December photos/Equine Affaire: On Target Miniature 2012 foals

[sar09006]

I have been trying to look up treatment for hyperlipemia. All I can find out is high lipids and lipoproteins etc but can't find anything besides dietary management for treatment. Does anyone know about it?

 

[sar09006]

oh wow it is def. a reason to get her to tufts for a complicated treatment. Thank you so much. I am saving it!

 

[targetsmom]

I think what I have been giving her over the past 24 hours is about as good as you can do without IVs, which I expect they will start as soon as she arrives at Tufts. I was dosing her with a mixture of Ensure and molasses in Gatorade, with a dash of Stomach Soother. She was getting that every couple of hours, even through the night thanks to the internet being down. She was drinking some. She was also getting 4cc of the CMPK that Steph got for me yesterday, twice a day, for the original thumps. Just praying that all these delays will not be critical and that Mira pulls through. I have already warned Tufts about how adorable Bunny, is and that they must all get to see her.

 

[targetsmom]

Diane- I am not sure it was a couple of days before the diagnosis. She clearly started out with thumps (hypocalcemia) which is one of many things that can lead to hyperlipemia, as I understand it. The hyperlipemia develops when they don't eat, and she was actually eating fairly well on Monday, hand grazing anyway, and nibbling hay. I thought he was going to do the blood test yesterday morning and it was done in the afternoon, so not a huge delay, except they all add up....

Someone posted a link to this article in my thread on the main forum. I printed out a copy of that and gave it to my vet.

 

[targetsmom]

And Mira has been there before (a lot of our horses have) so they may remember her too. They remembered my big horse Target when he had his second colic surgery 2 1/2 years after the first one. And when Rusty was there at 3 weeks, HE was a huge hit.

 

[bannerminis]

My mare had it while heavily in foal and she had to have injections everyday (this is 11 yrs ago) and for the life of me I cant remember what the vet was giving her but she also had to go on a low fat high sugar diet. So I had to add glucose to her feed and to up her sugar levels I added molasses and grass of course. She bounced back very quickly (considering she was 2 mths from foaling). But she had received so much sugar that it was literally coming through her pores and when shedding it was coming off in sticky clumps - the weirdest thing.

In simple terms my vet explained it that she was not metabolizing the fat in her blood and liver was also affected hence the need for these daily injections and her high sugar low fat diet.

I may not be explaining this correctly and after 11yrs I probably have not retained all the knowledge but that is how she was treated and she is still with me at the grand old age of 21.

Saying lots of prayers for Mira and hope she gets better soon.

 

[AnnaC]

I agree with Diane, you did everything right in your care of Mira, no one could have been more attentive nor have worked so hard with her.

She's in the best place now and I'm sure they will soon get things sorted and have her on her way back home - maybe without Bunny though, once they meet her LOL!!

It would be nice if Sox agreed to give you little rest before demanding you attention.

 

[K Sera]

Prayers for your mare! My gosh, I just can't come up with the words to use here ... OVERWHELMED is by far an understatement! Glad to hear they are on the way to the hospital ... you just have to know your mare will be fine ... absolutely!!!!! You got her this far with your love and wonderful care. The hospital will finish up and send her back to you soon!

Just got home with mine after 8 days at the hospital and she is back to her old self!

 

[targetsmom]

Just talked to Tufts: Good news so far - Mira's triglyceride level is back to normal and she is eating!!! Her liver is good, but her electrolytes were totally out of whack. Still needs more fluids but we are in no hurry to bring her home until she is well on the mend!!

Bunny, as you might imagine, is a huge hit! No shortage of volunteers to help out with her.

 

[chandab]

• Good news. Glad to hear she's is starting to feel better. And, no surprise Bunny was a hit; you'll just have to make sure she is actually in the trailer when its time to go home.
  
  
  

 

[Sandy B]

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry Mira is having a hard time but am so glad you got her to the vet hospital. It sounds like she is doing so much better after getting the fluids and meds on board, that is great news!! I will keep Mira in my prayers for sure.

Can someone tell me what is the initial cause (if known) of thumps and the subsequent issue (the name has escaped me) that Mira now is suffering from? Thank you! I need some education on this.

 

[targetsmom]

taking the easy way out- here is the e-mail I just sent to our 4-Her member parents: I hope it is correct, although perhaps a bit simplified:

In case you haven't been keeping up with the Mare Stare/Chat forum on Lil Beginnings, there is news to report. On Sunday, Mira developed a condition called "thumps" or hypocalcemia which is sometimes (but rarely) seen in mares that are nursing foals. It is due to a calcium shortage because all the calcium the mare is taking in is going into milk. It is more common in cows. Here is a link to what the "thumps" look like: They are a lot like hiccups. Mira's diaphragm is "hiccuping" in time to her heart beat.

http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k29/targetsmom/?action=view&current=P1050016.mp4

Mira was treated by the vet with IV Calcium on Sunday.

Mira went off her feed when this happened, so we were giving her liquid meals in like we gave the worm medication - by mouth - every few hours. But by not eating for some of Monday and Tuesday she started to develop another condition called hyperlipemia, which means the liver is affected. This was found based on a blood test taken Tuesday (yesterday) afternoon. When results of that test came back this morning, they showed she had borderline hyperlipemia, which can be very serious. So Mira (and Bunny of course) were taken to Tufts Large Animal Hospital in North Grafton, MA (2 hours away). Reports from the Tufts vet this afternoon are encouraging, but she is not out of the woods yet. She and Bunny will likely be there for the rest of the week until they can get her electrolytes stabilized with more IV fluids. So far, her liver seems to be OK and she is eating again!!! Bunny has been a huge hit at Tufts, as you can imagine!!! But please keep Mira and Bunny in your thoughts and prayers.

We did say that foaling season was stressful......Oh, and we are still waiting for Sox to foal, so she continues to keep us up part of every night.

Note added for Sandy- the blood test is for high triglycerides - a level of 500 or more - and hers was 490, I think.

 

[targetsmom]

I think somewhere in that article it did mention hypocalcemia (thumps) as a possible cause - I think pretty much anything that can cause them to not eat, plus you add the stress of lactation...

 

[cassie]

praying for you guys still... I hope Mira is doing better this afternoon... I'm glad we have sox back on full screen...

for her foaling and that Mira and Bunny are in safe hands

ok Sox, your poor Mum needs a good night sleep so if you would be so kind as to foal tonight it would be much appreciated

Thank you

hugs and kisses!

Mary if you want to get some sleep at all I am watching.

 

[Sandy B]

Ow wow! Thank you all for the information and and links. The video speaks volumes of what to be aware of. Makes me doubly glad Mira is at the clinic for treatment.

Now Sox is also in my prayers for an uneventful foaling. I wish she would have a talk with my girls.

 

[cassie]

butt pushing at 8:40pm

 

[sar09006]

Glad to hear Mira is doing slightly better. Still in my prayers

ray

Sox is chowing down

. I like how you go from you can't get milk to milk very sticky. Hopefully a little baby will be popping out soon with ease!

 

[cassie]

thats what we are all praying for come on Sox!!!

I'm heading to lunch be back shortly

 

[cassie]

could this be the filly fairy hanging around Sox's head? hehe I couldn't resist lol

she hasn't moved in the last maybe 2 hours!! LOL

 

[Eagle]

still hasn't moved

I think I might have to