Horse with high temperature- also in vet

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ALO

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A couple of days ago my 4 year old had a temperature of 40.6 and was lethargic and not really eating. Called vet who gave Iv bute and antibiotics. These were repeated again yesterday. Bloods showed high inflammatory markers and one liver enzyme slightly raised, the rest normal. His temperature does return to normal at tones of the day when he looks much better but then will spike again. Has anyone else had this before?vet not ruling out a viral or bacterial cause. We are now on day three though and I'm getting worried 😢 he has had no contact with any other sick horses and everything else in the yard is fine. He is eating same feed, grazing same field as usual. Thanks.
 
There was a horse on my yard that came down with similar symptoms, again not been anywhere or in contact with horses that had, no other horses on the yard were sick and only his field mate (owned by same person and stabled next to each other) proceeded to show symptoms. Still don't know what they had other than it was a virus of some description. First horse was very poorly for a week but has bounced back to normal now, 2nd one responded immediately to treatment (bute and precautionary antibiotics) and never got that ill.

That is all a very long winded way of saying that horses catch things even when they haven't been anywhere. Your vet will be ruling out nasties as quickly as they can and after that it is just time for the horse to fight the virus itself. If it is bacteriological then antibiotics will kick in soon. Don't panic, just make sure the horse is drinking (give it a bucket and block off the automatic drinker if it has one so you can keep track of what he drinks) and have patience.

Hope he improves soon xx

P.s. Does temp drop and horse look normal after he's had his bute? If so, that will probably be the bute working its magic x
 
Thanks for that. Yep temp down after bute then up again. Poor horse he just looks so sad. Have been soaking hay to get fluids into him that way as well. My other one, touch wood, seems fine at the moment.
 
Yes heard of 4 this year, same thing temp up and down and lethargic, and bloods showing something viral, but they all did have snotty noses like a cold. All have recovered but been on ab's for a while and weekly blood checks, they were all young less than 3 yo.
 
very common

one of mine had similar, turned out to be viral, first lot of ab's didn't work but 2nd lot helped. Aloe vera juice is fantastic for just such symptoms too (vet recommendation)

hope he feels better soon
 
Don't know whereabouts you are, but we have Equine Herpes Virus-4 at our yard.
Presents very similar to what you describe.
Need a nasal swab to diagnose it.
 
We are in Bristol. Just had a look at that, he doesn't have a snotty nose though? Just high temperature and dull. Whereabouts are you? Can they have it with no snotty nose?
 
You're the other side of the country from us, so that's a positive!
First few days, no snotty nose, then just dripping wet but not snotty.
Hope it's not this and your horse gets better soon.
 
Thanks. He seems a bit better today and temp has stayed down since yesterday lunchtime so fingers crossed. Hope yours improves soon.
 
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