Clancy - any suggestions????

[11davisk]

Clancy's condition has not improved after she delivered the foal. She lays down a lot and is always very tired and weak. She keeps turning around and looking at her flank in motherly instinct. I am hoping she is just weak because of the extra weight loss and a little depressed from losing the foal. We do not have any more steroids. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we should do from here?? Maybe get some more steroids?? I am lost. She is only six years old and I don't think her time should be up yet. I know that is not for me to decide though. She would do anything for me and I want to do all I can for her. I really do not want to give up yet. Thank you.

 

[the watcher]

I am guessing, if you are in the USA, that you maybe don't have a large animal vet just around the corner? However this horse does sound like it needs to see the vet and not just have stuff sent over.

Steroids do have side effects themselves, but if they have been helping to encourage appetite and reduce inflammation then I guess this outways any other problems. You could try aloe vera juice in the diet, it is good for digestive problems and may calm some of the inflammation in the gut, you also need to be building in probiotics - if this stuff is hard to get locally then maybe even live yoghurt is worth a go - all mixed in a easily digested meal up to five times a day. Oil in the diet to help add condition (sunflower or linseed) or a high oil pellet feed.

it is starting to sound like you have very little to lose so i guess anything is worth a try.

 

[debradley]

Don't have any suggestions but just wanted to say my thoughts are with you.

 

[spaniel]

Clancy I have been wondering how you have been getting on and am sad to read that things arent improving.

All I can suggest is trying to find a vet who will supply you the steroids plus lots of loving care and attention.

Fingers crossed for Clancy. You have both been through a lot.

 

[catembi]

When my horse had this, he was under the care of Newmarket horse hospital. They were seeing him every 2 to 4 weeks, scanning his intestines to see exactly what was going on there & then prescribing steriods accordingly. He also had appetite simulating injections.

Cat was on prednisolene (sp?) & then when they stopped working, was put on a different steroid. He was also on a ton of pills for the diarrhoea. I think they were morphine based painkillers with the side effect of stopping diarrhoea.

He was also seeing the normal vet 2 or 3 times a week, & we were permanently taking samples of blood/poo to Newmarket to test his levels of various things. The eventual bill was £6k, but this type of thing needs intensive, monitored treatment.

As far as I rem, you're lucky in that your horse doesn't have distressing levels of diarrhoea. Towards the end, we were trying natural remedies. The guy in the health food shop who's a herbalist recommended Tormentil to calm his insides & also peppermint oil capsules.

As the_witch has said, aloe vera is good, ditto natural yoghurt. We also tried gaviscon liquid which is an over the counter remedy for people with acid indigestion - not sure if it's called the same thing where you are - and milk thistle which is a detox/liver support.

Foodwise as I've said before, we had some of every mortal thing you can think of, & offered him all of them every day to see if he'd eat any of them. Plus we offered him things like bananas or a bread roll etc just in case he could be persuaded, on the basis that eating something was better than nothing, & he had his fave field lick. We also got a weight gain supplement from the feed merchants & electrolyte powder to go in his water (but offered him plain water too).

And I think I've said before that we had animal telepath Ann Dee on the phone to Cat, which sounds totally nuts but was actually incredibly useful.

I have a look on here most days to see how you're getting on & I really, really hope there will be some good news soon.

Thinking of you & your horse.

T x

 

[jomiln]

When we had a horse with a similar problem we fed yakult yogurt - 2 a day, a herbal digestive mix, honey - tried 1 lot of steriods which didn't make any change and then when switched to another things started to improve.

All the time our horse was bright in her eye even if she looked dreadful. We did get to being on our last few days with her when she started to pull round and now is so well its unbelievable to think she was so poorly.

Good luck with your horse.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Like Catembi, I am almost dreading updates as we cant take this awful thing away from you. I remember only too well when Cat became very ill with this and Catembi was searching with every ounce of strength she had for a miracle cure for the horse who meant the world to her.

We have a very knowledgeable guy in this country who is also very approacheable called Prof. Derek Knottenbelt who is based at Liverpool University. He is expert in many areas so it could well be worth mailing him. He always responds personally. Do you have a similar expert in the USA who you could contact?

I know that Spaniel, Catembi and myself have been following Clancy's progress and we are all sending lots of positive vibes for you both.