to remove harmful bacteria? How long does it need to be vacant to be safe to put horses back out in? Thanks again, Kristin |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7431
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 15, 2002 - 11:04 am: | |
Hello Kristin,
Let me state for those reading the post, the loperamide should be used only with the supervision of your vet, see the article for more on this.
This is a very difficult question to answer Kristin, in fact no one can tell you for sure. The organism is environmentally persistant and may remain in the digestive tracts of the recovered horses for months or longer. So this organism is sure to be around for months and perhaps even years. Hmmm....there is a lot I would like to say about sources and prevention for salmonella and it is about time that I seperated out Salmonella from Clostridial diseases (Colitis X). I will get an article on this up in the next few weeks Kristin that should help expand your understanding of this disease.
DrO |
