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Sara Lee Edwards
New Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 8, 2003 - 7:57 pm: |   |
My 18-year-old mare has always been a "hard keeper", losing weight easily. About three weeks ago, she started with loose stools, which rapidly progressed to diarrhea. After treating for a week with penicillin and Biosol (we had to pick this up at the vet's, as it is hard to get a vet around here), finally we had the vet come down. He gave her an IV of antibiotic, said she had a slight fever, and two days later repeated the dose. Then her fever was down. However, the diarrhea is nonstop, and the vet seems to have no answers. She is looking pretty bad, and we have tried everything we can think of, from Betronazole every day for the past week, to Immodium, and even cream of tartar. Does anyone have any suggestions? The vet mentioned salmonella, but did no tests on her or the stool. She drinks and eats, and we have been giving her Vitamin B complex to perk her appetite. Can anyone help save my horse? |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 8, 2003 - 11:08 pm: | |
This works on babies so I don't see why it won't work on this mare. Get several large boxes of jello. Wild strawberry goes over pretty well and smells good when you get it all over you. Dissolve this in a cup of water, takes a bit. Syringe this into her mouth and make her swallow it. After the first couple of tries, they actually act like they like it. Do this 3 or 4 times a day. With foals we only do it twice a day. Also, and this is the nasty part, get a FRESH as possible road apple from the healthiest horse that has been wormed fairly recently. Put it in a quart of water and stir it to break it up. Let the heavier matter settle. Take 60 ccs of this stuff and syringe it into her once a day. Make this concoction up fresh each time you do it. I know it sounds nuts and nasty, but it works miracles on the young stuff. She has lost all her good bugs in her intestinal tract and so she needs to replace them asap. Young foals eat their mother's manure for this reason, to beef up thier immature intestinal tract. You should see reselts in a couple of days. Be persistent with it. It does work. Good Luck.  EO
p.s. let us know how it goes. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 127
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 8, 2003 - 11:16 pm: | |
I bet Dr. O. will have a few words to say here. Meantime, what Little King Ranch is suggesting is basically getting normal flora/fauna into your mare's system. I'd get some probiotics into her, and elctrolytes too if she looks like she might be getting dehydrated. With people and animals dehydration is one of, if not the, most serious results of diarrea. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9587
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 6:17 am: | |
Hello Sara Lee and all,
Most likely LKR, the reason this works on foals is the diarrhea would have gone away on its own! For more on this see, » Equine Diseases » Foal Diseases » Foal Heat Diarrhea.
Sara without knowing the cause of the diarrhea we really cannot offer a treatment that we will know work. It is very important that you and your veterinarian try to rule out those causes of diarrhea that need a specific treatment, see » Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Diarrhea in Horses » Diarrhea an Overview. You might find it helps to print out the article and go over it with the vet. If rapid weight loss is happening be sure to follow the link to that article.
If after that you cannot figure out what is wrong you can try the empirical therapies we have listed in the article, we have put them in order of sucessfullness. You will find a list of possibilities, links to articles on how they are diagnosed and the list of empirical treatments all in the article .
Since your horse is still eating and drinking, it is important that she have free access to fresh water to prevent dehydration and I would also provide a second bucket of water that has had electrolytes added. The article explains how to make up such a electrolyte replacement and makes some dietary recommendations.
DrO |
Lanna Tucker
Member
Username: Lanna1
Post Number: 16
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 11:07 am: | |
Hello Sara Lee,
I agree with DrO, until you've diagnosed what's causing the diarrhea it'll be impossible to know the best treatment. For the immediate treatment be sure to treat her for the loss of hydration & nutrients right away. Hence the fresh water supply, electrolytes, etc...
Definitely have your Vet do some tests, blood test and stool until you can start to eliminate possibilities before you can come up with the source.
Are there any other symptoms? How long has she had the diarrhea?
I remember years ago when I worked at a clinic that we had a race horse come in with Salmonella - it's nasty & HIGHLY contagious so be careful.
Your Vet needs to be fully involved until you know the diagnosis & are confident with the treatment on your own.
Please keep us updated as you progress...
