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Kathleen M. Carroll
New Member
Username: Katiec
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, Jun 1, 2003 - 2:10 pm: |   |
I am writing this post because, frankly, I just don't know what else to do. Our 20 yr. old gelding gets a loose stool from time to time. It didn't really worry us that it started again last Sunday (5/24/03). But this time it got worse - more and more watery - exploding and the horse stopped eating his hay and only picked at his food. Most alarmingly, his sheath became enormously swollen. Called the vet, who came Friday and took blood and stool samples, prescribed banamine(10cc) and sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (15 - 800mg tabs x 2 PD)and benebac (10cc x 1PD). The horse seemed to perk up a bit but I wondered whether he was actually getting the full benefit of the meds since he was such a pain about taking them. On Saturday (5/31) he stopped eating altogether and would only drink if my husband held his water bucket up to his mouth. Sunday morning, when my husband went into his stall he seemed to be suffering from, in addition to everything else, some neurological problem and was pulling his head to the side, also dehydration and disphasia (spelling may be wrong - couldn't swallow). He put the horse out in our small paddock where there is little forage but fresh air. The horse dropped and he called the vet who came immediately. There was nothing else to be done but euthanize. The blood work didn't show anything. I don't think the stool did either but I'm getting some vague info from the vet on whether they actually ran the stool over the weekend. Tomorrow we are taking him to a nearby lab for an autopsy but it seems that something should have shown up in the lab work. I have read all the posts and it looks like Salmonella but the symptoms of many ailments are very similar. I haven't seen any disease or ailment that accounts for the swollen sheath. He had all vacinations -PHF, bot, West Nile, etc. He was a great Civil War cavalry mount and will be solely missed. We are bewildered and feel like we didn't do enough. We are not lifelong horse people - only 5 years - so we feel like our inexperience may have contributed to what happened. Any thoughts on something we overlooked? This horse has been in the same paddocks for 4 years so I can't believe something all of a sudden started growing there. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Katie Carroll |
joj
Member
Username: Jojo15
Post Number: 362
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 2, 2003 - 2:25 am: | |
So sorry to hear about this. Don't I repeat don't think for a minute your inexperience was the reason. You loved your horse and treated him well. Things like this happen to EVERY kind of owner. There are a million things that could have happened.
I went thru this with my dog just this past week. Almost exact symptoms. I know we are talking apples and oranges. But, they couldn't explain what happened just gastric enteritis, which could have been caused by anything. Parasites? poison? Salmonella was on the list too, etc.... I had no clue she was so dehydrated, she almost died. And I kept beating myself up over it. Sometimes it comes on so fast there is nothing you can do. Once an animal is sick the dehydration part I didn't realize is so important to watch for.
Could the horse gotten into some poison? You really just have to wait and see what the vets say after they check him out.
Do you have other horses? maybe start checking them more closely incase its a virus.
jojo |
Penner
Member
Username: Penner
Post Number: 101
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 2, 2003 - 12:36 pm: | |
Hi Kathleen,
I too, offer my sympathy to you, it is so hard to lose a friend like that. It sounds like you did everything you could, don't beat yourself up.
Jojo is right, keep an eye on other horses if you have them, tho. Hopefully, your vet will be able to shed more light on this soon.
I lost my best friend last October, & so many people on this board helped me with these thoughts. There are lots of them, but please go to this area of the board & read these, it will help your sadness...
The Horseman's Advisor » BULLETIN BOARD members only » The Lounge: Kick back and relax. » General Interest Questions » My horse died tonight
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 8503
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 2, 2003 - 2:43 pm: | |
I have a few thoughts Kathleen, but many of these serious causes of diarrhea are not separable by clinical signs and blood work. A diagnosis must await the necropsy. I do not see what you could have done differently from the information you give.
1) Your past diarrhea events may not be related to the current event.
2) PHF cannot be ruled out by a history of vaccination: it is unclear it decreases the incidence or severity of the disease.
Let us know what they find. There are many reasons why the sheath may have swollen so let's see what the necropsy finds.
