Foal with tetanus

Erray

Erray

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2005
Messages
282
Location
Isle of Mull Scotland
www.mullponytrekking.co.uk
Any success stories? I know the chances of survival are not very high but nursed him through it for over 2 weeks now and he seems to be over the worst.
I know its rare nowadays as most horses are vaccinated but would love to hear from anyone that has had a horse recover from it and how successfully they did.
 
There is a very interesting article in this months Horse and Rider or Horse Magazine (not sure which) which is about tetanus. So long as the foal is eating and hasn't required to be fed IV or put in a sling then i think that is the best possible outcome. Can I ask how the foal came to have it? Not here to judge, i am just curious x
 
Thanks, yes I read the article in Horse magazine and have just found another really good article in H&H about a horse that recovered.
The mare wasn't vaccinated but we are unsure how he got it as there is no wound and his umbilicle (sp) is healed, he is 7 weeks old now. The mare is now vaccinated, booster due in a few weeks and she will be vaccinated a month before foaling from now on, (I know its a bit like closing the door after horse has bolted) Alot of horses round here are unvaccinated, I know thats no excuse and I will never let a horse in my care go unvaccinated again.
 
i had a pony mare that got it, she did recover.

it was a long time ago when i was just a kid, the old vet was very patronising towards me.
she came in from the field with a punctured sole, i called out the vet who came dressed it and gave some bute etc, i asked for a temp tetanus as although i was told she had vaccinations, i did not have proof and frankly did not really believe who i had bought her from.

well the vet sort of patted me on the head, told me not to bother, it was just unnecessary expense, just tub and poultice little girl.

a few days later when i phoned saying she displayed tetanus symptoms he was just as patronising, until i described them...

said old vet must have broke every speed limit to arrive, he stuffed her full of antibiotics, and goodness knows what else, he was back every day for a week.

no charge!!

she had got to the stiff neck, flicking 3rd eyelid, nervous stage when i phoned him, but not yet the can't swallow, it took 3 weeks &a total ban on noise in the yard, before we relaxed and considered her over the worst.

she was never quite the same. it was difficult to keep weight on her, & she was utterly mental when in season, out of season = snaffle cavason no martingale,calm, placid, in season = pelham. double reins, spooky, flighty, i would not let anyone else ride her while in season, i even tried to avoid riding her.

like you i now know i should have got her vaccinated or insisted the vet did a semi, we live and learn don't we?

hindsight = so good someone should bottle it! bye
 
Salee thank you so much for sharing your experience. He was only slightly jumpy about noise and movement and seems to be over that now, he only really panics when he is down and can't get back up again. Though he has almost got enough strength to do it now, just needs a little push with the back end.
I'm hoping with only being a foal he will make a better recovery, I was originally hoping to sell him but one things for sure he's never going anywhere after this so I might end up with a big usless pet.
Yes hindsight is a wonderful thing
 
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