Good luck,
Lanna in BC |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 11:27 am: | |
When I suggested the jello, etc., it was because she had been doing several things the vet requested and still was not making a lot of progress. I felt the jello treatment wasn't going to hurt. With the foals I was talking about with the diarreaha, we are talking 2 and 1/2 weeks, wasting away right in front of me no matter what the vets (I had 3 working on this problem and they were stumped) gave him. This was a desperation situation and it worked. Maybe, as Dr. O said, he was going to get over them anyway. With the jello, in 1 day he went from pure green water to clumps, and in 3 days was passing just mildly loose stools. In a week he was back to normal. I did use probiotics at the time in addition to the meds. We have just started to use the jello before anyone got to the point that little guy was. The salvation was that he ate and drank water and nursed the mare the whole duration of the ordeal. EO |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 1:18 pm: | |
Thank you all for trying to help. At this point, I am going to try EVERYTHING. We have nothing left to lose, as she is failing more every day. This has been going on for three weeks. I can't get the vet down here again for a couple days - vets around here are worth their weight in gold - there just are NONE that deal with horses, and the one I do get has to fit me in at the end of his 12-hour day. I called yesterday, but he didn't have time to speak to me, and thus, I think he does not know what to do or does not want to be bothered. We dosed her last night with electrolyte meds we usually use on the calves. I'm just afraid no matter what we try, the end result will be the same.
Thanks all for trying. Will keep you posted.
Sara Lee |
Jean
Member
Username: Reggie
Post Number: 35
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 3:13 pm: | |
Sara Lee
Are you near a equine hospital? I think if I were you I would check around and see if I could bring her in for a checkup. I know when my local vets are perplexed, a few hours drive to a clinic is invaluable.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Jean |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 133
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 8:31 pm: | |
You can try yogurt, also. Make sure it has the live accidophalis (sp?) in it. Good luck and let us know how she does.
|
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 134
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 8:34 pm: | |
EO-I get the manure part (think it's an ingenious "home remedy" actually) but, I don't get what the jello does. |
Janet Remington
Member
Username: Byron
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2003 - 10:02 pm: | |
I believe that if your horse has diarrhea and salmonella is suspected you have to consider what is best both mentally and physically for your horse and yourself.
If you bring her to an equine hospital she would have to be isolated.
I have had a bad experience with an equine hospital. Our pony had colitis and was admitted to an equine hospital with a temp of 41, soft feces and blood work with only 2 white blood cell count he was isolated which meant he was in a stable with 4 walls and closed door with airconditioning. This meant he could not look out or see anything and the stable was freezing cold. He only had people come in and give him injections. He became very depressed. Being a little show pony owned by a 10 year old he was very spoilt and pampered and used to a lot of attention. He was in this hospital for 10 days. For three days in a row I had to clean the stable myself. Because he may have been infectious I felt that the staff thought is was a bother as they had to gown up to treat him. I stayed with him most of the nights and some of the days just to try and keep him happy and stimultated. I found that during the nights the hospital was totally unattended. One particular night the pony had been given mestinon and the vet said that it may cause colic or other complications and then she left and said that another vet will come back in about 4-5 hours. After about an hour the pony started to colic and I was scared. It was about 11pm during the night. I walked around the hole hospital trying to find someone to help but there was not a soul anywhere yet the whole place was wide open. I finally rang on my mobile the emergency number to contact a vet. I was shock that a hospital with 24hr emergency was not attended. Another night I stayed with him the iv fluids ran out I was not to sure if this was O.K. or not but I remembered when I took him for a walk they disconnected the iv and injected it with something so it would not clot. So I rang the emergency number and told them. About 1 1/2 hours later a very annoyed vet student arrived to fix this up. When I mentioned this to the administrator the next day they said that they did not have the funding to have a nurse or caretaker let alone a vet be in attendance. They were not happy with me after this and said I could no longer stay with the pony and I could only visit once a day. I totally lost confidence in the hospital after that night. I finally got the administrator to request the stable be clean by the cleaning contractor. The funny thing is that after they cleaned out the stable the cleaning guy went and washed his gumboots in a puddle of water and then processed into the other stable block. I felt bringing him to the hospital was like death sentance anyway. I know this is the only way to treat them due to the risk of infection to other horses. But I now wish I could have done this from home. |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 12:41 am: | |
Re: the jello. It simply gets in there and helps soothe everything and "jells" things up so everything doesn't pass right on through literally like water. If you can get things to slow down it gives the system time to regroup, especially if it is receiving the microbes that it needs to jump start it. EO |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9598
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 6:32 am: | |
Sara, the problem with your shotgun approach is that in cases where your attempts do not specifically address a problem, the changes in the diet, chemistry, or microflora caused by your treatment can actually worsen the diarrha. It takes time for a horses bowel to adjust to new factors and while adjusting diarrhea may result. Again, there is no substitute for a thorough workup as outlined in the article. The diet of this horse needs to be stablized and provide enough nutrients to prevent weight loss. If you are having problems with this see the article on weight loss for suggestions, I believe there is a link in the diarrhea article to this. Of the two problems the weight loss is more serious than the diarrhea, though they may be related.
