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Barribarrs
Bronze Member
Scotland
212 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 2:51:02 PM
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My beautiful little boy, Hunter, is in a bad way. We're (vet) not sure what is wrong and are awaiting results which may or may not give us a route to follow.
At the moment we're considering trauma, viral, neurological or infection. We've had penicillian, steroids, antibiotics, bloods taken, poo samples.
He was going to be moving to a new field on Wednesday and when I went to put his headcollar on, he put his ears back. That's not like Hunter - he's 1 but outgrown grumpy boy attitude he was born with. He also looked to be standing funny, and I went to check him for injuries as he is a typical youngster and if he can find a way to injure himself, he will. I walked behind him and he turned his head to watch but seemed to go a little off balance and when I tried to get him to take a step, he looked as if he didn't want to put weight on his front legs and went down. Instantly started shaking - the ground is wet and cold but it was instant shaking - and when the vet arrived, he couldn't get a vein in his neck to inject pain killers (we were thinking pelvic fracture or leg at this point because he seemed to be struggling with his back legs when he tried to get up) and had to inject into his leg. Finally got him in the stable and monitored and he would show lameness in every leg at different times as well as completely sound in every leg. He's wobbly, twitchy, he was falling down - but he hasn't today. He is eating, pooing, peeing, drinking and still standing and although I know we're far from being in a happy place, I have to think positive that at least he's doing this.
He is my beautiful little homebred arab x paint boy with a cheeky personality, adored by all who meet him and despite having a few horses, I'm always known as Hunter's mum.
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joanna_piana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3935 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 2:59:40 PM
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Oh how worrying for you I do hope the vet gets to the bottom of it and it's treatable x |
Harthall Rashida RIP, Binley Ishara, Bouchan Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 3:06:34 PM
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This sounds very frightening. let's hope there is something to help him quickly. |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 3:43:43 PM
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Oh dear, I hope you get a diagnosis & treatment ASAP.
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud) aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips" The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 4:02:57 PM
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Keeping everything crossed for him - I really hope you find out what it is and get it cured xxx
Does he have any cuts or anything at all where an infection could set in? Does he have a high temp?
My YO was telling me about a horse who seemed to have had similar symptoms and they believe it had a septic bolt? Apologies if that's not the correct term as this is second hand info - basically they think he had septisemia from a cut on his coronet band, but it travelled as a bolt and lodged into his nervous system... at first they thought it maybe meningitis or west nile virus but bloods and swabs were clear. He was a Part Bred Arab, not that it makes any difference I guess. |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 5:56:16 PM
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Fingers and toes crossed for him, hope he recovers soon . |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 5:58:48 PM
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Oh dear, how worrying. Everything crossed that he makes a speedy recovery.
It's strange because YO's welsh D mare has recently had similar symptoms. She had a foal on her too and was so poorly they thought they were going to lose her. All the investigations the vet did turned up nothing but she didn't get any worse, nor any better. Although she had no injuries they did find some broken bottom fence rails in her field so wondered whether she had maybe rolled and got stuck in the fence and somehow injured her spinal cord in the struggle to free herself. After a few days they decided to bring her home from the brood mares field and wean the foal. She had a rough ride in the trailer because of her inability to stand properly but she started to make a dramatic recovery when she got home, so they wonder whether she had a trapped nerve that freed itself on the journey. Very strange and she still isn't 100% several weeks on, but she is almost back to normal.
Really hope your boy is ok x |
East Yorkshire |
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 7:05:45 PM
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Hope you get a diagnosis soon and that your baby boy will make a speedy recovery. What a worry for you! |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
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Barribarrs
Bronze Member
Scotland
212 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 9:33:39 PM
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Thank you for your kind words and also suggestions of what could be causing it, more work for the vet.
Hunter's temperature is normal despite being hot to touch, but only front half. He's cooler from about ribs back.
Blood results came back today. White cell count is 20, which is high, but the whatever it is within the white cell count to show infection should be 85 but it's 60. All other results are normal.
We checked him over with a fine tooth comb when we got him into his bed because vet was convinced he'd been kicked in the head or even run into something but there was not a mark on him (unusual for him), no cuts, no swelling, no heat, nothing.
He was hyper sensitive around the head, still is but not so severe. He hasn't fallen down since yesterday - he would be standing still and then thump down, he wasn't necessarily always moving at the time.
