Need help for a friend's sick stallion

[carlenehorse]

She called me and this is what I have so far in the way of his symptoms:

Disoriented, not drinking, stumbling and his eyes are wild and bloodshot. She had the vet out and he is puzzled and thinks it may be West Nil. She told me he has had all of his shots and the vet put him on antibotics and steriods. He didn't run any bloodwork. I forgot to ask her if he had a fever so I left a message for her to call me. She is in the barn with him.

Should the vet look for other poss. illness other than West Nil. I told her he should do some blood work.

Any more suggestions would be helpful so she can tell the vet.

Thanks Carlene

 

[mizbeth]

I am sorry to hear this. Perhaps she should call another Vet? It could be many things, including something toxic.

Please let us know how he does?

Beth

 

[Marty]

West Nile doesn't always present with a fever.

It can be west nile or any number of other diseases.

Wondering why the horse was not put on an IV fluids or a blood profile was not run.

Maybe she should consult with another vet.

Here is one of many links.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/wnv-fact/1007.html

 

[carlenehorse]

Marty and Beth that is what I was thinking also. Why didn't he do any testing.

I will pass on any more details when she calls me.

Thanks Carlene

 

[Minimor]

Eyes that are wild & bloodshot does not remind me of west nile--wnv usually causes a very droopy appearance--lips droop, there are facial twitches, eyes are dull and yes, even droopy looking, horse may have sensitivity to loud noises, otherwise is depressed & dull. Horse may want to drink but is unable to because tongue & lips don't work.

The description of this horse's eyes makes me think something else. Has the horse been vaccinated for rabies?

There are many things that can look like WNV--any of the sleeping sicknesses (EEE, WEE) rabies..I forget what else. Some toxin is a possibility too.

If it is WNV the steroids will help if anything will--my Morgan mare that was severely affected was given steroids & banamine. Blood was drawn on my mare, but of course that was of little value in diagnosing--the horse would be either dead or recovered by the time we got the results back--we got our WNV diagnosis confirmed well after the mare recovered! Obviously blood work could help to diagnose other ailments, depending what tests are done.

I hope your friend's horse responds to the treatment given--best wishes & prayers to her & her horse!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Has she just wormed him and if so , with what??

I too think get another opinion and fast, Good Luck.

 

[carlenehorse]

Thanks everyone I am still waiting to hear some news and Rabbit I will ask her about the worming.

Carlene

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

Since you mention the appearance of his eyes, let me ask you this............are the eyes more "bloodshot" or orange-colored where white should be? In red maple poisoning, the whites of the eyes turn a dark orange. With fingers, lift up the top eyelid to let you see what color is above the normal view of the eye. And in the mouth, the gums become very light, almost white. The horse is almost instantly anemic.

I would suggest your friend insist on bloodwork. It's necessary in so many instances to see what is really being dealt with. It's not a magic bullet, but can indicate much that's going on inside the horse. The other symptoms you mention also could point to red maple poisoning............are there any red maples IN or AROUND this horse's pasture? JRed Maple would also cause a highly elevated heart rate, indicating a state of high distress. Horses with red maple can very rarely be saved, but it is possible. They need IMMEDIATE attention that usually involves as blood transfusion.

Just a very few (2-3) red maple leaves can kill a mini at any time of the year, not just in the autumn. I'm not trying to alarm you, just telling you what I know from experience.

 

[carlenehorse]

UPDATE" The stallion had to put him down. He was having seizures one on top of the other and the last one would not stop.

Vet still would not do bloodwork as he was sure it was West Nil. She will be looking for another vet.

Little Wee Horse Farm

You hit the nail on the head it was from the maple trees. She said that they have maples everywhere and his eyes were orange.

They will be cutting them all down so this doesn't happen to any more of her miniatures.

She wanted me to thank each and everyone of you for all the advice. She would never have known about maple trees be poisonious.

Again with a heart felt thanks from my friend Penny and her family.

Carlene

PS does anyone have the web site for the poisonious plants so I can print it out for her.

 

[REO]

I'm so sorry she lost her stallion!

:

I thought someone posted a whole list like that not long ago (on here) can you do a search?

Found it!

THE PLANT THREAD

 

[Irish Hills Farm]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend's horse.

 

[carlenehorse]

Thanks Reo I will print out this list for her and also keep a copy for myself. I will also print out copies for new buyers so they can be aware of these dangers.

Carlene

 

[eagles ring farm]

So sorry for the loss of your friends stallion

so sad

 

[Flaxenacres]

www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants

Since you mention the appearance of his eyes, let me ask you this............are the eyes more "bloodshot" or orange-colored where white should be? In red maple poisoning, the whites of the eyes turn a dark orange. With fingers, lift up the top eyelid to let you see what color is above the normal view of the eye. And in the mouth, the gums become very light, almost white. The horse is almost instantly anemic.

I would suggest your friend insist on bloodwork. It's necessary in so many instances to see what is really being dealt with. It's not a magic bullet, but can indicate much that's going on inside the horse. The other symptoms you mention also could point to red maple poisoning............are there any red maples IN or AROUND this horse's pasture? JRed Maple would also cause a highly elevated heart rate, indicating a state of high distress. Horses with red maple can very rarely be saved, but it is possible. They need IMMEDIATE attention that usually involves as blood transfusion.

Just a very few (2-3) red maple leaves can kill a mini at any time of the year, not just in the autumn. I'm not trying to alarm you, just telling you what I know from experience.

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

I'm so sorry your friend lost her boy. I was hoping to be wrong, but unfortunately red maple is unmistakable in its symptoms once your experience it in your barn.

In 1999, we lost 3 darling homebred fillies to it at the same time. I didn't know about those trees either. They were immediately cut down & all leaves taken away. It still was about 2 months before I could convince myself to let my other horses out in that pasture. And the 2 devil trees had been growing outside the fence, not inside the pasture.

I'm hating to hear that yet another horse was lost to this. I'd advise everyone to try to find out if they have red maple near their horses. We won't have them ANYWHERE on our property, since the wind can take leaves far & wide. We even worry about the neighbors' yards. The trees are called swamp maples in some parts of the country & are often used for landscaping. They are definitely pretty & definitely deadly.

Once again, my sympathy to your friend. -- karen

 

[carlenehorse]

Thanks so much for your help Karen with this situation. I would have never known about this otherwise. My friend thanks all of you for your help and sympthies.

Thanks Carlene

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

So sorry for your friend's loss and what an idiot vet!

You can't diagnose WNV by sight! My stallion had it and the vets were sure he had EPM or a spinal injury (1 week in ICU) as his front end never slowed down, but he was uncoordinated on the back, no fever either.

So sad to lose her horse that way, what a hard lesson to have to learn.

added: meant to ask, should the symptoms of the orange eyeballs, etc, be found is it already too late? Just FYI for me.

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

Re: the orange eyes................red maple is a very cruel killer. When I found my horses were sick (and I spend LOTS of time with them) they were already dying. I didn't find them sick, I found them dying. Their eyes were totally orange instead of white. It happens soooooooo fast that I couldn't tell you at what stage oranging begins. They were discovered, sent to horse clinic within hours. One died within hours. Another within days. A third one I didn't know was sick turned orange-eyed a week later & died within a day. Red maple doesn't give you a fighting chance.