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Beth Gordon
Member
Username: Bethyg2
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Feb 2, 2004 - 9:14 pm: |   |
Hello- I was wondering if someone who was familiar with minis could help me out a little, because I just had a mini shipped from Texas to Florida, which took two and a half days, mostly driving and resting (No layovers) The little guy looked beat when he got here and layed down in the pasture. He looked lethargic so I took him in and took his temperature. It was 104.7! The vet came asap and gave 1/3 gram bute (he weighs less than 100 lbs) and intravenous Baytril. Later that day I learned that Baytril is not a safe and proper drug for young horses- Naxel (sp?)would have been better. my vet said she didn't consider using it because it was $100 for one small bottle. What is that? Don't I get a say? I would have approved this if it was the drug of choice. Why give an unsafe drug? Especially as the first antibiotic tried. I then learned that this vet suspected rhodococcus, but there was no coughing and the x-ray was totally clear. First, am I wacky to be upset about the potential for cartilage damage to the 8 month old colt? Second, can this be a simple case of shipping fever? The white count that came back today was 35.7 K/uL DVC 22%, HGB 9.0, FIB 1200 I have no idea what this means. The little guy seemed better tonight, and I am checking in on him periodically. I am just concerned that he isn't getting good veterinary care.Changing antibiotics and all. Maybe x-rays aren't enough to rule out rhodococcus, maybe an aspiration of bronchial secretion is warranted. I was just told to crush up a pill and a half of my own (human) Z-pack with applesauce for 7 days. What should I do? I feel like I really have to be his advocate here.I am so concerned I can't sleep- I'm going out to the barn now. |
Beth Gordon
Member
Username: Bethyg2
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2004 - 11:59 am: | |
Update- Thank God I can say that this coming 10 month old miniature horse foal is going to be fine- he has recovered nicely from the pneumonia though we never found out exactly what he had in part becasue of the lack of small instruments for diagnosis-no way to see into the pouches, etc.(By the way, this ended up being bad not only for the horse, but my insurance company refused to pay for any of the anti-ulcer meds becasue there was no scope used to diagnose them- a scoping that couldn't have taken place because there was no scope to fit him. The vets put him on gastroguard (37.50 a tube) and sucralfate.)He tested positive for s equi- the strangles bug- but the glands in the throatlatch never burst, but went down as soon as the rifampin/ erythromycin was started. Since the bug did not respond to the z pack we had him on for 11 days the vets don't think he had rhodococcus.Anyway, he was on the rifampin erythromycin mix for 60 (yes sixty) days. That stuff fixed him up asap, with no side effects. His hair did fall out, and he doesn't look great right now, but he's back at his normal weight target, you can't see his ribs, and he's a wild man as should be expected for a yearling stallion. But we did almost lose him (all the posts disappeared) and I thank all the people who posted and followed this thread and Dr. O for helping me- I was a nervous wreck. This site really helped me to be more informed about his problem.It was worth the small cost of joining!-Beth Gordon. |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 50
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 - 6:43 am: | |
He is certainly a tough little guy and a survivor. Good luck with him in the future. Kudos to you for persevering. EO |
