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Liliana Velasco Ariza
Member
Username: liliana
Post Number: 453
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 7:15 pm: |   |
Dear Dr. O,
I'm finding it hard to write as I'm sobbing and at a loss.
Henry is one of my rescued horses, he was about 20 maybe, it is hard to tell with horses that start working very early and go through all sorts of diets or no food etc.
He began to drop weight about a month and a half ago, as I had change the brand I thought that was the cause although the rest of the horses were fine.
About three weeks ago I changed to Omoline (Purina) which just arrived on the Island. He seemed to be picking up gradually.
He did not seem in pain or acting different than before, he was a real character, smart, chickie and stubborn.
On Sunday he seemed fine, ate all his food and alfalfa as normal.
Yesterday when I was at work, at around midday my daughter called me to say that he had colic, unfortunately I just started work in a jewelry shop so I could not very well take off to see him.
I called a friend of mine (who has a horse rental business, but is one of the few that “cares” about horses) he managed to get there around two. Henry was rolling on the ground, he seemed confused walking backwards crashing on the fence and very cold!
My daughter stayed with him and at about six pm she called me and said that she thought Henry was dying. I managed to get off work at 8pm and dashed to the ranch but alas as I got there he dropped hard on the ground and began to grasp for air and died. A bloody foamy stuff came out of his nostrils it was dark so I could not see very well but he seemed to have some sort of gunge in his eyes. Although his eyes went like jelly he still was making gargling noises and the foamy bloody stuff came out of his nostrils, he smelled very bad within seconds, my daughter tells me that he was standing but walking backwards, very stiff, we’ve both seen colic on horses, Henry was not sweating, he was very cold to the touch.
My friend said he thinks is EEV in which case all my horses would be doomed. As you know there are no equine vets on the Island!
Henry was prone to colic, about three years ago I wrote as he was peeing a kind of milky thick pee, and when it dried it looked sort of sandy. At the time we had him on a drip for a day and he picked up fine, he had had colic last June but with I injected 5m of fenilbutazona and he was fine within 20 mins. He had not had colic since then.
I’ve read a lot of articles since last night, such as weight loss, EEV but I cannot find the symptoms. I know it is hard without you having seen the horse, and getting the info from a third party. But I’ll very much appreciate your comments in case it was EEV, all the horses share a water through!!!. William has dropped some weight in the last two weeks but the weather turned turned very cold at night and that usually happens until I can adjust the feed.
Thanking you in advance
Liliana |
Erika L
Member
Username: erika
Post Number: 1448
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 7:58 pm: | |
Hi Liliana, it's been a long time since I've seen a post from you. I'm sorry its under such sad circumstances.
Your experience sounds heartbreaking. I hope someone has some answers for you.
Erika |
Diane E.
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 3180
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 8:16 pm: | |
Liliana , my condolences on your loss of Henry, what a horrible thing for you both to go through.
Here are Dr.O.'s articles on EEE, VEE, and WEE, if you want to check the symptoms. I don't believe the encephalitis's are contagious horse to horse, if that was the cause
http://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/5394.html |
Ann
Member
Username: dres
Post Number: 2061
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 9:53 pm: | |
Liliana, is this the Henry i had met when there?
I am so sorry for your loss.. it is not easy on anyone loosing a beloved animal..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Vicki Zaneis
Member
Username: vickiann
Post Number: 812
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 10:22 pm: | |
So very sorry to hear this sad news, Liliana. |
Jo Ann Widner
Member
Username: jowidner
Post Number: 284
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 10:30 pm: | |
So sorry for your loss Liliana. I hope you find answers and some peace of mind in the coming days. Also hoping that the rest of your herd stay healthy. |
Liliana Velasco Ariza
Member
Username: liliana
Post Number: 455
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 - 10:49 pm: | |
Thank you all very much for your support on this very sad issue.
Yes Ann it was my Henry the one you saw, he was also my star with the riding for the disabled, I know you had to see the photos to believe it, he was a sweet gentle horse that loved children, as many do. He was very smart and I do believe that he related you to his working days with tourists.
Unfotunately I do not have as much time to write anymore, but I do read from time to time your posts, even if I don't write my heart is always with you all.
It's so sad that because there are no vets we could not save him.
I was told that it was very contagious, but then again the information comes from people that have learned along the way without an expert opinion.
Thank you all so much
Love
Liliana |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 21773
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 5:02 am: | |
My condolences Liliana,
If by EEV he means Equine Encephalitis Virus you can read more about this see at Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Dementia: Depression, Excitement, Coma » Eastern, Western, and Venezuelean Viral Encephalitis. There are differences between the Venezuelean and Eastern and Western forms and I would be uncertain what is the most likely in your locale but do know all three forms occur there. However the symptoms you describe are more consistent with severe abdominal pain and sound more like colic than encephalitis which usually comes on slowly over a day or two with high fever being a important diagnostic feature of encephalitis.
