WellyBaggins
Well-Known Member
Has anyone come across endocarditis in horses before? I am interested in others experiences or if anyone can point me in the direction of more info that would be amazing 
TIA
TIA
Endocarditis
- Thread starter WellyBaggins
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wkiwi
Well-Known Member
Probably not what you want to hear but I had a TB euthanased with endocarditis - he seemed odd to ride --way unfit for the work he had been supposed to be doing (race training). Listened to heart with stethoscope and it sounded like a washing machine (while standing still!!).
Had a look at his heart after euth'd and he had massive valve damage and the valves would only have been able to close about half way.
As he was only four and hadn't had any known issues in the past couple of years, it was most likely that he had been infected as a yearling and the damage occurred then.
If you google 'equine bacterial endocarditis' or just 'equine endocarditis' you should find lots of info.
PS never ever name a horse 'Lucky'.
Had a look at his heart after euth'd and he had massive valve damage and the valves would only have been able to close about half way.
As he was only four and hadn't had any known issues in the past couple of years, it was most likely that he had been infected as a yearling and the damage occurred then.
If you google 'equine bacterial endocarditis' or just 'equine endocarditis' you should find lots of info.
PS never ever name a horse 'Lucky'.
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WellyBaggins
Well-Known Member
I lost my horse to endocarditis hence I'm looking for more info about it. His heart wasn't his main symptom, it was diagnosed months later. He had other immune mediated conditions that were unmanageable, once we realised it was endocarditis I let him go.
Thank you for your reply. Lucky is not a great name for a horse, asking for trouble really 😵 Mine was 14 and never had any heart issues prior to this.
Thank you for your reply. Lucky is not a great name for a horse, asking for trouble really 😵 Mine was 14 and never had any heart issues prior to this.
wkiwi
Well-Known Member
Sad for you but you had no choice. It has a very poor prognosis even if the bacteria is treated for in the early stages, and with underlying immune problems as well then it was only a matter of time.
Unfortunately for poor Lucky he had been in race training and when the trainer was told about the heart issue he said something along the lines of 'no wonder the horse wouldn't try for more than a furlong'. God knows how many beatings the poor horse had.
Unfortunately for poor Lucky he had been in race training and when the trainer was told about the heart issue he said something along the lines of 'no wonder the horse wouldn't try for more than a furlong'. God knows how many beatings the poor horse had.
WellyBaggins
Well-Known Member
Yes that's what I've read but there isn't much on causes.
His illness was so odd, I've had him since he was 4 and can't fathom it at all
he raced as a 2,3,4yo and I've not had any heart / fitness issues and nothing picked up murmur wise on any annual vaccination. He went lame in October and a heart murmur appeared at the same time. His lameness was caused by immune-mediated polysynovitis / polyarthritis and it was only when we couldn't control these that the link was made to the murmur and his heart scanned.
Poor Lucky, that's so sad �� Thank god you had him and investigated properly...
His illness was so odd, I've had him since he was 4 and can't fathom it at all
he raced as a 2,3,4yo and I've not had any heart / fitness issues and nothing picked up murmur wise on any annual vaccination. He went lame in October and a heart murmur appeared at the same time. His lameness was caused by immune-mediated polysynovitis / polyarthritis and it was only when we couldn't control these that the link was made to the murmur and his heart scanned. Poor Lucky, that's so sad �� Thank god you had him and investigated properly...
wkiwi
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately not much is know about immune-mediated conditions in horses (although this is because they are rare so that is at least a silver lining). If yours raced without problems he probably didn't have endocarditis from a youngster like lucky did, although some are subclinical (don't show signs).
You may never have answers, as even in humans there are a lot of unanswered questions about multiple conditions and animals can't even tell us when they first feel unwell or sore etc. We can only ever do the best for them at the time and relieve suffering when there is no cure.
You may never have answers, as even in humans there are a lot of unanswered questions about multiple conditions and animals can't even tell us when they first feel unwell or sore etc. We can only ever do the best for them at the time and relieve suffering when there is no cure.
WellyBaggins
Well-Known Member
No, he was literally well one day then non weightbearing lame and very poorly the next You are right and I never will get any answers I guess I have to accept it happened and we all did our best..
You are right and I never will get any answers I guess I have to accept it happened and we all did our best..