Need some Help,, Please

[Miniequine]

My Filly, (2 1/2 years old) started getting ouchy on her feet Jan 17th.

I immediately started treated it like laminitis. A few days later, she had not improved,,

was actually getting worse. The vet took blood, tested for Lymes, strep, all kinds of stuff.

She is sore ALL over now,, They don't think it is laminitis, but now we are at a loss.

The only thing that has changed here,,, the beet pulp I got (when this started)

I buy non-molassas. This beet pulp is very dark and has a strong smell. I took it back,

and the next bag is the same. I am wondering if Little Anna was flooded with sugar she's not used too?? I have not fed her any more and am rinsing the beet pulp that I feed to the others.

Also, the ground has been frozen and hard and rough.

She is currently and gastro guard, Equioxx (anti imflammatory) and Naxcel.

(We got a colt here in Nov. that developed a strepzoo (sp?) infection. He's fine.)

Any ideas out there???? I hate seeing her like this.

She is UTD on all shots and her feet are trimmed every 8 weeks.

~Sandy

 

[Jill]

Sandy, I don't have a clue but am hoping someone here will have some good advice and insight. I know how much you love your babies and that you take the best care of them!

 

[Marty]

Hey Sandy I am so sorry! I really hate this for you. I don't know what to think but don't rule out laminitis just yet. Part of it seems that it might fit the situation and for back up, I'd ask the vet to dose her with some activated charcoal for beet pulp problem in case it was a bad batch, that should expell it. It certainly couldn't hurt and that is what I usually dive for if I feel my horses have eaten something that could have poisonous results. I hope you get some answers soon. We will certainly be pulling for you!

 

[JourneysEnd]

Hey Sandy I am so sorry! I really hate this for you. I don't know what to think but don't rule out laminitis just yet. Part of it seems that it might fit the situation and for back up, I'd ask the vet to dose her with some activated charcoal for beet pulp problem in case it was a bad batch, that should expell it. It certainly couldn't hurt and that is what I usually dive for if I feel my horses have eaten something that could have poisonous results. I hope you get some answers soon. We will certainly be pulling for you!

Bio sponge is another good product that easier to get down them, but activated charcoal is easier to find.

Somethings not right so if it wasn't laminitis to begin with, you've got a good chance of it becoming laminitis.

Does the pain seem to be in the joints or muscles ? What's the digital pulse like ?

 

[Miniequine]

Thanks

I have had a particularly rough 60 days here.

Had as many as 5 horses sick at one time with this strep.junk...and 2 have got it back again!

(

now Little Anna... The vet's suspected strep.. based on what has been going

on here, but the tests don't indicate that.

Her pulse is normal, no hot feet... and the weird thing.....

sometimes she seems suddenly a LOT better.. only to go back to seeming very sore.

The vet says it is muscle pain. Breaks my heart.

and thanks MArty and Jill, very kind words. My dog Rhodie, (8) got very sick and last Wednesday night,

I had to rush him to the hospital... he was recently diagnosed with addisons disease,, and

had a bad time of it. I thought of you and Winston.. cryed all the way home from the

hospital. 2 days later. he came home and now 1 week later.. he's doing great

)

I can't imagine loosing my little man.

sorry.. off topic.... I just SO tired of sick animals. MAkes ya feel helpless.

(

The beet pulp, I feed to everybody. I don't think it is "bad" I just think it has molassas in it,

lots of it. I rinse it 3 times before I get the dark color out of it. I am planning on calling them tomorrow.

The vet is picking up a sample tomorrow.. they are interested in checking it.

I am very fortunate to have a "team" of vets... they have been terrific,,

I hope somebody on here may have an idea!

~Sandy

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Sandy,

I'm sorry about little Anna. I don't have any answers, but you sure are doing everything you can to try and find out and keep her comfortable. You've had a rough time of it lately. Keeping you guys in my prayers.

 

[targetsmom]

I am real sorry to hear this and hope you can figure it out and get her better soon!

Is there any chance she could have slipped on the rough ground and pulled a muscle? Or several? Has she been walking around with snow balled up in her feet? That could make her slip or throw things out of whack I would think.

 

[frosthillfarm]

[SIZE=10pt]Oh Sandy![/SIZE]

Sorry to hear about your sick ponies! I hope the vets can fix your little girl quickly!

Karen )

 

[Mona]

I am so sorry to hear about all your recent troubles, and now also those of Little Anna. I have nothing to offer, other than my prayers that she will be OK. Good Luck, and (((HUGS))) to you Sandy!

 

[eagles ring farm]

So sorry for all your troubles lately

Hope all your little ones are back to themselves soon

Sorry no ideas here

 

[garyo]

Gary and I usually alternate between buying our beet pulp at Tractor Supply or our local feed store. About three weeks ago we also got a batch that was very dark. When I soaked it, it smelled like the molasses had actually burnt. Our eight in the front barn usually go after the very wet beet pulp with a vengence. None of them would eat it at all. We returned it and had to buy from a different batch at the other store because all of it at Tractor Supply looked the same way. It has taken three weeks for the horses that refused their beet pulp then to start eating soaked beet pulp as enthusiastically as they used to.

None of ours acted sick but none of them really ate it either. Sure makes you wonder.

