Had the vet out last night...

[MooreAcres]

A friend of mine had to make an emergency vet call around 7 last night because her draft cross gelding broke out in hives, couldn't eat or drink when he really wanted too, and was extremely lethargic. While she was on the phone, he went down in his stall (just laid down), so I did some tugging and got him up and his blanket off like she asked me too. His muzzle was so tight and tense that he couldn't open it. His head and neck were swollen. The vet gave him a shot of Dex (could anyone explain what this is???) and some liquid Banamine. When he didn't start to improve an hour later, my friend called the vet again and she said to give him another shot of Dex in a couple hours (the second shot was suppose to be for morning, but...). Everyone, including the vet, thinks it was an allergic reaction, but we don't know to what. It had to be something out in the field because nothing else has changed. I'm still waiting to hear how he's doing this morning.

Erin

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

Dex, is a shortned name for Dexamethazone. (And I am Sure I misspelled that!

: )

I have used it to pull fluid from my horses, (When they have a swollen tendon etc) but not for an allergic reaction, I used something similar to elephant benadryl for that. ( Then again, I have Never had such a severe reaction!)

I do Not know all the uses for it though, and that may very well be a perfect application for it.

I would imangin the thought would be to drain off all the excess fluid that has him so locked up. (??)

How's he doing now?

Sounds like a pretty sever reaction, have they been able to get at least fluid into him? (IV's or just plain drinking?)

I Do know that Dex can be a diraritic, so that would be a concern to me personally.

*Again, I am NOT a vet, just sharing my own personal experiences with this drug.*

Sounds like perhaps an bug or nasty plant reaction... really no help there, sorry!

Keep us updated please.

:

 

[Marty]

Dex is a steriod and used for lots of things. Sounds like this horse got himself in big trouble. Allergic reaction to something he has eaten and I hope they find out something soon. It's possible that if he eats wood, it could be caused from the preservatives in the wood itself so check on that. Tell your friend to ask the vet about his opinion of administering activated charcoal which is used in poison cases. Also be aware of the blister beetle if he is on alfalfa hay. I hope this vet is going to treat him more aggressively.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Yep it is a steroid to bring down the swelling we have used it on a few horses it has been a while so I am not sure exactly if I remember right but it comes with its own dangers ( I am thinking founder but could be wrong on that part just remember there was something i was supposed to be watching for) we had to use it a bit more long term then the vet would have liked. It did the job though.

My T/B gets at least one shot a summer sometimes more since he tends to break out in hives he is very allergic to bugs and even with a auto fly system and his fly sheet and masks sometimes it still bothers him

 

[susanne]

Erin how is Quest doing this morning? Any clues yet as to what he was reacting to? ...and how is Sarah?

 

[nootka]

My mare, Lailah, was on Dex as a yearling filly. She began having large hives/flattish raised bumps and if she did not have the Dex once per week, she would break out again and they would get crusty then begin to weep and scab.

I tried to go longer between the shots, and then wean her off them as I knew it was not good to leave her on it permanently, but they kept coming back. We did everything we could to determine the source of the allergy, but nothing was apparent. The most likely suspect to an allergic reaction is generally something they ate. Next might be something they came in contact with through the skin or inhaled.

And so you need to become detectives and you still may never know. I hope he's going to be fine and this is over.

Lailah quit taking the Dex as Summer ended and then she never had to take it again, thankfully!

Liz M.

 

[MooreAcres]

Erin how is Quest doing this morning? Any clues yet as to what he was reacting to? ...and how is Sarah?

Just so I don't confused anyone... Sarah is the friend, Linda is her mom, and Quest is Sarahs horse.

There were tears last night as its only been a year since she lost her other gelding, Rusty, to colic. She was determined not to loose another one. I comforted her the best I could and made myself useful by calling the vet (again) and being the "go-fetch" person.

I talked to Linda this morning around 11 and this is the rundown of what happened after I left last night. Quest didn't get any better, so Sarah administered the second shot of Dex around midnight. She stayed for awhile and then decided to go home for a bit since he was doing a bit better (she had to go to work today, so she tried to get some sleep). This morning she was back at the crack of dawn and he was alright, but sometime around 9-10 he started to colic (minorly). Sarah got Linda there right away and they hitched up the trailer and hauled him down to the vets where he was tubed.

I stopped by the barn around 11:30 and Quest was out in a different field. He'd done some rolling and a bit of eating, although he hasn't yet gone to the bathroom. His hives seem to have spread back to his shoulders and front half of his belly. He seems more alert and active, but he's not quite out of the woods yet I don't think.

I'll keep you posted when I know more. Thanks for the thoughts and comments.

Erin