If you continue to have problems with diarrhea without a diagnosis you can try the empirical treatments listed one at a time, gradually introducing the change then giving it at least 2 weeks to see if it helps. Anything else will just be confusing and potentially harmful.
Your idea with the gelatin, LKR, is based on the idea that you think it gels in the stomach and gi tract, but nothing could be further from the truth. Gelatin is rapidly digested and absorbed in the small bowel, while diarrhea in adult horses is almost solely a function of the large bowel.
DrO |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 8:07 am: | |
Thank you all for your suggestions. I am attempting to get the vet down here again today. Our last conversation ended with him saying the Betronidazole 500 is his last resort. He has never taken any blood or stool sample, and I am mighty upset with him. But he is the only vet available in this radius, and I don't think the horse is up to a long hauling at this point. Plus my husband says we have to be realistic, and we simply can not afford the hundreds to possibly thousands to keep this 18-year-old girl going. So we will keep on. Now I am afraid the antibiotics he prescribed have actually worsened her, not made her better. We started her on Jello and probiotics. We're NOT giving up. We are going to try EVERYTHING. Maybe it is a "shotgun" approach, but unfortunately we don't have access to good veterinary care or an equine facility. Not to mention the fact that I lost my job, and we don't have access to much money either. Isn't there a saying about "if you have horses, you don't have money" or something like that?
Again, thank you all for your assistance. As long as she is eating and drinking, we are trying to keep her going, even though she gets thinner and weaker every day.
Sara Lee} |
Lanna Tucker
Member
Username: Lanna1
Post Number: 20
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 11:09 am: | |
Hi Sara Lee,
Good luck with your Vet today - if you are successful in having him come for another visit simply demand that he take a blood & feces sample! Rather than make it look like you're questioning his ability tell him that you would like to have it done simply to put your own mind at ease.
What could it hurt? It's not too expensive to have these tests run, much less so then the mileage you're probably paying just on his visit! What's the sense in having him come out if he isn't willing to do some tests? If everyone simply stands around guessing the proper diagnosis will never be found.
Even if you do end up losing the mare, God for bid I hope you don't - but from my own experience I would want to know. Otherwise, how can you prevent this from happening again?
You'll always be guessing and your mind will never be at rest about what you've been through and what you're going through if you don't know what it is you're dealing with!
My heart goes out to you, I also understand your financial situation - it's difficult to make these decisions when you're stressed financially too! My prayers are with you...
Follow your heart, if you aren't satisfied with the answers you're getting, then keep asking questions! Even if you have to consult with an outside Vet over the phone.
And yes, the saying is true (for me anyway) "if you have horses, you don't have money!"
Take care,
Lanna in BC  |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 11:35 am: | |
You are in the same boat as hundreds of others so don't feel bad. You love the horse and are doing everything you can to help her. Good Luck with her and let us know how it turns out. Sometimes with good veterinary care things still don't work. Older horses do have their problems. We have a 20 year old mare that we are going to have to euthanize pretty soon. She got kicked in a front knee a couple of years ago and it has gotten to the point that it is really bothering her. Her 24 year old mother is the picture of health for a mare that age. EO |
Elizabeth Donahue
Member
Username: Paul303
Post Number: 407
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 6:05 pm: | |
How much Immodium did you use? Liquid or pill form? Might not want to change her diet too much, since diet changes cause many GI upsets in horses. Although, breaking her feed into several small feedings ( mixed with warm water to dilute it, make it easier to eat, and help up H2O intake ), will get her food into her without overloading her already stressed GI tract. |
Janet Remington
Member
Username: Byron
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 7:32 pm: | |
Dear Sara,
I know what you are going through.
