Grace update - still no better

_jetset_

_jetset_

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 May 2005
Messages
11,389
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
I got down to the yard at 7am and Grace was down in her stable... she is usually up when there is someone around, so I immediately knew she was still not right. I cleaned out her buckets, got her a small brekfast and she was shouting but still lay down.

I put the bucket down and she got up but had no interest in the food once she has sniffed it... then proceeded to start pawing again and had very runny poo (but still some solid in it). I knew the vet was coming up at 7.30am, so mucked her out, got her some clean water but was concerned that she had not had a wee through the night
frown.gif


The vet came, and one good thing is that her temperature is now down to normal. He said the runny poo can be a reaction to the antibiotics, but her gut was moving quite quickly so he gave her a shot of buscopan, bute and another antibiotic too. I spoke to him about her not weeing and he said to monitor her drinking (which I have been doing as turned the waterer off and used buckets). As he left she did a big wee, so that eased my mind a little
smile.gif


She is still not eating much, but the vet recommended putting hay in as opposed to the haylage until we know exactly what is... he has also taken bloods which will be back in the morning, and put her on a probiotic for a few days.

Sp please everyone keep your fingers crossed that it is just this virus and nothing else
frown.gif
I admit that I am worried sick about her because she is so quiet and out of character
frown.gif
 
Sorry to hear that she is no better, but this sounds so similair to spasmodic/gassy colic.... as I said in your other post dont discount gut sounds as mine has over active noises, which yours is now doing.... and mine passes poohs even whilst in the throws of chucking himself on the floor! Although I will admit mine usually continues to pass water.... especially once the buscopan has been given and everything relaxes.....
Do hope she improves soon. Was she given Buscopan last night or was this the first injection?
 
No, this morning was the first shot of buscopan...

The thing is she has not been out at grass or had anything different in her diet. The haylage is not fantastic at the yard and does change quite a bit, but has not done recently and has been a lot worse in the past. However, that is why the vet wants her on hay, so it can remain constant. My other mare is on hay because he gut cannot take whatever is produced in the fermentation process of the haylage
frown.gif


The vet is thinking that it is all part of the virus...
 
Nothing had changed with my lad on Monday..... hadn't been out on grass either... the only thing different was a vibrating magnetic pulsing rug... and low and behold, colic later.....
which probiotic are you on?
Hopefully things will settle in a few hours..... especially now she's had the buscopan... Will be interested to see what the bloods come back with.... bet there is a raised white cell count, which can point to a virus, but can also be caused by the stress and pain of colic... last time we had bloods done, this came back as raised but vet said that can be due to the activity of getting up and down rolling and pawing....
Keep us updated...... fingers crossed for you that she'll be ok
 
Poor you becki and poor Grace. They really are a worry arn't they! It seems if it's not one thing it's another! Nothing to add as, touch wood, no experience of this but just wanted to say I hope she's feeling better soon. Fingers crossed.
 
Not sure what probiotic... I have to go and pick it up in the afternoon.

Just so worried about her... going to pop back up in an hour or so and see how she is getting on. Hopefully she should be looking a bit perkier.
 
Thank you...

This is the first time she has ever been poorly in her life
frown.gif
She has never had colic before so just strange that this is happening. If it is the virus causing it, hopefully because her temperature has come down she is over the worst of it
blush.gif
 
sounds more like virus, than colic. Blood count will tell you whats going on
but still very worrying for you........... and hope grace is better later on
 
Thank you everyone...

I have just been back up to the yard to see the patient and the good news is that she has eaten the two slices of hay I left for her, but she has not touched the haylage that was underneath. I have thrown all of that away now out of the haybar, and put two more slices of hay in for her which she was munching on. It is strange, she whickers at me when she sees the net but then just picks at it
frown.gif


She did not seem to be showing any signs of colicky behaviour when I went back, and has done one sloppy poo which looks slightly more normal than before. She has also done another wee
smile.gif


Her eyes are just 'dead' though
frown.gif
 
Ask the vet to test for perotinitis, we had a pony who had the same symptoms as Grace, Our vet argued it was a virus but we insisted the horse went to Bristol.. , he spent two weeks in intensive care there, he was in low grad pain (the odd paw at ground lying down, slightly runny poo, not eating much and his eyes were dead) the vets in Bristol thought it might have been caused by a stray worm wandering round and doing mischief
crazy.gif


Hugs for you and Grace hope she better soon
 
I was just going to say the same about perotinitis. My mare is recovering from this.

Request an abdominal tap to test the fluid this will show if it is perotinitis.

My mare was showing colic symptoms and this went on for 6 weeks and she was hospitalised twice before this was resolved. We very nearly lost her, so for the sake of ruling it out ask your vet to check for it.
 
To be honest if you horse has been sick for 24-48 hours I would just take them to the hospital - they are not only more experienced, but being sick for that long takes it toll on horses, and they do need the minute by minute car.
 
Hi Becki.

I haven't read your posts in order so I'm not up to date on how Grace is at the moment so please don't shoot me down, but ...

Has Grace recently had a cortazone injection for her suspensory ligament injury? Only wondering, because when my horse had one (when he had a similar problem), it caused a very similar reaction and he kept lying down in his stable - hence what made me think this could be the same. Apparently, it can cuase laminitis in some cases, especailly where the horse is in very good condition. I hope I'm not worrying you, but it was only the fact they we caught it early (as you are) that he managed to pull through with very careful management.

Thinking about it more logically now, I'm sure that the vet would have picked up on this, but just though I would menion it.

Hope Grace is better soon.

((Hugs))
 
Thanks everyone... blood tests will be back first thing in the morning but had the vet out again this evening because she was showing signs of colicking. She has had very bad diarrhoea this afternoon and this evening, and was looking pretty uncomfortable. The gut sounds gassy still, but then she has not eaten for 24 hours really now, so the vet put an arm up there. There was quite a lot of water, but then she did feel some more solid poo higher up.

She was given another shot of buscopan and bute at 6pm, and I have just been back to check on her... she does look brighter and was more alert and interested in things going on. There was also a much firmer looking poo in her stable too.

I am going back in another 2 hours, then will be up at 6.30am tomorrow to check on her again
frown.gif


The vet has not mentioned anything about worms or hospital... partly due to her high temperature last night which has now returned to normal thankfully.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top