Low white blood cells- weight loss?

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Tbowner322

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Hi everyone, I have an 11 (soon to be 12) year old ex racehorse tb. He's lost some weight recently over november time so i tried him on allen and paige calm and condition, upped the hay amount and put him on comfort gut. He was getting lunged 15mins on weekdays and riding on weekends. Vet came up two nights ago and his temp, heart and lungs are all fine and he's eating, drinking and pooing without a problem but he's not keeping any weight on. Turns out his white blood cells are very low and the antibodies are very high and vet suspects it could be some infection. Any ideas on what this could be as Ive never experienced this in horses before? Thanks
 
I had the same symptoms and blood test results with mine. Turned out to be a worm burden as although I had wormed, I'd wormed at the wrong time so it missed the encysted redworms as they were still dormant. Wormed again and she was fine. Took a while to put the weight back on but used the Allen and page calm and condition, as much hay as she would eat and also red cell as the worms had caused some damage to her intestinal walls and she was a little anemic. Hope that helps, obviously it could be a different infection but just same symptoms and time of year.
 
Diahorreah is common (although not diagnostic) with the emergence of redworm. I would expect the vet to have considered that and ruled it out.

Low white cell count and high antibodies show an infection - but the issue is what sort of infection. (Which I guess is why you are asking!). Did the vet propose a follow up plan of any sort? There are so many possibilities it is difficult to point you in any particular direction.
 
There was no diahrohea with my horse and the first vet did not suggest it, but then he also wasn't concerned with the weight loss and said she had a good BCS despite her actually looking poor and very ribby. Think I actually just had a bad vet so got a second opinion.
 
Check for worms. I'd worm with pramox. I was advised to feed a high quality echinacea supplement and possibly a good iron supplement as well...something like red cell or propell....although be warned it can be like rocket fuel to some horses!!
 
Hi everyone thanks for your replies, I wormed at start of January but used comfort gut along with it as didn't read instructions so I suspect it hasn't worked effectively. My horse is bright in every other aspect it's just the weight loss that's worrying me.
 
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