DrO |
Kathleen M. Carroll
Member
Username: Katiec
Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 3:31 pm: | |
Many thanks for all the kind words. The necropsy revealed colon cancer. The pathologist said this was extremely difficult to diagnose in a living horse. We feel very badly that our horse must have been in pain for some time and we didn't know. Another interesting thing, this horse was "in charge" of our little herd. Over the last few weeks, we have noticed that our other gelding has been sort of challenging him - running to the gate first even though he knew that the other horse was always taken in first, chasing him. We thought it was play but are now wondering if the other horse didn't sense that he was very ill. Our only solace is that our dear companion is no longer in pain. |
Shirley A. Johnson
Member
Username: Shirl
Post Number: 46
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 3:48 pm: | |
Dear Kathleen, My sympathy to you in your loss. Oh, if only they could talk! You did your very best, and your beloved horse is now "over the rainbow" waiting for you some day in the future.
With love, Shirl |
TONI
Member
Username: Tonijo
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 5:12 pm: | |
Kathleen
I just want you to know that there are so many of us out here that have been thru a long tough road w/ lots of unanswered questions and guilt to follow wondering about how long these beautiful babies have carried the pain before its so evitdent to us and do they not show it for the sake of being strong for us because we love and need them sooo much? Know that many of us have shared the same sort of pain(although you cant measure pain but you know what I mean) and experiences in one way or another and at one time or another.
Im sure you did everything you could possibly do, if not you wouldnt be here inquiring and reaching out to any and everyone. I do know your pain and sadness and I feel so sorry for you as Im sure the others do too. Its us and only us that understand the loss of a horse. Its your best friend, constant in life, soulmate, happiness, and joy and even your therapy that always lets you end the day w/ a smile and only to forget about the rest of the crazy world around you and its complications that can follow. I hope you can remember in time the good things you shared/experienced/learned from your beautiful guy and know that he now is at rest and will see you someday.
I know its hard to get the thoughts of the loss out of your mind because I myself lost a horse 13 wks ago and the devastation has left such a big hole in my heart and my life is in a whirlwind. I try to remind myself that if It was possibly to try and keep her alive it would only be for selfish reasons for me and it would not be quality time w/ her. It hurt me so much ,the day I had to say goodbye, to watch her in pain that it was almost easier to let her go because of the pain I felt in my heart watching her pain while trying to fight the battle for me. It was a long rode I traveled to keep her going comfortably and I thought we were on our way out this terrible nightmare only to discover differently and I still feel like Im still traveling down that horrible road awaiting to rid the pain. I unfortunately didnt have the means/opportunity to check out the situation (necropsy)to answer the "whys" howvever, we had ideas from her history and the such. It was hard at first to just assume because maybe there was more to it but I now know she has been relieved of her pain and I pray I will see her someday and have the opportunity to be together. She was my best friend and there was no competition w/ that.
I can only say, time time time and believe me if time could move faster or I could make it somehow move faster for just that reason(for all of us grievers to accept these awful losses)I would give the world to make this easier. This statement has been said to me a 1000 times over from other consoling people out here and Im trying to believe it and just waiting for the day to arrive that it will finally feel ok. It feels like forever, I know. But hearing the stories out here of others and their healing process gives me hope that it will come my way and take away this awful pain.
We are all out here for you and anytime you need to share, I am a listening ear. So many have been so supportive to me and I feel I need to help others in the same way.
Your in my thoughts!
Toni
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Aileen
Member
Username: Sunny66
Post Number: 220
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 5:27 pm: | |
Oh Kathleen...I'm so very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
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Christine C. Mills in NC
Member
Username: Chrism
Post Number: 936
Registered: 4-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 5:38 pm: | |
My thoughts are with you Kathleen. Wishing you better days and many happy memories to fill the hole in your hearts.
Chris |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 8522
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 10:52 pm: | |
My deepest condolences Kathleen.
DrO |
Elizabeth Donahue
Member
Username: Paul303
Post Number: 344
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 4, 2003 - 11:26 pm: | |
Many thanks, Kathleen, for letting us know the results of the necropsy. Now you know, without a doubt, you did your best. Soon it will be time for you to acknowledge and pay homage to the exquisite deep bond you shared with your equine friend by offering your love and protection to another equine who needs you. |
