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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 7:31:17 PM
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Well, Ruby had colic a week last monday. The vet was called and came out as an emergency. She was given the usual treatment and seemed to recover within minutes of the vet getting there and started eating. The vet thought it may have been redworm larvae burrowing into the stomach walls. Her fecal egg count was zero (as it would be if the diagnosis was correct) but she had alot of blood in her poo. She was prescribed a course of panacur guard, and then an equest in a month.
i haven't been happy with how she's been, and have been in constant contact with the vet. She was OK for the first few days, then on Monday when her 5 day course of panacur finished she developed horrendous diarrhea again. I called the vet who said this was normal if she had a large red worm larvae burden, give her 24 hours. Yesterday she was still pretty listless, and one of her back legs was swollen. I took her in and had a really good clean up and poke around and couldn't find the source. I didn't feel i wanted to leave it any longer so arranged a visit for today. I checked her last thing, and although she was still sore on her hind leg, didn't seem any worse and she was moving around and eating ok. I called the vet for advice, they confirmed she needed to be seen tomorrow, but it could wait until then. I got up there this morning to find both legs blown and ruby looking really miserable :cry: . Her gait was stilted and she kept lifting one leg up to look at it. Despite this she ate her breakfast ok :? . I put her in the shelter with Missy and did the poo pick whilst i waited for the vet (who assured me she was on the way) and could only find one patch of diarrhea compared to every single one yesterday.
The vet arrived and said that blown legs were a symptom of her condition (caused by low protein from diarrhea and gut damage), took some blood and gave her another steroid injection. She said the fact that she hasn't swelled anywhere else is a good sign, and that we "should" be able to get her over this. The likely hood is though, that depending on the severity of the damage to her guts, she may always be susceptible to further problems :cry: .
When i went up there this evening the swelling had reduced a little, but she was still hobbling a bit. She wolfed down her dinner (she's on missy's baby food to give her a protein boost, pro biotics and sugar beet!). However she seemed better than she has done, in herself, since this whole episode started a week and a half ago
Honestly i feel like screaming/crying etc etc. When we first got her we were told she had been wormed by the stud. When she came here she had the odd cow pat poo then i saw worms in her poo. I wormed her with equest ( it was november time) and have never seen a worm burden quite like hers, it was unbelievable (think writhing mass of spagetthi and you're half way there!). She then had another equest a month later and repeat tests. She was tested by chris (abbey), and then my vets and was wormed again with equest pramox, and finally with an equavlan duo (on advice from the vet) 2 months ago, she was due an equest at the end of november.
I have no idea why this has happened.
Please spare a few thought for my gorgeous brave girl (she stood like a rock for her blood tests and iv injections), i'm really worried about her :cry: Ros
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 7:59:03 PM
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sending hugs xx hope all goes well with tests etc |
Gemma Thompson Birmingham West Midlands
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 8:21:04 PM
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sending big hugs to you and ruby doo
im on tender hooks waiting for the results, so god knows what you are going through
keep strong, you know where we are if you need us, night or day!!
dont forget we are only 4 hours away lol, but will come if you need us to.
lots of love to you bothxxxxxxxx |
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 8:21:42 PM
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OMG, how awful for you and your poor poor girl my heart is pounding as I write this, it is such a scary story, sorry, but your poor poor girl and how awful for you, I pray with all my heart she gets through this, please keep us updated, keep strong, I know its hard when something like this happens, she sounds so sweet as well, she is lucky to have you, you obviously love her sooo very much hugs to both of you |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 8:39:42 PM
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Thank you for that, it means a lot to know people are sending her good vibes (and thank you Karen, you are a star). She is a sweet girl, and does not deserve this Ros |
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Bex
Gold Member
Wales
559 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 8:53:23 PM
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Really sorry to hear to hear she's having problems Sending lots of hugs to you both, I hope she improves very soon. Bex.xxx |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
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Cryapakah
Silver Member
278 Posts |
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Holly
Gold Member
England
529 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 10:03:51 PM
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sending healing vibes to your poor sweet mare. after reading your post there were a few of the same symptoms that i have been experiencing with my old mare.(see the'panel' forum, look at unhappy mare)
hope your girl gets better soon
Holly xxx |
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haggis
Silver Member
England
278 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 11:13:58 PM
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Ros, I am so sorry to hear this. Was it fresh looking blood in her poo, around the edges or mixed in with the general diarrhoea? Or was it mucus and blood mixed together? If it gives you any comfort , it is obviously a good sign that she is still eating. Pro-biotics may help to get her large gut functioning properly again, but ask your own vet before you try anything. I don't want to intervene between your vet , who has obviously seen Ruby, and yourself. You can't blame yourself because you did what everyone should do on buying a new horse in. A friend of mine had a similar problem with a Section D from the sales in Wales and he was the only one of four that had a problem, so maybe it's an individual thing. Hope things are looking up soon, |
CUMBRIA |
