Denise5
Member
Four days after finishing a month long course of Trimsulp for a sheath infection, my 19 year old gelding developed a cough and his respiration rate was higher than normal. At first there was no nasal discharge but a few days later there was a white/yellow discharge. The vet examined him with an endoscope, noting pus. His temperature and appetite was normal. He was put on a course of a penicillin based drug for one week while swabs from his sheath and nasal discharge were sent for analysis. The vet returned with the results which showed an e coli bacteria (penicillin resistant) in both the sheath and the nasal discharge. At this stage the vet could hear wheezing and crackling sounds on the gelding's lungs. The gelding then had a four day course of Excenel. When the vet returned after the course of Excenel and listened to the gelding's lungs she said "Clear lung sounds". So it appeared the Excenel has wiped out the bad bacteria. The gelding then had a teaspoon of Potassium Oidide put into his feed once a day (for ten days) to try to clear the gunk from his lungs. During this time he coughed up phlegm and had a constant discharge from his lungs. Now we have finished the Potassium Oidide: the gelding's nasal discharge is now almost clear but he is still coughing and his respiration rate is still high. It's as though the original antiobiotic for the sheath infection has affected his immune system. The gelding hasn't gotten any worse or better. I am now trying a homeopathic mixture (from a qualified herbalist) in the gelding's feed twice a day to try to boost his immune system and keep the bad bacteria away. The vet has mentioned putting the gelding to sleep (we've had him for 18 years and before all of this, there was still plenty of life left in him) and I know if the gelding goes downhill, we will have to face this. I don't know if I'm prolonging the inevitable or there is still hope. Any helpful information or advice out there please would be most welcomed. Does the respiration rate, of horses with respiratory infections, ever come back to normal? Will my horse ever by OK again?