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Discussion on Protein-losing enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis

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Rebecca Pennington
Member
Username: Sonesta

Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2003
Posted on Friday, Aug 6, 2004 - 7:13 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

After several weeks of trying desperately to diagnose our five month old warmblood filly who was wasting away before our eyes, we have finally gotten a diagnosis of Protein-losing enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis and she is beginning to recover with proper treatment. I write this because most vets are completely unfamiliar with this disease and will not know to even test for it. I want to encourage EVERYONE who has a weanling foal who begins to rapidly lose weight, is depressed and feverish, with loss of appetite and WEIRD results on their CBC blood work (which indicates very low protein and albumin levels) to refer your vet to this site to read up on Protein-losing enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis and to do the proper diagnostic testing.
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro

Post Number: 11035
Registered: 1-1997
Posted on Saturday, Aug 21, 2004 - 12:08 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

Rebecca thanks for the kind mention and the heads up to those who might have protein losing enteropathy in a foal, easy to treat IF you know the cause.
DrO
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Linda N Wright
New Member
Username: Lindanw

Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 - 11:02 am:   Edit PostPrint Post

I have a foal diagnosed with Lawsonia intracellularis. He has been gravely ill with protein levels so low they didn't show up. He is beginning to recover - we now have him back home - is not depressed, eats well (we have him on high protein pellets and additives and really good alfalfa), but still has severe swelling in his legs - back legs especially. His hocks are huge. We wrap, unwrap regularly and walk him, although he is not a big fan of this. There is also still some slight serum leakage where swollen. Is this chronic swelling normal with foals that have been severely ill? We had another with the disease, but she recovered readily and easily. HELP!

Linda/Overlook Farm
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro

Post Number: 17135
Registered: 1-1997
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 - 6:37 pm:   Edit PostPrint Post

Welcome Linda,
Yes the swelling is normal Linda and could be due to several mechanisms at this time. For more on this see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Stocking Up.
DrO
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