Grass snakes?

[sarahrees]

Had a phone call of my mum tonight, she had to phone the vet out to perry. When she got up to the field she called the horses up but perry just stood there neighing so she went over and her hind leg near side was swollen from above the hock and sticking out at an angle. So she phoned the vet and used a towel to cold massage it. My mum said The heat was terrific.
When the vet came they moved her to a stable and the swelling had started to go down. At first the vet thought shed broken her femur but as the swelling was starting to go down she thought it was further down in her leg.
Well the vets coming up first thing tomorrow morning to see if the swellings gone down, and if not they want to x ray her to see if shes broken a splint bone

Has anyone had any experience with snake bites because weve got a lot of long grass and the vet says its a possibility.

 

[henryhorn]

If it's a snake bite it will be an adder not a grass snake, they don't bite!
I think they can tell from a blood test, it's getting cold now though for snakes, they hibernate in autumn..

 

[sarahrees]

Thanks
xxx

 

[ISHmad]

Hope everything goes okay this morning.

 

[Imonone]

We had a pony that our vets, after having him in for treatment said had been bitten by a snake.

His leg was enormous but after bute, box rest and DMSO it soon resolved and he was as good as new.

Good luck with your little man

 

[Shilasdair]

It might be an adder....but although the bites are dramatic, I believe they soon go down especially in an animal as large as a horse.
It's quite unusual for snakes to bite though? I've seen adders and they tend to make a speedy get-away.
Hope your pony gets well soon.
S

 

[sarahrees]

Just come from the field now. her leg is even morse swollen today but shes putting more weight on it. Vet was happier about her leg today and she wanted her to go out for a few hours to see if she can walk some of the swelling of. Shes not so confinced that its a broken splint bone but bringing the xray down this afternoon just in case. so shes in a corner of a field with bandit and ginny looking confused.
This is a pic from this morning

 

[Fantasy_World]

Just a thought but has the vet ruled out or thought of the possibility that it may be lymphangitis?

Caroline

 

[sarahrees]

Shes not mensioned it, there isnt any signs of cuts (but that could be cause of the swelling) and we dont think shes been kicked because shes head mare and shes in a field with a pony and my foal
thank you though and its worth talking about it to the vet this afternoon
fingers crossed
xxx

 

[ISHmad]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought but has the vet ruled out or thought of the possibility that it may be lymphangitis?

Caroline

[/ QUOTE ]

You read my mind! A horse at our yard has had this a couple of times this year, and it seems to start from pretty much nothing.

 

[spaniel]

Saw a friends horse come down with raging lymphangitis, no obvious injury, nick, cut or anything so dont rely on finding a wound to give you a clue. Hopefully the xray will rule out a few things.

 

[sarahrees]

i hope so

shes my baby ive had her for 13yrs shes my best friend

 

[Fantasy_World]

Yes it can suddenly start from nothing. A good friend of mine had a horse that suddenly came down with it whilst out in the field. She described some symptoms to me via text the main one being heat, lameness and severe swelling on one hind leg. I could remember reading about the condition in a book only a few days before and remembered some of the signs. I took some pictures that were in the book with phone and sent them and they were very similar to her horse's leg too. After the vet had been it did turn out to be just that and the horse was treated with antibiotics and it cleared up quite quickly.
I hope your horse is not in too much pain Sarah and I hope your vet can determine what the cause is and sort it out for you x
My gut feeling though is that it may well be this condition.
Good luck today x
Cazx

 

[JulieL]

Good point about the lymphangitis from sarah & perry. I used to look after an ex-racehorse with lymphangitis and her leg used to blow up ocassionaly just like that in yr picture. Her legs would the go oozy afeter a couple of days so i had to keep it really clean. It could be a snake bite, if snake was a bit docile coz of the cold, it could of bin trodden on by yr horse and then bit him.

I really hope yr horse is gonna b ok. Fingers crossed.

LB xx

 

[sarahrees]

Thanks for all the advice and support
xxx

 

[Fantasy_World]

What is even more interesting now is that your horse is a tb Sarah and is 16? am I correct after just looking at your my space?
My friend's horse was a tb and was aged around 17 approx.
From the posts I have seen about the condition ( in the past) many of the horses afflicted seemed to have been thoroughbreds so it does seem to be a coincidence.
best wishes for today though with the vet x

 

[sarahrees]

shes aprox 19 had her since she was six, she started suffering from slight athritis last year but she was fine on feel good 30. All she does is a bit of light hacking.

xxx

 

[Fantasy_World]

Aw you have had her a good while then x she will be fine don't worry

Cazx

 

[vhf]

Had one bitten (adder) at this time a few years ago - blew up HUGE but was completely gone in a week.
Sister had one do similar and it turned out there was a tiny crack near the ergot and infection had somehow got in- 4 days antibiotics and it was good as new. Very alarming when it happens! Hopefully yours will be as minor...

 

[SpottedCat]

The only poisonous snake in this country is the adder - the others may bite but are harmless.

Haven't read any of the other replies, sp I'm sure someone has told you this already!

 

[lucemoose]

My horse came in from the field a few months ago absolutley crippled, enormous front leg, unwilling to put weight on it. I thought he had broken it. Vet came out, saw a small scab and said incredibly fast onset lymphangitis due to a wound. We treated, and after a day of poulticing with no joy noticed that there were two small exact holes a little further around his leg. changed dressing and these were disgusting! Am completley convinced he had trodden on a snake (we are next to a common, nice snakey area) and the lymphangitis was due to the trauma.

 

[Shilasdair]

I can't help it, I just have to say it.
Here goes.

'Snakes are only 'poisonous' if eating them makes you ill. Otherwise they're 'venomous'.

Sorry ssssssssssss
Sssssssss
S

 

[Charlie77]

My Horse stood on a grass snake last year while out hacking! I only know this coz the girl behind shouted I turned to see a very angry snake!! rolling around with its pink mouth wide open.

My Mum has sheep & asked the vet if a sheep could be killed by an adder bite. He said yes. and he has even seen Calves die to! very nasty things, I have also known a few dogs that have had to have blood transfusions after an adder bite, I have come across 2 adders in recent years an neither of them made any effort to get out of the way, Adders tend to sun them selves in short grass or on sit on pavements, Grass snakes on the other hand do seem to move but as you said like the longer grass and a little dampness.

Lymphangitis seems the most probable answer though my old girl had her fist bout when she was about 20 now aged 32 she dose have them from time to time I fined if you give her a bute quick enough it will just go down again be for it has really come up.