 

[madmax]

I am sorry to hear about your filly. Have you checked to see if the pain originates in her back, and her spine might need chiropractic help? I hope you find an answer soon!

 

[MountainMeadows]

Sandy, I would ask your vet to test for rabies, as well as EPM, and also hyperlipemia - all three can hit fast and hard, but if you catch them early they can be managed.

On a side note -- many, many years ago I bought a molasses mineral block - the kind in the big rubber tub -- I had horses really going to town on it - they turned into goopy messes, but one colt in particular got really achy joints - we pulled the mineral tub and he seemed to remover - never could isolate it to that, but it was the only thing that was different - just never know sometimes.

If it were me, I would be giving some electrolight paste, cutting out all sweet feed & beet pulp entirely (no grain at all) and going to just a bland grass/timothy hay and see if perhaps her body will flush out whatever "toxins" are residing in her. Can't hurt for a week or 2 anyway.

Good luck and keep us all posted.

Stacy

PS - Boy it sounds like you have had a rough winter - I hope that things turn around for you, it is so stressful to go thru our animal problems, ((( )))

 

[wildoak]

Sandy,

Boy it's tough when it all hits at once........had my share of it too and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Just an fyi....one of the surgical vets here really recommends Equioxx, but I put Artie on it for a week and she went downhill. Apparently wasn't managing her pain because within a couple of hours of going back to bute, she was up and walking around, and looking more relaxed.

I'd second the suggestion to pull her off everything but hay for a bit. Does she seem to be sore all over or can you isolate any area? Could she have slipped and hurt her back? Back pain can show up as referred pain elsewhere too. If you have a good chiropractor or someone who does body work, it might be worth a shot. If that's not it, it could sure be something systemic. Hope she has a fast and complete recovery!

Jan

 

[albahurst]

Gary and I usually alternate between buying our beet pulp at Tractor Supply or our local feed store. About three weeks ago we also got a batch that was very dark. When I soaked it, it smelled like the molasses had actually burnt. Our eight in the front barn usually go after the very wet beet pulp with a vengence. None of them would eat it at all. We returned it and had to buy from a different batch at the other store because all of it at Tractor Supply looked the same way. It has taken three weeks for the horses that refused their beet pulp then to start eating soaked beet pulp as enthusiastically as they used to.
None of ours acted sick but none of them really ate it either. Sure makes you wonder.

We had the same trouble! It smelled almost rancid or burnt. And, when we added water, it was very slimy and black. The feed store was not even going to credit us for what we had opened even though it was 'spoiled' and the second bag we opened just to check the quality (also bad). Said they couldn't resell it if it was opened!

Who would even want to buy it????? They finally gave us a refund. Some of our horses wouldn't eat it either.

It could be your beet pulp. I am glad your vet is checking it out!

Keep us posted!

Peggy

 

[Miniequine]

Sandy,Apparently wasn't managing her pain because within a couple of hours of going back to bute, she was up and walking around, and looking more relaxed.

Jan

Thanks Jan. Can they have bute?? I will ask.

MountainMeadowsPosted Yesterday, 10:03 PM [SIZE=10pt]Sandy, I would ask your vet to test for rabies, as well as EPM, and also hyperlipemia - all three can hit fast and hard, but if you catch them early they can be managed.[/SIZE]

Thanks Stacy. I will ask about your comments too. She has has a rabies shot. I just don't know what to think! and Thank you for the info about the Molassas. That is interesting. Sure makes me wonder/

I just have this gut feeling that it has something to do with this beetpulp .

I will keep you all posted.. Thank you so much for your input

~Sandy

 

[minie812]

Makes you wonder about the beet pulp. With the "shortage" and wonder if they sold you nasty old stuff that has been sitting int he warehouse. I had one bag that I opened from one place that was selling it for high dollar 20.00 a bag back in early Oct. got it home and opened it and had lumps and weird stuff in it like they swept the floor and thru it in the sack. Course the place I was getting it from refused to take it back (they were going out of business) It was darker looking then normal too and without molasses. I ended up throwing it out, not worth it to have sick horses. Best of Luck to you!

 

[Kathy2m]

Sandy,

Her body pain might be from her sore feet, I had a TB founder many, many years ago and the vet said because his feet were sore it changed the way he was walking, and he was using different muscles making him body sore. Just a thought. Hope everyone is better soon, Kathy

 

[chandab]

Can they have bute?? I will ask.

They can, but you have to be extremely careful with the dosage. [Their weight is often over-estimated, so they are over-dosed.]

I have a mare that foundered, and nothing but Bute would touch her pain. [she got ulcer meds along with the bute and she seemed to handle it very well.]

 

[wildoak]

They can, but you have to be extremely careful with the dosage. [Their weight is often over-estimated, so they are over-dosed.]
I have a mare that foundered, and nothing but Bute would touch her pain. [she got ulcer meds along with the bute and she seemed to handle it very well.]

Exactly. I don't use bute for the minis if I have a choice, but I've had to use it on a couple of foundered mares in the past, and now on Artie. If it's a prolonged dosage - more than a day or so - I give an ulcer med with it. She was on Gastroguard for about 6 weeks (ouch), and is now on U7 twice a day. It's been about 3 months since her surgery, she's had bute most of that time and so far so good.

Any change in your mare tonight, or any word from your vet? Sure sounds like the beet pulp was suspicious!

Jan