Fly strike? UTI? Horse kicking violently at sheath/belly

[samlf]

As title says.

My friend and I share a field. I arrived last night an hour after she had. She said her horse didn't seem 'right'. She said he was kicking at his belly/kicking out, looking round at belly, and was getting upset. Asked if she had walked him, she said yes, he had not passed a poo. Kept lifting tail as if needing to poo but just a little liquid came out. Gut sounds ok, no sweating either.

Puzzled as it didn't seem like colic but he was clearly upset and it was out of hours. Vet advised to walk again for half hour and call back. Walked for half hour, did one poo which was normal, then went for a tiny wee immediately after. It was strange because it was full force as if his bladder was full but lasted literally 2 seconds.

Rang vet back and said although he had done a poo he was still behaving exactly the same. Walked him again whilst waiting for her to come out and again he did a poo then the strange peeing thing. Twigged it may be a UTI.

Vet came out. No temperature, gut sounds good. No colic. Agreed may be a UTI. Gave IV painkiller and antibiotics. Advised to put him out and check in morning.

This morning, no change. Acting exactly the same.

So don't think its UTI as IV antibiotics would at least make some difference surely.

Wondered if it was fly strike, he let it hang out earlier and it looked ok though.

He does have two sarcoids on his sheath, they have got bigger over the past month. Photos have been sent to Liverpool and they decided he needs the cream.

Rang vet back this morning who said she thinks its the sarcoids interfering with him, he needs the cream ASAP.

I don't agree with this - not ruling the sarcoids out as a cause at all but she didn't want to come back out to sedate and have a feel around or anything. I don't think its a good idea to have him treated when you don't know what is causing these symptoms at the moment as we may miss the real cause.

Thoughts please - different vet from same practice is coming out at 2-3pm today.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmm..... how's his sheath area looking generally? i.e. is it looking swollen at all? And is he "putting down" his man-bit more than usual?

If he's obviously having trouble weeing then I'd suspect a UTI to be honest but have also known horses get very stressy when they've been bitten/stung on the sheath/belly area.

Agree that last night's episode sounded like colic and a good thing you got the vets. What a worrying time for you.

Re. sarcoid? mmmm, am not being funny here but is your vet specifically an equine vet? For the symptoms to come on this quickly and to be so noticeable, I wouldn't necessarily suspect the sarcoids as being the prime problem.

Good that you've got another vet coming out this afternoon; fingers crossed that you find out what's going on here.

IMO your vet sounds disinterested and/or *****e scared of horses - I'd be inclined to ditch her TBH. You want someone who knows what they're doing around horses.

 

[missmatch]

My boy has an infection in his sheath most likely caused by a fly bite. He was sedated and sheath cleaned on Thursday and the infection is very high up, lots of disgusting gunk/pus. Sedated & cleaned again yesterday and its getting better but will take a while. On his second course of Noradine and Flamazine and look again in a week. Swab cultures show 2 strains of bacteria, one being anaerobes which are notorioously difficult to treat. His symptoms were kicking his belly, bucking his field mate, slightly swollen sheath and just distracted and tetchy. Maybe worth checking for that? I know our vets are seeing a lot of sheath infections/ fly strike at the minute.

 

[samlf]

Thanks for your replies, sheath looks normal. He does keep twitching it as if a fly is there, though. Not hanging out any more than usual.

I do agree with suspecting UTI, but IV antibiotics have not touched it at all.

Yes she's an equine vet, relatively newly qualified but the vet coming out this afternoon is practice manager.

Missmatch that does sound similar, but strangely he is not too bad when in the field, but when tied up he is a lot worse. I will query infection with vet, I did say I think he needs sedating and a good check 'up there'.

 

[samlf]

Just an update.

Vet came out yesterday and said he was sure it was a UTI even though he hadn't improved with IV antibiotics. Couldn't put my finger on it but didn't think it was. Gave more painkillers and another antibiotic injection. Said if he isn't better the next day then call him back.

Today, no change. He came back out. Sedated to catheterise, as soon as he sedation and let it all hang loose a load of maggots fell out. So fly strike. Thorough clean, and antibiotics as they've caused some sores.

Just wanted to update so anyone else in this position knows

 

[tankgirl1]

Poor fella, fly strike is horrible! Glad you persevered with the vet and he is now on the mend!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Omg! I've had similar symptoms with my horse in previous summers. I once found a maggot up there. Made me feel sick! I gave it a good clean and did it again everyday for a few days with the intention of getting a vet if any more maggots but he got better anyway. This summer I've plastered the whole area in Avon skin so soft and we've not had the problem, maybe give it a try to avoid future episodes? Out of interest can I ask what the cost was to sedate and clean the sheath?

 

[Elsbells]

Ummmmm, I'd be querying that vet bill that's for sure!

 

[samlf]

Omg! I've had similar symptoms with my horse in previous summers. I once found a maggot up there. Made me feel sick! I gave it a good clean and did it again everyday for a few days with the intention of getting a vet if any more maggots but he got better anyway. This summer I've plastered the whole area in Avon skin so soft and we've not had the problem, maybe give it a try to avoid future episodes? Out of interest can I ask what the cost was to sedate and clean the sheath?

Hi,
not sure on the vets bill front as she hasn't received the bill yet, but its 3x call outs inc one out of hours so its going to be a fair whack.

Yes I did point out to her a little while ago his sheath needed cleaning again (he seems to be quite dirty there). We are using DEET cream down on his sheath now, there have been so few flies around we haven't had reason to put any fly spray on at all until now.

We wouldn't have been able to do it ourselves, he was kicking the vet under two lots of sedation as it was really painful for him.

 

[samlf]

Ummmmm, I'd be querying that vet bill that's for sure!

Why do you say this?

On the one hand I can see your point of view - we did tell the vets it was very unlike him, weren't convinced it was a UTI and I think did mention fly strike.

On the other hand, how else would they diagnose it rather than treating what they though it was and as it didn't work trying another tactic?

 

[Charlie_c]

My old horse (28) has had maggots in his sheath last summer and we've managed to go all this summer without any problems until now (11th sept) weathers cooler and he has them. It is the normal kicking at the belly swishing his tail like there's a horse fly but there's actually no flys around at all. We have to sedate him with sedalin and wait for him to drop his willy! There are a lot of melanoma up their so that doesn't help as there are a lot of hiding places for maggots! It's such a horrible thing to happen! I don't know what people think re: is it better to have the horses stabled at night or in the day? I put summer fly cream on his sheath but not up it! It's so stressful for both of us as he is an old boy and I don't want to have to keep sedating him.