DrO |
Fran C
Member
Username: canter
Post Number: 1750
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 7:29 am: | |
My condolences, Liliana. |
Angie J.
Member
Username: ajudson1
Post Number: 2128
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 7:45 am: | |
Liliana,
I am sorry to hear that Henry has crossed over, and without a vet to at least help ease whatever was wrong. Believe he is in a better place now and is sending his love to you for being in his life for the time you were. |
Corinne Candice
Member
Username: corinne
Post Number: 1403
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 8:06 am: | |
Liliana yes so sorry for your loss but know you gave him the best days of his life! Bravo for the rescue work you do! |
LL
Member
Username: frances
Post Number: 743
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 8:10 am: | |
So sad to hear of Henry's passing. |
Melissa Boschwitz
Member
Username: amara
Post Number: 484
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 10:12 am: | |
Lilliana, so sorry to hear about Henry's loss. What a heartache for you to have to bear.
When I was in college I remember hearing about similar type symptoms with a horse that had ruptured his stomach. I dont know if this was the case here. |
Ann S
Member
Username: annes
Post Number: 297
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 10:46 am: | |
Liliana, I am so sorry for your loss. |
Lilo
Member
Username: lilo
Post Number: 962
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 1:33 pm: | |
Liliana, my condolences on the loss of your special horse, Henry. I am sorry you had to go through this, and I hope your other horses will be OK.
Lilo |
KatR
New Member
Username: kathrynr
Post Number: 5
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 5:16 pm: | |
Liliana,
The fact that he was rescued by someone like yourself who cared for him as you must have means that despite his sad end he was graced with a good life. I hope that alone gives you some comfort in your mourning for Henry.
I always feel that when it is my turn to pass my beloved animals will be waiting for me with a nudge at my pocket or a wag of the tail.
Kat |
Cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 1227
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 5:28 pm: | |
Liliana, the mystery surrounding a horse's death is often the very hardest thing to cope with. You are left thinking if I had only done this or that then maybe .... remember IF you had NOT saved Henry what his life and death would have been with out you! No ifs ands or buts allowed. So very sorry! |
Kath
Member
Username: kathjune
Post Number: 34
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 7:14 pm: | |
Liliana
So sorry to hear of Henrys death,you did the best you could for him in his latter years. Reading your post made me think of a pony we lost last year in many respects, the weight loss, colicky episodes etc. I was lucky in that I found out was wrong but alas there was nothing I could do. He had lyphosarcoma in his intestines. If Henry had the same condition then there truly was nothing you could of done. Take care. |
Vicki Zaneis
Member
Username: vickiann
Post Number: 814
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 - 9:03 pm: | |
What Melissa said about stomach rupture is reminiscent with a severe colic that a friend's horse suffered. Had the gastric tube not been passed frequently enough, including hospitalization to insure this, he would have died.
He too became very cold going through his severe colic.
Sometimes there is a small window for action and we may not always be able to do as much as we would wish, but this is not for lack of caring or trying |
leslie christian
Member
Username: leslie1
Post Number: 452
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 4:09 pm: | |
<hugs>
Leslie |
PattyB
New Member
Username: pattyb
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 4:37 pm: | |
Liliana.....I am new here but I wanted to add something to your thread:
This past August, I lost my 33 year old Arab/Saddlebred cross who had been on pergolide/chromium for the past 6 years for Cushing's. What happened with her was sudden as well...and not related to Cushings. She was fine at 1:00 in the morning but when I went out with breakfast, she was very mopey. She ate her grain but continued to mope so I let her graze while I cleaned stalls. Ten minutes later, I had an emergency on my hands. With no idea why, she started to tremble all over. My vet was here in 20 minutes and during the time I waited, her heart rate went from 130-144-160 by the time he got to us. His best guess upon exam was a tear in the aorta at the pelvic split....and there was nothing we could do. I knew older horses could have strokes or heart attacks, plus I watched for colic and laminitis due to her disease.
I am so sorry you had to go thru that...but sadly, sometimes there's nothing we can do..and they tend to come without warning. I had that horse for 26 years..........
((((((((((Liliana)))))))))) |
Liliana Velasco Ariza
Member
Username: liliana
Post Number: 456
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 - 11:01 am: | |
Well it is almost a week that we lost Henry, I'm still kind of not believing what happened, your support has been invaluable.
Dr. O what would we do without you!!!! It really helped to read about EEV as I thought I would loose all my equine friends!!!
Thank you from the heart!!
This is my beloved Henry! We will always miss him! But I guess at least the last 6 years he was happy and very much loved!!!
Thank you ah and don't forget you have a home in Cozumel, it is rented out from Jan to Mar, but do feel free to use it when ever...
Love
Liliana |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 21820
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 - 8:02 am: | |
Thank you and your offer is very kind Liliana.
DrO |
Tonya
Member
Username: pbauer
Post Number: 540
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 - 3:13 pm: | |
Dear Liliana,
So very sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Tonya
 |