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s.jade
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2401 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 11:15:50 PM
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Fingers crossed for positive results, poor girl, hope she's feeling better soon, know how worried you must be as my boy is poorly too at the minute. Wishing her a speedy recovery. xx |
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Evie
Platinum Member
England
3513 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 11:17:02 PM
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Hi, I am sorry to hear about your mare Ruby, hope she is feeling better soon x |
Bristol |
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vjc
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4952 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2008 : 11:20:11 PM
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sending hugs ruby`s way, and hoping all goes well for you both.xxx |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 06:48:24 AM
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Thank you for all your well wishes, it really does make a difference. The blood in her poo was all mixed in, i never actually saw any it was picked up on analysis by the vet. I should have the blood tests back this morning. Interesting about the D foals too. I'm sure some are more sensitive. I also think that if they have had a high worm burden in the past, especially recent past, it makes them more susceptable not just to worm infestation, but to further damage ] Ros |
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Timbercroft
Gold Member
Wales
936 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 07:32:12 AM
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Oh Ros, im sorry to read about your filly. I would say like haggis - have a word with your vet about Pro-biotics. I hope you will have more of an idea once you get the bloods back today (keep us posted). I do hope all will be well -sending lots of hugs to you and Ruby. Everthing crossed she will be well soon.
Linda xx |
www.lma-arabians.co.uk |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 08:46:10 AM
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How is your girl today couldn't help thinking about her last night, I do hope she is getting a little better, thinking of you both. Gerri X |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 08:51:07 AM
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Ros
Speak to Roger Hatch (Trinity Consultants)about something that will help restore the gut floria, as all this worming will have damage the gut wall even more.
Rogers number is 01243551766
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs Equine & Human Holistic Therapist www.thegentlestouch.co.cc www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 10:32:24 AM
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After Millies abdominal surgery, my vet gave me what looked like a wormer paste in a tube, it was a probiotic, I gave it too her for five days that was to replace the gut flora, your vet will know what it is called, it was green |
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nikki
Platinum Member
Wales
4384 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 10:35:51 AM
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aww ros, poor lil ruby, i hope she gets better soon! |
pagey |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 11:06:09 AM
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Wishing you both as many postive thoughts, love and healing vibes as I can!
Thinking of you loads and praying your lovely girl gets well. Sandie |
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Merlot
Platinum Member
England
3260 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 11:34:43 AM
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Sorry to hear about your girlie. Hope she is on the mend soon, such a worry when they're ill. Fingers crossed for a continued recovery. |
photo by Eric G Jones |
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GHALEEM
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2028 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 12:33:48 PM
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Hi Ros,
I am really sorry she is not well, i know how much you adore your horses. She sounds so sweet aswell, its just not fair.
Chin up, Michelle |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 6:03:42 PM
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I hope she gets better soon. It sounds as if her early worming was neglected by the stud you got her from, and now you, a acring owner, have all the worry.
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 6:45:21 PM
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Well, i've only just come back. When i went up to see her this morning, she actually looked a little better, certainly no worse and no more diarrhea. I gave her breakfast which she wolfed down , but she wasn't right and her back legs were still very swollen. The vet called about 12.30. She said it wasn't as straightforward as she thought (i'm not sure i ever thought it was!). She had a very high white blood cell count (infection), high liver enzymes, but protein was ok. There is still blood in her faeces . The vet had consulted the practice owner and neither of them really know what's going on . So, where we go from here is a huge 2 week course of antibiotics and watch and wait. The poor love is getting everything thrown at her, and for her tea she had antibiotics, probiotics, marigolds and cleavers (great for filled legs), milk thistle (for her liver) mixed with baby food (stud balancer) and sugar beet YUM! She seemed to like it . I was supposed to work tonight, (i work nights) but i can't leave her, so i'm back off up there shortly. Weirdly, she did actually seem a little better this afternoon, and the swelling a little less severe. I have to call the vet tomorrow. If she's no better, she'll need to admitted for further tests (bile acid stim etc) and iv antibiotics . Thank you again for all your support, it really does help. Pauline, i'll call your guy tomorrow. Ros |
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Joto
Gold Member
855 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2008 : 6:50:01 PM
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Glad shes somewhat brighter. Sounds like shes fighting infection. You are doing all the right things for her VERY WELL DONE, its really good that shes eating "like a horse". |
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karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
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