I agree with requesting a blood test, this will give some idea as to what is going on. The culture of the feces may not show up anything because of the antibiotics given. Have you checked her gum colour. Our pony had quite pale gums and then they went bright pink to a purple colour due to the toxins.
I wish you all the best. It is so had sometimes because they cannot tell us what is going on and we feel helpless.
You are doing the right thing.
Big hugs for you and her.
|
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 3:27 pm: | |
Hello again!
Question for King Ranch - When you did the "road apple" treatment, how long did you do it for? I believe something is beginning to help my horse, and we have done that treatment twice. Today she has had only one spell of diarrhea, and she is urinating quite a bit, which she had not been doing before, so I am thinking maybe she is not as dehydrated as she had been. We are also giving her electrolytes. Her appetite is good, and she has fresh water at all times, and seems to be drinking quite a bit, plus licking the salt block. We did cut back on her sweet feed, and tried her on oats, alfalfa cubes and corn, all of which she ate only a little. She is chowing down on her hay however.
Again, thank you all for helping!
Sara Lee |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2003 - 10:45 am: | |
I would say give her the treatment once a day until she is have normal stools. It isn't going to hurt her and might just keep her from having a relapse. The electrolytes have probably helped a lot. So glad to hear she is improving. Keep us posted. Hope you can come up with what was causing it, however you may never know. EO |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2003 - 8:42 am: | |
Just wanted you all to know my horse is still alive, but not kicking. We keep trying the road apple treatment, plus electrolytes and, we tried Kaopectate 60 cc twice a day, and the diarrhea has slowed considerably. She is still eating and drinking well. I am going to do my third attempt at getting the vet here for some blood and stool work, just in case there is something else going on. I haven't had much luck getting him here in the past week.....
Anyway, just wanted all you nice helpful people to know she is still hanging in there, and so are we. We are NOT giving up as long as she is eating and drinking.
Thanks again all for your help. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 139
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2003 - 10:43 am: | |
The fact she is eating and drinking is so good. Glad you aren't giving up on the poor thing. Is sounds like she's doing quite a bit better actually. Let us know how it goes with the vet. Hang in there! |
Lanna Tucker
Member
Username: Lanna1
Post Number: 40
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2003 - 2:13 pm: | |
Glad to hear that you're hanging in there Sara Lee! Keep us posted as to your progress & what the results are with the stool/blood tests if and when you're able to get them done.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for you and your mare!
Lanna in BC |
Susan M. Herrick
New Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 18, 2003 - 5:17 pm: | |
Hi Sara Lee!
I am new to the forum here, but can relate. I have a 20 something gelding who developed diarrhea about 1 month ago. I am frustrated as well, my vet has advised probiotics, they help for a while. Then he did a fecal, said nothing conclusive. He said there were a billion of something in there they could not identify but did not think it was anything to worry about. Did not give me much confidence in thier conclusion, but what can you do??? Then he prescribed metrodiazole 20pills 2 x day. I got 80 in him before he refused the bread i stuffed them in, then he started acting lethargic and did not finish his grain. Before this he acted and ate normal. I reported this to the vet and have not yet heard from him, i guess he too is avoiding me, not knowing what to do. It is frustrating, but I wish there was some clear diagnostics that someone would try before he starts going down hill. I asked him to culture the stool, and he said they weren't set up for that. What kind of blood tests would we ask them to perform, do you know???
