Armas
Well-Known Member
This weekend has been traumatic and Armas has had a choke. I hope this information will help some one else and learn from my possible mistake.
I gave Armas his normal feed in his stall Alan Page Calm and conditioning which must be soaked. I normally soak it in the morning so its very fluffy.
However today, I wanted to give him a bit extra as he had been working hard. He followed me in to his stall as I was carrying the feed bucket. If he does this I always like to give him a little something. So the soaking was only the recommended 10 mins I gave him just a small amount as I like the feed to soak for a good 30mins.
He started to eat but then stopped and went to role and did not get straight back up. At this point I approached him to see if he was ok. He allowed me to approach and touch him. At this point I knew some thing was wrong, as he always gets up when approached.
He eventually got up and I got him out of his stall in to the garden, at this point I was not sure what was wrong but thought it best to keep him walking.
Called to friends who came over to help they arrived within 10mins. We decided it was not colic but a choke. I started to massage Armas throat to try and move the blockage and the vet was called.
The vet advised to insert a hose in to his mouth max 10cm and run water to see if this would clear the blockage. BAD BAD ADVICE never never do this.
It did seem logical at the time.
We did what the vet had suggested however stopped as it seemed as if I was water-boarding Armas.
He was now choking more and shaking all over shock and stress induced I believe. The vet was recalled and told to come.
I kept walking Armas and reassuring him. The vet arrived 20 mins later.
Armas was given some thing to relax him and an injection for colic. We then moved back in to his stall. At this point Armas went to pee it as red. My heart sank. We shouted for the vet.
Vet thought that the blood could have been caused by the stress and shaking but was concerned why this had happened.
Next step warm water via a tube down Armas nose water then pumped in and sucked back out.
Laxative given.
Vet then asked if he had any problems with ticks, a few weeks a go he had a couple of small ticks removed from his legs after a ride.
The vet then treated Armas with antibiotics as a precaution for the ticks, possible dormant toxin released by the stress Armas was under. I think all in French so rather hard to follow.
We moved Armas out of his own stall in to an empty stall no bedding no feed nothing. The vet was still concerned about the blood in the pee and decided to give iv fluids as he wanted to flush his kidneys.
Fluids given and we waited to see if he peed. No pee was worrying the vet so tube was inserted in to his penis to see the colour of the pee.
It was decided I would sleep in the stable to keep watch on Armas. However as the sedative started to wear of the constant coughing started again.
Vet re inserted tub up the nose to make sure no fluid in the lungs or a blockage not sure which.
It was then decided that Armas would need to go to a specialist hospital 3hrs drive away. Preparation made sedative given Armas loaded in to the lorry.
He managed to pee
good sign.
We headed of I could still hear my poor boy coughing the whole way.
At 3am we arrived at the hospital, I opened the lorry up and my heart sank his nose was covered in blood as was the stall at eye level where he had been coughing.
At this point my poor boy was exhausted stressed and I burst in to tears as I felt helpless.
I moved him in to the hospital, examination and blood given along with sedative.
Armas started to pee on his own and there was no blood. I was so happy to know his kidneys were not damaged.
Blood analysis came back mostly normal apart from lower haemoglobin. The vets were worried about pneumonia so antibiotics and a sedative given. Put in a stall for monitoring.
Following day he was scoped bruising around the larynx and fluid on the lungs. Its hard to know if that fluid is from the hose or mucus build up from all the coughing.
He is now on a Nebulizers to get antibiotics in to the lungs normal antibiotic and something to get rid of the mucus.
Prognosis is good thus far. I hope Armas will be home in a few days and should make a full recovery. He is due to be scoped again today and I will know more later.
I can not help but think that the vets advise with the hose was a bad advise and has had caused Armas to suffer and could have killed him. From what I have now learned never do this as you could drown your horse.
Armas was not in immediate danger as he was coughing but able to breath so a better cause of action would have waited for the vet to arrive and clear the blockage.
Hospital bill is going to be 3k minimum.
