Horse ill - odd symptoms,ideas?

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Evie91

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My 23 yr old mare is ill. Went off breakfast yesterday. Turned out as usual and horse seemed a bit wired and full of beans - que rearing, kicking out, racing and sliding stops, looking all around - sort of on high alert, had a roll then settles to graze.
Bought in (not by me) and reported to be walking very oddly. By the time I get home from work, horse looks very unhappy, not wanting to move, refuses tea but eats hay, haylege (not much)and drinks a bit.

Checked throughout the night - eat, drinks, wees and poo's a little- just looks uncomfortable and definitely out of sorts.

Refused breakfast this morning ( horse usually loves eating and hard feed).
Called vet.
Vet came out not sure what it is. She is walking really oddly - back legs right underneath her (hard to explain). Not been eating so hasn't taken bute for arthritis but this isn't arthritis stiff. Whilst standing still back end seems to have occasional wobble (not shiver) but so quick I almost think I'm imagining it, resting one hind yesterday but not today.

Vet reports - normal temp, teeth good, no heat or swelling in legs, no pressure points on soles, nothing out of sorts during internal, heart fine,braces when pushed/pulled, no lammi, doesn't think its cushings. Thinks she may have strained muscles over back pratting around - but this doesn't explain loss of appetite, which occurred before turnout.
Gives shot of painkiller and steroid for back. Box rest for 48hrs (with a light walk during the day)then turnout if well, vet again if not - for bloods, poss scans.
Took horse for grass afterwards - walking oddly but was grazing and had a roll (went right over and back, jumped up).
Again refused tea, picking at hay, will eat carrots and mints. Drinking little, eating little, therefore pooing and wee'ing less but still going!

Any ideas? Really think the vet was flummoxed - he did a very thorough exam and commented on what good nick she is in ( super shiny coat, good weight) but not really sure what's going on.
Any advice gratefully received.
Will also post in vet!
 
Aaah possibly - she would have most likely sweated after her high jinks and over exerted herself. She does seem to have spurts of energy - a little madness is not unusual for her. She did look at little tucked up but I put this down to not eating as much
Just can't explain the loss of appetite -so unlike her.
 
This is the same mare that was poorly recently too isn't it?

I think I'd be going down the bloods route. It's very difficult to tell what's going on at times and they would help reach a diagnosis. I hope you get to the bottom of things soon.
 
It is yes - she had colic back in December. Thinking of having bloods taken, vet didn't think it was necessary today - wish I had gone down that route now though!
I was hopeful she would have picked up a lot quicker after the painkiller.
Her illnesses seem to coincide with when my boss is away on hols and I'm covering!!!
 
No not quite - more like her backs legs are too far underneath her. Almost like an lammi stance on the back end and legs coming to far toward. Odd walk stiff and shuffling. Occasional wobbly over back end - almost like she lost balance. Vet checked neurological signs and thinks she seems ok.
Do you have an idea?
 
Sounds like shes tied up, which would make sense after having run round the field like an idiot then come in not right. If she has full bloods done then her muscle enzymes will be checked anyway and any abnormal levels noticed.
 
Not really I am afraid, but neurological was where I was going. With both of my oldies, they had odd back end incidents. One was quite mild, he just sort of stood with his head low but when he tried to move it was as if his legs weren't connected properly. It lasted twenty four hours and he went on to live for about six more years. Vet was mystified. The mare was more dramatic, she staggered about more in the back end and clearly had suffered a stroke like episode. Hopefully your vet will come up with some answers soon.
 
I'd definitely be worried about something gastro-intestinal especially if she is not eating and drinking properly and the stance with her legs under her suggest abdominal pain.

I hate to worry you unnecessarily but I'm wondering if some of the symptoms could match grass-sickness especially the stance but I would have thought your vet would have considered that.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'd not considered a stroke- the colic in December wasn't what I'd consider typical - she was almost anxious and seemed spooked looking and listening to something that wasn't there.
I know they hear more than us - but just seems odd for her - occasionally she will look off into the distance and seem distracted. Really alert but looking at something that isn't there.
Don't think symptoms seem like grass sickness but off to do a bit more research.
Such a shame as don't want her to suffer and when she is well she looks really, really good. Most people comment she looks half her age. She's such a drama queen too - don't want to make hasty decisons when she was just feeling under the weather!
 