Frustrating and helpless, let me know if you find anything. I did give him 30 pepto tablets stuffed in hamburger buns for 3 days. this cleared it up for a while
good luck
quatro
|
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 19, 2003 - 12:07 am: | |
I have found using one of those little electric coffee grinders, you can get one for $10-$12 at Walmart or somewhere, work slick as a whistle. You throw your smaller pills in whole or break up larger pills and zap them into powder. I mix that in their grain ration, adding aloe vera or molasses to make it stick to it. They usually slick it right up. If you have to give a few times a day just portion out their grain into that many feedings. EO |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 19, 2003 - 10:10 am: | |
That is a great Idea! I cleaned out one of those biotic syringes, I could mix yucky tasting pills with apple sauce and squirt it in there. Still working on the live micro added to grain. Going to get some beet pulp today!
have a good one |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 145
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 19, 2003 - 8:33 pm: | |
Another suggestion on the pills is to crush them and roll then up in sticky peanut butter and stick it on the roof of their mouth or on their top gum towards the back. They seem to like the taste and can't spite it out. I've had good luck with applesauce, too.
Sara Lee-did your vet ever get back to you? How is your mare? |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 20, 2003 - 10:33 am: | |
Hi Sara, how is your horse?? Mine is an older gelding. He is acting totally normal so far. Haven't heard from the vet. Did start the beet pulp yesterday. He seems to like it. Just not sure how much I should feed
will keep in touch
sue |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2003 - 2:48 pm: | |
Hello all - This forum is great, and we are still trying EVERYTHING on the mare. The kaopectate seemed to help until two days ago, and now she is loosening up again. The vet wouldn't come the last time since he "wasn't going to be in the area" and since she is still eating and drinking. I am calling for the fifth or sixth time tomorrow and TELLING him I want him down here. The mare seems to be filling out a little, but she has had this problem since Thanksgiving, and something just has to be done. We have tried the road apple treatment, kaopectate, immodium, jello, cutting back on her sweet feed and adding oats and alfalfa cubes, mineral salt blocks, twice the vet gave her IV antibiotics, and for about a week we gave her Betronidazole 500 twice daily, and also B12 and probiotics. She no longer has a fever, seems to act perkier, but I noticed she has a LOT of rumbling in her belly and passing gas. My husband just went to the barn and he is going to give her Pepto Bismol. The vet WILL be down here tomorrow, or he will hear this woman throwing SUCH a hissy fit!!! The mare did seem to be firming up, was the consistency of a cow pattie last week, and now my husband thinks we should have stopped all the treatments then and let nature take it's course and maybe firm up on her own, instead of continuing the Kaopectate. Anyone have any other suggestions or comments? We won't let her go down without a fight. She was looking like a bag of sticks, but seems to be filling out a bit. We feel if she had something fatal like cancer, she would have been down by now, since this has been going on since Thanksgiving.
Susan, how is your gelding doing? Is the pepto doing the job for him? What will the beet pulp do?
Sara Lee |
Buffy
Member
Username: Nisquy
Post Number: 15
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2003 - 4:00 pm: | |
Hi Sara Lee:
I had a mare who was around 31 or 32 at the time and had diarrhea for about a month. We treated it with Kaopectate several times a day, probiotics, and adding a cup or so of dry bran to her grain. It did take a while but eventually cleared up and never returned again. (She was close to 40 when she died of heart failure.) I kept calling my vet saying "it's not working" and he said, be patient and keep it up. So, I will pass that advice along to you! Best of luck and I hope it clears up soon!
B. |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 21, 2003 - 5:07 pm: | |
I read an article in the John Lyons newsletter praising the use of beet pulp. The cattle guys around here use it to "fatten up the show cattle" before fair. It is suppose to help shiny up their coat etc. Apparently it helps with the lower intestine somehow,which is where they need help in absorbing nutrients. I have only done it for 2 days 2 cups soaked in water 2 x day. He lovvvesss it. There was no squirts on the stall wall today and it was more pasty than runny. You get the beet pulp at the feed store or elevator. I will let you know. I am also adding electrolytes in a powder form and a powder form live something or other that is supposed to replace good bacteria. We shall keep trying.
sue |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9665
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2003 - 6:53 am: | |
Recommendations for the specifics on how to use beet pulp and how it might work are in the article I refereced way above. It is the first listed empirical treatment in that article.
DrO |
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2003 - 3:10 pm: | |
Hi All, I hate to become too celebratory, but, This am, for the first time in weeks, I had a normal horse poop in Dusty's stall. Who would think one would be so excited about horse manure, eh? Will keep my fingers crossed!
sue |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2003 - 4:08 pm: | |
WONDERFUL SUE! I would be excited too, if I saw lumps in my horse's stall instead of this runny mess. We thought she was better, but now seems to be loosening up again. Another call to the vet, he says "call me tomorrow, too busy today." So we are soaking the beet pulp right now to try....