Fluids being administered at home.
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You can see the blood around my poor boys nose
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I gave Armas his normal feed in his stall Alan Page Calm and conditioning which must be soaked. I normally soak it in the morning so its very fluffy.
However today, I wanted to give him a bit extra as he had been working hard. He followed me in to his stall as I was carrying the feed bucket. If he does this I always like to give him a little something. So the soaking was only the recommended 10 mins I gave him just a small amount as I like the feed to soak for a good 30mins.
He started to eat but then stopped and went to role and did not get straight back up. At this point I approached him to see if he was ok. He allowed me to approach and touch him. At this point I knew some thing was wrong, as he always gets up when approached.
He eventually got up and I got him out of his stall in to the garden, at this point I was not sure what was wrong but thought it best to keep him walking.
Called to friends who came over to help they arrived within 10mins. We decided it was not colic but a choke. I started to massage Armas throat to try and move the blockage and the vet was called.
The vet advised to insert a hose in to his mouth max 10cm and run water to see if this would clear the blockage. BAD BAD ADVICE never never do this.
It did seem logical at the time.
We did what the vet had suggested however stopped as it seemed as if I was water-boarding Armas.
He was now choking more and shaking all over shock and stress induced I believe. The vet was recalled and told to come.
I kept walking Armas and reassuring him. The vet arrived 20 mins later.
Armas was given some thing to relax him and an injection for colic. We then moved back in to his stall. At this point Armas went to pee it as red. My heart sank. We shouted for the vet.
Vet thought that the blood could have been caused by the stress and shaking but was concerned why this had happened.
Next step warm water via a tube down Armas nose water then pumped in and sucked back out.
Laxative given.
Vet then asked if he had any problems with ticks, a few weeks a go he had a couple of small ticks removed from his legs after a ride.
The vet then treated Armas with antibiotics as a precaution for the ticks, possible dormant toxin released by the stress Armas was under. I think all in French so rather hard to follow.
We moved Armas out of his own stall in to an empty stall no bedding no feed nothing. The vet was still concerned about the blood in the pee and decided to give iv fluids as he wanted to flush his kidneys.
Fluids given and we waited to see if he peed. No pee was worrying the vet so tube was inserted in to his penis to see the colour of the pee.
It was decided I would sleep in the stable to keep watch on Armas. However as the sedative started to wear of the constant coughing started again.
Vet re inserted tub up the nose to make sure no fluid in the lungs or a blockage not sure which.
It was then decided that Armas would need to go to a specialist hospital 3hrs drive away. Preparation made sedative given Armas loaded in to the lorry.
He managed to pee
good sign. We headed of I could still hear my poor boy coughing the whole way.
At 3am we arrived at the hospital, I opened the lorry up and my heart sank his nose was covered in blood as was the stall at eye level where he had been coughing.
At this point my poor boy was exhausted stressed and I burst in to tears as I felt helpless.
I moved him in to the hospital, examination and blood given along with sedative.
Armas started to pee on his own and there was no blood. I was so happy to know his kidneys were not damaged.
Blood analysis came back mostly normal apart from lower haemoglobin. The vets were worried about pneumonia so antibiotics and a sedative given. Put in a stall for monitoring.
Following day he was scoped bruising around the larynx and fluid on the lungs. Its hard to know if that fluid is from the hose or mucus build up from all the coughing.
He is now on a Nebulizers to get antibiotics in to the lungs normal antibiotic and something to get rid of the mucus.
Prognosis is good thus far. I hope Armas will be home in a few days and should make a full recovery. He is due to be scoped again today and I will know more later.
I can not help but think that the vets advise with the hose was a bad advise and has had caused Armas to suffer and could have killed him. From what I have now learned never do this as you could drown your horse.
Armas was not in immediate danger as he was coughing but able to breath so a better cause of action would have waited for the vet to arrive and clear the blockage.
Hospital bill is going to be 3k minimum.
Fluids being administered at home.
You can see the blood around my poor boys nose
