Mare with a "lazy tongue" ???

[Mona]

Wishing the best for your mare Maryann!

 

[Miniv]

Thanks Dr. Taylor for that additional information. My husband, Larry, read your last post and he appreciated it very much.

And thanks to Robin and Beth and Riverrose for throwing out suggestions......

Because of where we live and our climate, I would rule out a spider bite and West Nile right now. We've found no trauma. Lead poisoning - I'm not sure how she'd get that because any batteries we have are kept in Larry's shop, away from horses.

EPM? Perhaps because we have irrigation canals and right now the water company is doing monthly stock runs, so there would be some standing water in them......but why is NOVA the only one in her group showing this??? Oh and Possums are very uncommon in this part of the state.

So we (our vet) are narrowing it down slowly....to either a vascular anomaly or a "mass". One thing we know for sure is she is being a fighter. She wants to LIVE and as long as the light is still there in her and the quality of life is there, we will continue to fight for her....and perhaps save the foal she's carrying.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

EPM? Perhaps because we have irrigation canals and right now the water company is doing monthly stock runs, so there would be some standing water in them......but why is NOVA the only one in her group showing this??? Oh and Possums are very uncommon in this part of the state.

Not saying it is EPM, frankly from here I don't know what it is. But, only 2% of horses who come into contact with the causative agent show signs of the disease. So we would not expect to see multiple cases. The disease can also be carried by many more animals and birds than just the opossum.

 

Dr Taylor

 

[Riverrose28]

I had a mare with EPM, a welsh cross, we had to put her down, this condition shows the same signs as rabies, or west nile, the horse staggers, loses co-ordination and once down must be assisted to rise. There are many conditions that can cause a lolling tongue, many poisons or toxins, nerve damage, and many more that would take a Vet to look for, unless she is showing other symptoms I would rule out EPM. Does she have any other symptoms besides the lolling tongue? Is your vet coming back out? Sorry to ask so many questions, but this is important for all of us to know, and what to look for. thank you, don't mean to be a pest when you are going through so much.

 

[Miniv]

Riverrose/Terry, Yes the vet is coming back - tomorrow. And her only symptoms are the paralysis in the face and tongue, causing her tongue to hang out. She isn't staggering or going in circles. She continues to be alert.

She is sucking up water. Today I changed her soup container over to another bucket which I hope makes it easier for her to suck up as well. Her soup is a very liquidy mix of equine senior (which is a complete pelleted feed), alfalfa pellets, and LOTS of water. She was sucking up the liquid and being very frustrated. I finally "heard" her -- the pan was too shallow.

We are also giving/syringing her some Light Corn Syrup (Karo) and I've bought apple juice to add as a snack. Larry and I are worried that she might develop hyperlipemia (fatty liver disease) on top of all this.

Meanwhile we are doing just what BOTH Dr. Taylor AND our Dr. Jake have advised...to wait and watch.

 

[ThreeCFarm]

I too was going to mention EPM. We had a big horse years ago with EPM. Her tongue was pretty much paralyzed, and her lips were kinda funny too, seemingly paralyzed on one side. She was an older mare, and all I could think of when I saw her was it was like she had a stroke. Other than the issues connected with her mouth, she was pretty much normal. She eventually recovered the full use of her tongue and lips, but after that she wasn't as aware of where her hind legs were as she used to be. Before the EPM, she never ticked a pole (walk or trot over), but afterward she would frequently stumble over them on her hind the first time through, then she would remember where they were and go through clear the next time.

I hope your mare has a full recovery!

 

[Miniv]

Nova aborted her filly this evening.

 

[Eagle]

Nova aborted her filly this evening.

I am so sorry, you must feel awful. I am sending prayers for you and Nova. How far gone was she?

 

[Riverrose28]

So sorry! It really is a sad day all around. Pinky lost hers too.

 

[REO]

Oh Maryann, I'm SO sorry about the filly

 

[Matt73]

Crap! I'm so sorry MaryAnn. Hopefully Nova will get through this...

 

[Mona]

Awww, I'm so sorry she lost her foal Mary Ann.

 

[Carolyn R]

I am so sorry. It really has been a rough start to the year for many.

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I'm so sorry. How is your mare doing?

I sure hope the LB foaling season takes a better turn and quickly.

 

[wildoak]

So sorry she lost her foal... hope your mare improves. How is she today, any change?

Jan

 

[Miniv]

Nova was worse this morning so we called Dr. Jake. She went over the Rainbow Bridge about an hour ago.

There's going to be a necropsy done to find out exactly what was wrong.

Thank you all for your well wishes and support.

 

[Riverrose28]

Oh NO! So sorry

 

[JennyB]

Nova was worse this morning so we called Dr. Jake. She went over the Rainbow Bridge about an hour ago.

There's going to be a necropsy done to find out exactly what was wrong.

Thank you all for your well wishes and support.

Larry and Maryann we are so very sorry this has happened to you after all you have been through with losing mares

..Mel & I are just sick and we wish to envelope you with God's Love and understanding that, this to shall pass...but we know it's still hurts.

We are so sorry that you lost Nova and her foal.

 

{{{{BIGWARM&LOVINGWYOMINGHUGSFROMUS}}}

 

Love you both and Bri very much!

Blessings and Prayers,

Mel & Jenny

 

[Knottymare]

Very sorry for your loss. ((((((((((((((((hug))))))))))))))))))

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Nova was worse this morning so we called Dr. Jake. She went over the Rainbow Bridge about an hour ago.

There's going to be a necropsy done to find out exactly what was wrong.

Thank you all for your well wishes and support.

You have my sympathies.

A necropsy is a great idea, it will likely including rabies testing, but temper your expectations, in instances like this sometimes even a necropsy fails to reveal the cause.

Dr Taylor