So glad your horse is better!
Sara Lee |
Sandra Ross
Member
Username: Sross
Post Number: 77
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2003 - 11:06 pm: | |
At our barn we had a gelding with chronic diarrhea, not terrible but never really firm. And this guy just wouldn't keep any weight on, always skinny. They put him on beet pulp, the manure firmed up, and his weight started increasing. He ended up on the plump side! |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 8
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 2:23 pm: | |
Thank you all for trying to help me. We had to euthanize Missy this morning. She went down in her stall and we couldn't get her up. The vet (who FINALLY came when I called him frantically) said she had un-natural bowel sounds, and he thought she had no breath sounds in one lung. We don't have the money for an autopsy, since I lost my job, so we will never know.
Thanks again, all you nice people.
Sara Lee |
Lanna Tucker
Member
Username: Lanna1
Post Number: 51
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 2:37 pm: | |
Oh Sara,
I'm so very sorry for your loss! I wish there were something I could do to ease the pain and comfort you at this time. It's never easy and always painful when this kind of a decision has to be made.
It's obvious how much you loved Missy and cared for her & she knew it too!
Take care in this time of overwhelming grief, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lanna in BC |
Jean
Member
Username: Reggie
Post Number: 37
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 2:39 pm: | |
I am so so sorry for your loss. |
Shirley A. Johnson
Member
Username: Shirl
Post Number: 75
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 3:09 pm: | |
Sara,
I know "I'm sorry" don't help one bit, but all of us do understand your frustration, hurt, and loss. You did your very best without much cooperation from the Vet. Dept. That is sad. Please visit the www.Rainbowsbridge.com which will help ease your pain. Prayers are with you, Shirl
|
Susan M. Herrick
Member
Username: Quatro
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 4:25 pm: | |
Sara, I am so sorry for your loss! There are no right words to say, but know that all of us were praying for your horse, and now we will pray to help you get through this very difficult time.
Sue |
Christine Holmes Bukowski
Member
Username: Canyon28
Post Number: 39
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 6:11 pm: | |
Sara, I am sorry to hear your mare lost her fight. Dont beat yourself up over it too bad, the what ifs and could have's can take a toll on you too. Your vet was not nearly as helpful as he could have been, and I feel sad you were not able to figure out what was causing her problem. Maybe she did have cancer, or something similar. She is with God now, and playing and running in fields of green forever. I am truly sorry, I know it hurts so much to lose a faithful companion.
Chris www.canyonrimranch.net |
Jan Toberer
Member
Username: Jjet
Post Number: 26
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 10:14 pm: | |
Sara Lee: I've been following this thread through it all, though sadly I had nothing that I could contribute. You did as much as was humanly possible for your mare in your situation, with woefully inadequate veterinary assistance. I know just how painful this is for you, I once lost a wonderful mare and suffered a great deal over it. I finally came to realize that it was out of my control and the pain lessened. At least your sweet girl is not suffering. Try to take comfort in knowing that she knew you were there trying to help her.
Jan |
Elizabeth Donahue
Member
Username: Paul303
Post Number: 415
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 10:36 pm: | |
My sincere sympathies, Sara, both on the loss of your dear mare, and the fact that you had to go through this at this time of the year. I lost my A# 1 gelding last year at this very same time to a freak - torsion fracture of the humerus. Remember this fact: your horse was about how she lived....NOT how she died. You owe it to yourself and to the warm and wonderful times she gave you to remember the good. |
Liselotte F. Bradford
Member
Username: Lilo
Post Number: 93
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 24, 2003 - 5:19 pm: | |
My sincere condolences,
Lilo Bradford |
JANETTE MCDOWELL
Member
Username: Westks
Post Number: 169
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2003 - 10:55 am: | |
My heart goes out to you and my prayers are with you. |
Nicole D Lopez-Pruitt
New Member
Username: Npruitt
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2003 - 4:17 pm: | |
Dear Sara Lee:
I tried to respond to your notices a few days before your mare was put to sleep because my 30 year old pony is going through the same thing that your mare went through, but I was unable to because of an error with my system.
