High temperature and hives

M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,295
Visit site
My poor horse is pretty poorly. Left his hay on Thursday night, uncharacteristically quiet for the next couple of days, yesterday temperature of over 40. Not eating much and not pooing much. Peeing more often than usual although wee looks an ok colour. Called vet, anti-inflammatories given by injection and bloods taken last night. Results - WBCs slightly low and lymphocytes low. Neutrophils normal. Checked him at 2.30 am, looked subdued but OK - no poo. Checked again at 6 and his head and neck are now covered in huge hives - his head is swollen with hives and he can barely open his eyes. Temp back up to 40. Called vet, more anti-inflamms given and steroids. Vet doesn't think it is a reaction to the anti-inflamm injection as it didn't start till this morning. Vet thinks a virus. 2 hrs after steroids given, the hives are spreading all over his body!

Anyone had hives with a high temp before? Any calming thoughts for me? He looks such a sorry sight.
 
F

Flowerofthefen

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 August 2020
Messages
3,625
Visit site
I had a very strange scenario a few weeks ago with hives. I arrived at the yard, YO, had fed horse but when I looked at him I could clearly see he wasn't right. Called vet immediately. He was showing signs of colic and had a few bumps on his neck. Vet eventually arrived and diagnosed compacted colic but by this time, around an hour later, he was coveted in hives. Vet sorted him out and I kept an eye on him, but the hives got worse. Vet came back out in the late afternoon to check on him and he was still covered. She gave him an injection which helped. He hadn't had them before and he hasn't had them since, very strange. Hope you get him sorted .
 
M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,295
Visit site
Flowerofthefen said:
I had a very strange scenario a few weeks ago with hives. I arrived at the yard, YO, had fed horse but when I looked at him I could clearly see he wasn't right. Called vet immediately. He was showing signs of colic and had a few bumps on his neck. Vet eventually arrived and diagnosed compacted colic but by this time, around an hour later, he was coveted in hives. Vet sorted him out and I kept an eye on him, but the hives got worse. Vet came back out in the late afternoon to check on him and he was still covered. She gave him an injection which helped. He hadn't had them before and he hasn't had them since, very strange. Hope you get him sorted .
Click to expand...
Thanks for replying. That does sound very similar. I was thinking colic when I called the vet although he also had a high temp. I wonder if my horse had an allergic reaction to the boscopan or the anti-inflammatories given by vet last night? Hives started early this morning and got much worse after a second dose of anti-inflams this morning. Vet suggested giving certizine, which I duly did and within two hours he went from barely able to open his eyes and covered in hives to no hives to be seen. And he's started eating and drinking now he feels better. Think it is a virus - my other horse - now has snotty nose and high temp - but no hives.
 
1

[153312]

...
Joined
19 May 2021
Messages
3,598
Visit site
Marigold4 said:
Yes, I think you are right. My other horse now has a snotty nose, a cough and a temp - but no hives. Different symptoms but probably same virus? Just hoping her foal doesn't get it🤞
Click to expand...
yes probably the same virus, if they are living nearby/being cared for by the same people.
 
M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,295
Visit site
AFishOutOfWater said:
yes probably the same virus, if they are living nearby/being cared for by the same people.
Click to expand...
Yes, they are all at home being looked after by me! A weaned foal arrived 10 days ago and has been sharing my gelding's field with him and I wonder if the virus came from the foal.
 
M

misst

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 January 2008
Messages
5,929
Visit site
No helpful advice but sending wishes that everyone picks up and recovers soon x I hate it when they're ill.
 
I

Icedance

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 July 2023
Messages
111
Visit site
Mine currently has a virus, no hives but sky high 40 temp & slightly off colour. I’ve hospitalised him currently and hoping he can come home tomorrow
 
M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,295
Visit site
Ricedance said:
Mine currently has a virus, no hives but sky high 40 temp & slightly off colour. I’ve hospitalised him currently and hoping he can come home tomorrow
Click to expand...
Hope he's OK. 40+ temp is scary. My gelding is still swollen around the face and looking subdued, although temps are back to a normal range. Up again at 2.30 am to check him. Other horse seems to be coping better with the virus and no sign of the foals going down with it yet.
 
M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,295
Visit site
Gelding is looking much better this morning. Hurray! Didn't eat much hay overnight, but some poos now from his afternoon's grazing. Disobeyed vet's instructions and turned him out yesterday but this seems to have done him the world of good as he ate grass and his digestive system started working again. Hives have gone (still giving the cetrizine) and temp is down. My mare has a snotty nose but doesn't seem any worse this morning. Both foals seem fine so far. Vet says foals seem to get a different range of illness to adult horses so they may be OK. Phew!
 
M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,295
Visit site
Update: both the adult horses went down with the virus. Both gelding and mare have snotty noses and cough. I think they probably have equine flu but as both are vaccinated, a relatively mild version. So far the snot has stayed white so looks like no secondary infection and temps normal. THANKFULLY, foals are fine so far and I think they would have got it by now - although I suspect the new foal brought it with her.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top