Older animals are a worry aren't they? Stop torturing yourself though, get some bloods done and wait for the results before googling every symptom possible! (I'm one the those people, can't help myself)
 
Ha,ha too true. When it comes to the horse I google everything, when it comes to me I prefer to stick my head in the sand and hope whatever it is goes away!!!
Just read you have a 34 yr old - I'm seriously hoping to have many more years with my girl yet, she's practically a spring chicken compared to your old boy :)
 
It sounds like she may have tied up a bit, surprised vet didnt want to take bloods to check for that! Hope shes ok. Would recomend electrolytes in feed and make sure shes on a low sugar high fibre feed, if she needs calories go for oil, NO cereals / sugars if its a case of tying up! :)
 
Yes we do have sycamore but I've been very careful. Paddock they are in now was mowed to collect seeds and leaves. Trash paddock is now closed to them as worried with spring coming seedlings will start sprouting!
They are usually out in paddock with haylege and hay nets on hard standing and in overnight. Vet does not think it's AM.
Really odd today - slight improvement in appetite but took all day to eat breakfast. Took out for grass in hand tonight and was super stiff coming out. Once on the grass was really forward, alert, walking round, grazing and had a big roll.
Walking back on to yard looked akward (walking on grass fine).Whilst tied up outside fine but when turned to walk in stable in a circle really struggled to turn (turned fine on grass), reluctant to move round.
Gets more confusing by the day!
 
Glad she seems to not be any worse and fingers crossed she makes a full recovery. Does seem like maybe blood tests might be needed though to help find out what is going on.
 
Evie91 said:
Yes we do have sycamore but I've been very careful. Paddock they are in now was mowed to collect seeds and leaves. Trash paddock is now closed to them as worried with spring coming seedlings will start sprouting!
They are usually out in paddock with haylege and hay nets on hard standing and in overnight. Vet does not think it's AM.
Really odd today - slight improvement in appetite but took all day to eat breakfast. Took out for grass in hand tonight and was super stiff coming out. Once on the grass was really forward, alert, walking round, grazing and had a big roll.
Walking back on to yard looked akward (walking on grass fine).Whilst tied up outside fine but when turned to walk in stable in a circle really struggled to turn (turned fine on grass), reluctant to move round.
Gets more confusing by the day!
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I'm surprised the vet has ruled out AM without bloods, stiffness and strange gait do occur as do colic symptoms, she could have a low level of the poison in her system, we had this with one of ours . It passed once off of the paddock after a few days but I would get bloods done if this continues.
 
Thank you all for advice and sharing experiences.
If no improvement vet will come back out in Friday and take bloods then.
He seemed to think this time of year (and horses care plan) meant she was low risk of AM. Will query again if she's not better by Friday.
Had a look at grass sickness too - also going to query this as the paddock they are currently is grazed down and poached (near gate way) hence having nets too - which apparently can be a cause.
I'm keeping a note of symptoms and questions to ask, so really appreciate you taking the time to make suggestions - although not sure vet will, when I pull out list of questions!
 
My vet misdiagnosed azotoria as colic until I saw dark wee. I would get bloods taken as that could rule it out (or not). At 24 it could be something old age related tho.
 
No, unfortunately she was put to sleep on the tenth of March. She just stopped eating and drinking, she was wandering around, standing staring into the distance. Even let her out on to summer grazing early to see if that perked her up but she just wandered around and when I came back a few minutes later had come back to stare over the fence. Did one poo during the day and one overnight.
Vet thought maybe a tumour or neurological.
Very sad, she was my horse of a lifetime - I'm heartbroken :(
 
I had two lots of blood tests in the end - no infection, liver, kidney function all fine. no to cushings, AM - no kind of poisoning.
Heart and lungs good, eyes and ears good, temp fine. Had every test possible she could have at home - didn't want her to go to hospital as vet agreed if fears were confirmed and it was tumour or neurological she wouldn't be operated on, so no point in stressing her. She was put to sleep at home.
 
Really sorry to hear it didn't end well -- unfortunately, it is not always possible to know exactly what is wrong inside. Sounds like you eliminated the most obvious conditions, and it doesn't seem like it could have been changed or prevented ((HUGS))
 
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