But, I just want to say now that I am so sorry to hear about your loss, and my heart truly goes out to you and your husband.
Sincerely,
Nicole López-Pruitt from South Carolina |
joj
Member
Username: Jojo15
Post Number: 408
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 26, 2003 - 2:13 am: | |
Wow! Terrible post. I am so sorry you lost your horse. It seems like this was very long and sad journey. I wonder what was truly wrong with him. Sara Lee, where do you live that a vet can't come out? How terrible and nerve-wracking. For future do you have a small animal vet office near you? Where they could do lab work?
I hope though that people reading this for reference on Diarrhea in the future will not do what some were advocating. In a time of deep stress and confusion, we will try anything hoping it helps. As Dr. O stated try what is known on the list of acceptable treatments first. Ask him questions. Reread the articles, try the next thing, and then ask him again if there is any confusion.
Again, so sorry for your loss.
joj |
Aileen
Member
Username: Sunny66
Post Number: 325
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 26, 2003 - 9:41 am: | |
So very sorry Sara Lee...your heart must be incredibly heavy. Please do read the Rainbow Bridge poem as posted above...I really believe in it.
Many healing thoughts on the way to you.
Aileen |
Sara Lee Edwards
Member
Username: Foggyval
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 27, 2003 - 1:34 pm: | |
Thank you all for your kind words and prayers. It's very hard right now, to see the empty stall, but I guess it will ease after time...
I'm on my way to read the Rainbow Bridge poem right now....
Again, thank you all, and Missy would have thanked you too (especially if you had a treat in your hand.)
Sara Lee |
Bonnie Weaver
Member
Username: Bonnie64
Post Number: 24
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 14, 2006 - 8:34 am: | |
DrO. Hi it's Bonnie again. I don't know if you remember Tucker or not we were treating him for clostridium colitis. Well after 4 months I think the second round of penicillin finally did the trick. He is eating great for about 3 1/2 weeks now and the edema is almost gone, he is still swollen in his sheath. How long does that take to go away? When should I be concerned that it hasn't? My question is Now that he is eating again. What should he be eating? He still has loose manure. He is eating sweet feed which I know is not the best but was the only thing he would eat. I am adding yeast to his food daily and he is eating a mixture of grass and alfalfa hay, that is what the stable provides to him. I am beginning to think that he has damage to he intestines somewhere. But I am convinced that there has to be a proper way to feed him so that he is able to adsorb nutrients and gain back his weight. He lost a lot while he was sick. Yesterday he has a fever of 102 and didn't want to eat his breakfast but by dinner he was eating fine. I just want him to feel good and be healthy I realize that I is going to be a long road getting him back but he is alive and I am so happy about that. So any advice on diet or further tests or what have you to slow things down if that is even what needs to be done or help him adsorb things better I will be very grateful. |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 1016
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 14, 2006 - 10:22 am: | |
Bonnie, I am happy to hear that Tucker is finding some joy in life, again. I don't remember if you ever tried adding fat to his diet. I have heard that too much fat can interfere with absorption of nutrients and even destroy some of the good gut bacteria. Still, I had great success with oil. Can you get Blue Seal Feed in PA? Before I left VT, they had come up with a high vegetable fat pellet called HUNTER. I heard a couple of testimonies from very pleased owners who were struggling to put weight on older horses. The horses loved the pellet and gained substantial weight. There may be other high fat grains you can try or maybe just add some oil to his sweet feed. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 15065
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 14, 2006 - 7:05 pm: | |
That is super Bonnie. Could you cut and paste this post into a post at the bottom of your former discussion. Besides not interrupting Sara's discussion this is very important information for those reading your previous posts and in the same condition.
DrO |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 1223
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 14, 2006 - 8:26 pm: | |
Bonnie, I'm so glad Tucker is finally doing better. You two have had a long haul! Please continue to keep us posted. |
Bonnie Weaver
Member
Username: Bonnie64
Post Number: 25
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, Mar 16, 2006 - 10:38 am: | |
Sorry to hijack the post. I have been given 20 lashes with a wet noodle by my boss. It won't happen again. lol Still learning about etiquette. thanks |
