Back issue / possible infection

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rachk89

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Ok got a problem with the horse and I am worried it's a serious one. I haven't got the vet out yet and I no doubt will be even if someone manages to reassure me that I am crazy.

About a week ago he got a few lumps on his neck. Now he has had these before after an intense training session and after i freaked out and got someone to check him I was told it was just his muscle and it will go away. It did then. But it hasn't fully now. All the small lumps on the left side of his neck have gone but the right side still has a large lump there.

Now yesterday i rode him and at times he kicked out with his back legs. I thought he was just acting up because of other circumstances but that is not the case it seems. Despite not being worked hard yesterday he has a lump about 2 inches longnon his back. It is on the right side just down from the spine and is about centre to where the saddle would sit. When you press on it he is angry about it and he goes for you. This is a horse that has put up with back pain before (badly fitted saddle) so that is out of character for him.

Another symptom that may or may not be linked is the fact his urine now stinks badly. He isn't dehydrated though. He gets enough to drink and there is usually plenty of water left over from the night before.

This does only seem to have started from when i put him on glucosamine but I can't see why that would be causing this. He has had his saddle fitted to him recently and he has only had issues in the past two days. He gets a very thick numnah on too so I can't see how it could be a rub but obviously if the vet finds nothing the saddler will be my next option.

If anyone has any ideas that would be great but I am still going to get the vet out. I would just like some reassurance that he might be ok and I am being neurotic as always.

Thanks. Sorry for any spelling mistakes I can't logon via my laptop for some reason and my phone is psychotic currently with its version of English.
 
The very thick numnah might be the problem, it would make the saddle a tighter fit. My saddle is fitted to my horse and my saddler stresses that he should only have a very thin cloth underneath as it is fitting correctly already and anything added underneath will make it sit incorrectly. If you put something thick under it, that will cause it to rub and also might make him sweaty so it could also be heat lumps/or a hive type reaction.

I also never use a saddle cloth, always a numnah so it puts less strain over my horse's spine.
 
BethH said:
The very thick numnah might be the problem, it would make the saddle a tighter fit. My saddle is fitted to my horse and my saddler stresses that he should only have a very thin cloth underneath as it is fitting correctly already and anything added underneath will make it sit incorrectly. If you put something thick under it, that will cause it to rub and also might make him sweaty so it could also be heat lumps/or a hive type reaction.

I also never use a saddle cloth, always a numnah so it puts less strain over my horse's spine.
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Maybe but I have been using a thick one since late summer last year and this is the first time it's happened. He has also come in sweaty from a ride recently and yet these didn't happen.

It might be but I can't see how they happened after a short ride where he didn't work much would cause heat bumps.

If it is heat related I am gonna look like an idiot to the vet as they are coming tomorrow but would rather look stupid than get it wrong and hurt him you know?
 
Take him off the glucosamine!

I had to have a lovely IDx mare pts because an infection became septicaemia, despite several vet visits and antibiotics. I am convinced that her immune system had been compromised by me giving her glucosamine. She was recovering from back problems at the time.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Take him off the glucosamine!

I had to have a lovely IDx mare pts because an infection became septicaemia, despite several vet visits and antibiotics. I am convinced that her immune system had been compromised by me giving her glucosamine. She was recovering from back problems at the time.
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See i do wonder if it's that but apparently there are no side effects to glucosamine (i dont believe that there are side effects to everything like this but I can't find any). It does just seem odd that all of this has happened since he got put on glucosamine.

If i am crazy and it's just heat rash I am planning to wash and clip him this weekend. It's gonna just have to be a cruel to be kind act as he won't like it and he will flip out even on the sedalin I have from the vets but it's necessary. He is too hairy now and it comes off him in clumps from all the moulting. I may do that anyway as it's long overdue. Just putting it off as he hates clippers.
 
rachk89 said:
See i do wonder if it's that but apparently there are no side effects to glucosamine (i dont believe that there are side effects to everything like this but I can't find any). It does just seem odd that all of this has happened since he got put on glucosamine a.
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I know it seems unlikely but it is incredibly sweet and it is derived from shellfish, which horses are definitely not intended to eat. We had a cob on glucosamine for years and I have always said she had no I'll effects from it but thinking about it, she was pts because of a neuro issue probably in her spine . However she was 31. The ID was only 11. I shall always use herbs for stiffness in future.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I know it seems unlikely but it is incredibly sweet and it is derived from shellfish, which horses are definitely not intended to eat. We had a cob on glucosamine for years and I have always said she had no I'll effects from it but thinking about it, she was pts because of a neuro issue probably in her spine . However she was 31. The ID was only 11. I shall always use herbs for stiffness in future.
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Well the vet gave 3 options for what they possibly are: allergic reaction, bite or something to do with worms. I have taken him off the glucosamine just incase it is that. He is up to date on worming so probably not that.
 
I think you have made the right decision. Looking back, I think my mare had had an allergic reaction to glucosamine, which caused tension in her back, leading to muscle problems, I think her immune system was compromised so when she got an unrelated infection she wasn't able to fight it off, poor girl.
I have had horses which have had allergic reactions to all sorts of feeds/supplements, including seaweed, cereals, sugar, carrots, alfalfa. These days I keep feed as simple as possible and monitor very carefully anything new.
Good luck!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I think you have made the right decision. Looking back, I think my mare had had an allergic reaction to glucosamine, which caused tension in her back, leading to muscle problems, I think her immune system was compromised so when she got an unrelated infection she wasn't able to fight it off, poor girl.
I have had horses which have had allergic reactions to all sorts of feeds/supplements, including seaweed, cereals, sugar, carrots, alfalfa. These days I keep feed as simple as possible and monitor very carefully anything new.
Good luck!
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Cheers i hope it is just that. Hopefully I have caught it in time and he won't get any further problems he was only on it for a month tops. Thanks for your help :)
 
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