Blood test results are in for my sick mare ...

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Bedford Joy

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Okay the bloods on my 20 year old TB mare have come back.

Red blood cells - normal

Muscle, Liver, Kidney Enzymes - Normal

Slightly dehydrated (to be expected but she's drinking again now)

White Blood Cells - split into 5 groups of which 2 are showing elevation

Bilirubin (Hemoglobin) - Showing elevation

The Vet has said she could be either fighting a virus, or a bacterial infection or it could be something more serious that isn't in the liver or kidneys and will need more specific testing/exploration.

Eating and drinking a little today, has slept all day. Been to see her this afternoon and she's very subdued and started to glance a little at her stomach 3 times in 10 minutes.

Massive weight loss over last week ... had EHV vaccine on the 4/4/2013

Vet coming back out tomorrow, assures me it can't be the vaccine causing it.

Anyone offer any ideas, or guesses, or questions I can ask the vet tomorrow
 
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You need to speak to Queenbee. She lost her mare a several months ago in similar circumstances.

Is the mare on pain relief?
 
I would think what has changed in the last week, if she has lost a lot of weight there is an underlying reason and the colic is a symptom not the reason for how she is, had the vet seen her about the weight loss prior to last night when she had colic. What was being done to address the drop in weight, it could be that a change of diet has caused the colic.
Cushings can cause loss of weight, it is not just fatties that get it, something that can easily be tested for.
 
Put her on NAF D-tox brilliant stuff for this sort of thing as it helps the immune system.

I had a horse that a fortune was spent on trying to find out what he was fighting. If he had all his blood tests at one time he would have been drained of blood!

He was given all sorts of drugs to no avail and after two years he was tested positive for Cauda Equina. Whilst we were waiting for the CE test to come back I was sent some D-tox by the vet that designed it for NAF. The change in the horse in a couple of days was noticeable and by the end of a week he was a much happier horse.
I was feeding it in higher levels than stated and have used it for many ailments since - brilliant stuff.
 
Sending you vibes , one of mine a colic prone tb nearly 20 now went off colour last week lethargic , high temp colicking also , I was really worried we were going to have to call it a day as vets were really concerned about him we have him bute and then steroid jab twice last week , a week later a very different horse bright alert eating very well now , fingers crossed for your mare x x
 
Bedford Joy, here's hoping all will be well. I've had thoroughbreds come down with biliary in a form that confounded the vets. I've also had TBs pick up viruses literally overnight and nothing ever showed on blood tests but my vet just packs them with antibiotics and bute. Living in a hot climate we get far more than our fair share of bugs. And TBs seem to attract it all.

I'm hoping your horse has something that results in a quick recovery; thinking of you, please keep us updated.
 
Have you had her protein levels checked? A mate's mare started dropping weight after worming (Equest) and is still ill after 3 months. She's starving herself, nothing tempts her. This is the second mare I've heard about in this county with similar issues.

Let us know what happens with your girl and big healing vibes for her.
 
Thank you everyone, I will definitely raise some of your suggestions with the Vet today. She's coming out at 11 so will update you all later :) xxxxxxx
 
Not saying for a moment that the two things are the same but 3 weeks ago I arrived to find my 29yr old TB with a fever temp and a trashed bed. I assumed colic and vet came out but by then he was looking uncomfortable and trying to pee. Also not interested in feed whatsoever.
Bloods and urine sample taken and showed he was fighting an infection of some discription.
Painkillers and knock out anti biotics given and temp taken every hour to ensure fever not spiking again.
Whatever it was completely wiped the floor with him and I started saying goodbyes but he came bouncing back with the drugs and last night gave me the run around for an hour refusing to be caught! Wouldn't have believed that 3 weeks ago looking at the state of him.

Strangely and possibly unrelated but back in October last year I had him blood tested as he was fine in coat and eating / drinking etc but incredibly flat and not himself. Results came back clear but I was sure that he had a virus of some sort.

2 others on our yard have ended up being blood tested and also negative but at completely different times have been really flat and low this winter and then just seemed to go back to normal.

Horrible time for you I know so chin up and fingers crossed for your girl she'll also be driving you mad in a couple of weeks :-) x
 
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