What could it be?

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:37 am

I thought I would post about my month old foal to see if anyone has any similar experiences or thoughts to share ...
He is not nursing regularly (he has stopped altogether a few times in the last 36hrs.) and has a low grade temperature (102-102.6F), however he is *not* lethargic - in fact quite the opposite! The vet drew a blood on him yesterday and is a little mystified about the results. His WBC was high-normal, his RBC was low, his hemoglobin was low and his hematocrit was low. His is anemic but lower then would be considered "normal" for a young TB foal. It is as though he is losing blood from somewhere

The vet suggested antibiotic treatment to cover the bases and to recheck his blood in a couple weeks. In the meantime I have removed the salt lick and given him access to his own grain bucket. I will began the antibiotics this aft and he is already on ulcer medication and has been for about a week - due to other symptoms . . . Anyone have any thoughts? Thank you

Intrinsic Worth · Postby **Intrinsic Worth** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:41 am

If nothing gives a defnitive diagnosis, I would have an ultrasound done. I worked with a foal that had a lot of the same symptons as yours and finally, the Dr. from Hagyards just did an ultrasound and found something (it's been awhile and can't remember what it was.) He was put on Reglan for a few weeks.

Regal13 · Postby **Regal13** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:47 pm

Just out of curiosity, what are his "other symptoms" that you're treating him for??? I ask because I had a colt that we were treating for ulcers, because he had what we thought were typical symptoms (plus low grade fever), but turns out that he was suffering from mild sand colic. We had never had a problem with any horses prior to (or since for that matter) but some foals are susceptible without even being in "sandy" areas. The vet said that sometimes they'll pick it up from eating the mother's feces which is what happened in our case I think. At times he would stretch out just like he was going to urinate, but he'd just stand in that position. He also would stretch his neck out and rotate his head to the side and just stand there. After the vet diagnosed it we figured out that he was trying to relieve the bloat in his abdomen by attempting to "stretch" his belly.....

WarHorse · Postby **WarHorse** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:39 pm

Regal13 wrote:Just out of curiosity, what are his "other symptoms" that you're treating him for?

Ditto.

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:43 am

Regal13 wrote:Just out of curiosity, what are his "other symptoms" that you're treating him for??? I ask because I had a colt that we were treating for ulcers, because he had what we thought were typical symptoms (plus low grade fever), but turns out that he was suffering from mild sand colic. We had never had a problem with any horses prior to (or since for that matter) but some foals are susceptible without even being in "sandy" areas. The vet said that sometimes they'll pick it up from eating the mother's feces which is what happened in our case I think. At times he would stretch out just like he was going to urinate, but he'd just stand in that position. He also would stretch his neck out and rotate his head to the side and just stand there. After the vet diagnosed it we figured out that he was trying to relieve the bloat in his abdomen by attempting to "stretch" his belly.....

He had severe diarrhea after he returned from the large animal clinic, I had been treating it with pepto and acute care to no avail. His only saving grace was that he was still nursing. The vet suggested treating him for ulcers thinking his stay at clinic could be the cause. I began treating him with sulcrate and voila - his diarrhea disappeared

Now he has all these "other" symptoms. I am going to treat him with omeprazole instead of the sulcrate and see if it makes a difference.

I don't see how "Ralphie" could have sand colic as he has not been exposed to sand or dirt for that matter because we have had so much snow covering the ground, likewise the mare would not be passing it through her manure as the snow has been here for several months. I have never come across a horse with sand colic, how did you treat your foal? And were you able to prevent it from happening again? Thanks

K~2 · Postby **K~2** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:52 am

Hey Mood Swings, I've not had the chance to use this product yet, but I've heard many positive things about Platinum Performance's Bio-Sponge product.

I don't know if it's available in Canada, but your veterinarian may be able to order it.

freshman · Postby **freshman** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:25 pm

It might be worth culturing his feces for salmonella, in light of his hospital stay. Usually this is a series of cultures over a period of five days, to rule it out. Some equine hospitals will survery for salmonella at no cost to the client, since it is such a biohazard. Call and talk to them if your vet thinks that this is a differential for your foal's diarrhea.

WarHorse · Postby **WarHorse** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:51 pm

Thank you. Please keep us posted.

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:16 am

Well he is still suffering from some mysterious illness

The vet pulled another blood yesterday (don't have the results yet). He is not responding to the antibiotics, his temp is still above normal and as of this morning he has stopped nursing . . . again. He is still sprightly and he looks good, however he has also begun to develop a "fungus"!? on his right foreleg - wtf? The vet wants to try and ultrasound his umbilical area but that is all his ultrasound machine can do so I think it would be better for him to go to a clinic and have the works. Wish him luck, he seems to need it

. Thanks.

Regal13 · Postby **Regal13** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:57 am

Sorry Mood Swings, I haven't been on in a while, I wasn't ignoring you!! We treated this particular baby with a psillium (don't know if I'm spelling that right) product. The vet said they can sand colic from just regular old dirt as well, not just sand, so we still don't know exactly how it happened. It's never happpened again, so I guess it was just a fluke or an affinity for eating his mom's poo.....

How old is the baby exactly? I would get him to a clinic ASAP especially if he's stopped nursing.... As for the fungus, has he been in damp conditions (I know it's a damp time of year for everyone, but moreso than normal?)?

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:23 am

The blood results have come back, his WBC is still normal and he still very anemic. The vet thinks he has a problem with his liver

He is going to the clinic in a day or two for a more aggressive work up. He is so special to me I am praying they will be able to help him

WarHorse · Postby **WarHorse** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 8:27 pm

Mood Swings wrote:The blood results have come back, his WBC is still normal and he still very anemic. The vet thinks he has a problem with his liver He is going to the clinic in a day or two for a more aggressive work up. He is so special to me I am praying they will be able to help him

This does not spell good news. I hope they check out his spleen and everything else.

{{{Mood Swings}}}