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| Author |
Message |
    
Dawn Adams (Dawn43)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 5, 2001 - 12:34 pm: |   |
Yesterday I had the vet out to do a yearly exam on my mare. The results of that exam are somewhat distressing and I know we're going to have to trailer Penny to Auburn for additional tests. IN the meantime I'm trying to locate more information on her problem.
Her jugular vein has a pulse. In the year that I've had her, she's always been round. I, perhaps mistakenly, thought it was from being a brood mare. NOw I find that while that MAY be true, it could also be edema, resulting from heart disease. There is no swelling in her legs.
Are there specific articles I can read that will help to educate me on what to watch for, what to expect from the vets at Auburn, what tests need to be done? I'd really like to go into this at least having a general idea as to what is going on.
Dawn |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 6, 2001 - 7:11 am: | |
Are there ANY other symptoms or findings on the PE that indicate heart disease? How old is the horse?
DrO |
Dawn Adams (Dawn43)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 6, 2001 - 10:53 am: | |
The inside of her mouth is pale, almost no pink to it at all. She is 20. That'a really all I have. She was bought at auction so we have no real history on her.
Dawn |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 7, 2001 - 5:36 am: | |
I am a little cautious about this last statement, as I have had horsemen on numerous occasions made this judgement, when the gums were normal. Horses are paler than humans or dogs: does your vet say the gums are pale? Have you tested the mare for anemia?
Jugular pulsation is not an abnormal event, in itself. It is normal for the pressure in the jugular vein to vary during the various phases of contraction on the heart for each cardiac cycle. Whether you can see the pulsation depends on many factors but an important one is the amount of fill in the vein, and this can be an important indication of disease. The following conditions may be associated with a increased or exaggerated jugular pulse:
- normal (usually only goes up the neck about 1/3 the way)
- emaciation and anemia may make the jug pulse more noticable
- any cardiac abnormality that causes delayed filling of the right ventricle:
- diseases of the muscles of the heart
- diseases of the valves of the heart
- diseases of the pericardium
- arythmia
- leaking past the valve between the rv and the jugular (tricuspid insufficiency)
It is a very general list and so other physical findings are important to help narrow down the possiblilities. Some of the further testing that may be done would include: - blood analysis (CBD) and chemistries perhaps including evaluation of the enzymes of the heart muscle
- ElectroCardioGram
- Sonogram
DrO |
Dawn Adams (Dawn43)
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 7, 2001 - 8:20 am: | |
The vet is the one who mentioned that Penny's gums were pale. Just out of curiousity I'll do a comparison with the other horses. And I'll ask her to come back out and test for anemia. Thanks, Dr. O, this does give me something more to work with. Then we'll go from there. To have the other tests done we'd have to go to Auburn.
Dawn |
grace Vance
New Member
Username: Twinsis1
Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 2:19 pm: | |
What is the prognosis for a 9 yr old pony w/ elevated cardiac troponin & insulin test results?
He is my fox hunter/driving pony. Unfortunately, over the last 3 yrs, he became progressively more fatigued over shorter durations. Now unable to jump, and/or reluctant even to trot for several minutes. He seems fine in pasture.
930 lb. Welsh Cob Pony fed 12 oz/day of high protein/fat & low carb supplement w/ 2.5 leaves of pre-soaked orchard grass/little clover hay (sugar water removed), and no grass. In spite of his diet, sugar is too high. What do I feed him????? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 15184
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 - 8:16 am: | |
Welcome Grace,
Since this is a fairly new test let me explain cardiac troponin. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a myocardial polypeptide whose serum levels are a highly sensitive and specific biomarker of myocardial injury. However its presence does not tell us the nature of the injury which is where we could draw a prognosis from. What were the levels and do you know why they are elevated. Many ponies are considered insulin resistant for more on this see, Equine Diseases » Endocrine Disorders » Equine Metabolic Syndrome (Peripheral Cushings).
Concerning his diet what is your horses condition on the Henneke scale found at Care for Horses » Particular Situations & Procedures » Weight, Condition, and Eventual Height Estimation.
DrO |
