Low grade virus, run down?

Doormouse

Doormouse

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My 11 tb was blood tested 2 weeks ago and showed signs of a low grade virus. Bloods only very slightly wrong. He was given a blood tonic and a B12 injection. I have ridden him gently most days but only for 20 mins just walking round the roads.

I thought 3 days ago he was improving, putting on a bit of weight and generally more perky but today he was dead to ride and looked awful when we got home. Gums are much pinker but otherwise I seem to be going backwards. I have decided not to ride him for a bit.

I guess it will take as long as it takes for him to come right but in the meantime any ideas to help would be gratefully received.
 
My TB ended up having 6 weeks off due to this a few years ago. Vet said it was just a case of rest and time. I'm almost certain his was caused by his vaccinations, he always seems to get ill after them!
 
My horse went down with a virus last Jan/Feb. No signs of a cough or snotty nose just generally very depressed. Bloods showed low white blood cells and that he was a little anemic. Advised to rest for 3 weeks. Put him on Global Herbs Restore and Milk Thistle. Brought back into work v. slowly and seemed to be picking up. Then he went down with it again only worse - felt like he was walking with weighted boots on. Back came the vet - more bloods. Showed raised liver enzymes. Rested again for 6 weeks. Tried to bring him back into work slowly but he still didn't have much energy so have been taking it very easy. Finally, only now, is he back to being himself (looning around the field and bullying his friend). I put him on Milk Thistle for the liver and Echinaciea for his immune system to see if that might help him but I think time was the main healer. You must be very careful not to push them if they are fighting a virus so I would advise you to rest him completely for a few weeks and then see what he's like. I feel for you because its so worrying - you begin to wonder if they will ever get better. Good luck
 
Zuzzie said:
My horse went down with a virus last Jan/Feb. No signs of a cough or snotty nose just generally very depressed. Bloods showed low white blood cells and that he was a little anemic. Advised to rest for 3 weeks. Put him on Global Herbs Restore and Milk Thistle. Brought back into work v. slowly and seemed to be picking up. Then he went down with it again only worse - felt like he was walking with weighted boots on. Back came the vet - more bloods. Showed raised liver enzymes. Rested again for 6 weeks. Tried to bring him back into work slowly but he still didn't have much energy so have been taking it very easy. Finally, only now, is he back to being himself (looning around the field and bullying his friend). I put him on Milk Thistle for the liver and Echinaciea for his immune system to see if that might help him but I think time was the main healer. You must be very careful not to push them if they are fighting a virus so I would advise you to rest him completely for a few weeks and then see what he's like. I feel for you because its so worrying - you begin to wonder if they will ever get better. Good luck
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Thank you, it is a worry because he seems no better at all, and he won't eat his hay now either. I have stopped riding him and am only turning him out for an hour unless it is sunny when I give him 4 hours. He seems to get so cold, he has been clipped once but already grown a coat again and he is wearing 4 rugs and is only just warm enough.
 
Have you tried tempting him with some of that nice bagged haylage like Horsehage, I find when mine have low appetites giving them small amounts of this to vary the forage seems to get them interested again, plus it has good nutritional content. Hope he picks up soon.
 
Is his temperature, pulse and respiration good? Are his droppings and pee normal?

If he has taken a down turn and is not eating I would possibly get the vet back for more bloods?
 
Doormouse said:
Thank you, it is a worry because he seems no better at all, and he won't eat his hay now either. I have stopped riding him and am only turning him out for an hour unless it is sunny when I give him 4 hours. He seems to get so cold, he has been clipped once but already grown a coat again and he is wearing 4 rugs and is only just warm enough.
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Yup, my greedy glutton went off his food and for the first time in his life he lost weight. You are doing the right thing keeping him warm and resting. I would let him have 3 or 4 hours on grass as this will help his appetite but if he stands at the gate wanting to come in then reduce the turnout. Its a rotten time of year for him to be ill but you will get through it eventually - it will just take time.
 
Thank you all for the advice. I have ordered some Hilton Herbs, a mix especially for horses that are run down, and I have got some Aloe Vera because it can't do any harm and lots of people swear by it.

The good news this morning is that he wolfed his breakfast, had eaten his hay and was banging his door to go out. When I turned him out he was marching along beside me giving little squeaks and squeals and when I let him go in the field he went off like a rocket bucking and bucking and tearing round. So, fingers crossed the rest might be doing the trick, I will give him another week off and then see where we are.
 
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