He has started shouting when he sees me walking toward the stable and he's still eating, drinking, etc. As the vet said, if you've got a horse that's doing those things, you've got a horse ready to battle. I think I love my vet. He has not once mentioned the possible outcome - possibly for fear of my bubbling - and hasn't dismissed anything I've suggested, no matter how desperate it sounds. So we're treating as infection and waiting to see what Monday brings as the steriod injection will be wearing off and we'll see if this brings a new range of symptoms. |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 9:42:33 PM
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Just a thought but have you wormed recently a friends horse had a terrible reaction to equest although he wasnt falling down but was very poorly and had a high white cell count, i really hope you get to the bottom of it and i wish him better x
Edited to say my friends horse was only a two when this happened. |
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Edited by - pinkvboots on 05 Oct 2012 9:46:33 PM |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 10:08:01 PM
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Has your vet ruled out Atypical Myopathy? I know there has been some cases of it somewhere in england this year. Symptoms include stiffness in hind legs through to front, sweating, muscle tremors, twitching, dark urine, reluctance to move, frenzied vocalisation. It is a very serious condition ie on same level as grass sickness.
ETA..heres a link to an info leaflet Ive found
http://www.scott-dunns.co.uk/equine_atypical_myopathy.htm
Im not meaning to worry you more than you are, I really hope its not and its some sort of virus. I keep everything crossed for you and the little man. |
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Edited by - Vik1 on 05 Oct 2012 10:23:36 PM |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2012 : 10:40:22 PM
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Sorry to hear about this,you must be so worried!Hope you find out what it is and can treat it.All fingers crossed! |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 06 Oct 2012 : 12:25:09 AM
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How frightening, hoping he continues to improve and fingers firmly crossed hat you can get to the bottom of this. |
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta) Linda East Sussex |
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Barribarrs
Bronze Member
Scotland
212 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2012 : 8:23:11 PM
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Well, good news. Hunter has shown a marked improvement. So much so that the vet appeared, steroid tablets in hand and said 'you won't be needing these'.
He's steady on his feet and I got to move him to my other stables about a quarter of a mile away (in his new field) with a warning from the vet to wear a hat because he's a little bouncy.
While making up his tea tonight, he can watch me from his stable, he was constantly kicking his door. Unfortunately alerting Beauty, Joey, Kali, Hass, Troy, Rhapia and Healy in the closest fields that there was more food on the go. Luckily the girls and boys in the back fields haven't twigged about the extra feeding time yet or I'd be in trouble!
The vet is due back later in the week then again on Monday and if he continues with his recovery, he should be allowed out for a couple of hours. Woo hoo! If I could figure out how to post pics from my phone I'd let you see how lovely he is but my Flicker account is defying me!
I would like to thank you all for your kind words and suggestions as to what could be wrong. We're still not sure what is up, may never know, but his gelding was scheduled for later this month but it has now been postponed until February. Perhaps he knew ... |
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SuziQ
Gold Member
England
922 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2012 : 8:31:06 PM
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What great news, lets hope it is onwards and uppwards from here...hugs to Hunter bless him |
Everyone in my life brings me happiness, some by arriving others by leaving. |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 12:32:20 AM
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That's great news
When I had my horses outside the kitchen window I used to have to crawl along the floor (in the dark) to get to the kettle if I wanted an early morning cup of tea, otherwise they insisted it was feed time . |
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta) Linda East Sussex |
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Gerri
Platinum Member
England
4211 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 10:44:33 AM
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OMG how scary for you and the poor little mite I am sooo glad he is improving but it gives you a nasty scare and very worrying, heres hoping he continues to improve thinking of you and sending healing vibes |
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Barribarrs
Bronze Member
Scotland
212 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 3:56:12 PM
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Pics of the poorly boy, taken today after a roll in his newly made up bed.
And because I'm on a photo roll, this is his sister, Kali (same dad, she's Straight Egyptian - dad chose well when he visited the girls). She's 1 next week.
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 4:02:10 PM
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He looks happy in his snowflake disguise!
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud) aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips" The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
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xsara
Gold Member
822 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 08:18:53 AM
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glad to hear he is on the mend a very worrying time and both are lovely |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 11:39:18 AM
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Glad to hear he's on the mend xx |
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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