Lower respiritory tract infection?? bit long...

[Keltic]

My little cob Katie has been undergoing treatment for what was at first thought to be a tree pollen allergy, after a course of ventipulmin which had no real affect we decided to scope her, to get an idea of what was going on as its def not a pollen allergy.

She was as good as gold at the vets, more traumatised by the lunge work than the scope!! She had a scope and had a lung wash. Poor Katie!!

So the scope showed her Larynx is moving an awful lot when she breathes but the outer section is completely collapsing/closing on each breath. There is no major fluid or swelling just the odd bit of mucus.

So onto the lung wash, the fluid they drew back out was very dirty and had a bit of mucus so its been sent away to be tested.

They now think its a lower respiritory problem with a secondary upper respiritory infection. Hopefully will know more results next week.

Her breathing is not good, they said they would have expected to see breathing like this on a racehorse who had just raced! Poor Katie is having to work very hard at just breathing stood still.

So has anyone had any dealings with anything like this? Im at my wits end, she is just having respamin at the moment and is obviously not being worked. I have to admit I am now thinking the worst, Im really hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel moment.

I dont mind if she cant be ridden anymore, Im happy for her to be retired with Kelly my other retired horse as long as she can be comfortable and happy.

Thanks xx

 

[mtj]

Sorry if this is vague. Tbh I think it probably needs to be until the lab results have been returned. I'm torn whether to post this, but realise it could be helpful.

My Connie was hospitalised and under went various exploratory examinations with a similar level of breathing distress ie race horse at end of race. He was shown to have a shadow on his lungs with ultrasound and then xray. He did not repond to ventipulmin or antibiotics/steroids.

There are many conditions that display this symptom. In my pony's case, the vets and lab were unable to make a diagnosis and we took the decision to pts on humanitarian grounds. My equine hospital requested permission to carry out a post mortem and the lab were able to diagnose interstitial pnemuonia which is extremely rare. Its a pneumonia of the fibres of the wind sacks that basically closes down the lungs over time.

Hopefully your lab results will be a lot more positive with a happier outcome.

Good luck

 

[Keltic]

Thank you I realise that must have been hard for you to post, Its so frustrating as im sure you realise just waiting doing nothing.....

Arghh horses eh? Ill let you know how we get on fingers crossed xx