Lymes Disease

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Hetsmum

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Long time since I posted here. One of my horses has been positively diagnosed with Lymes disease. He's been put on a months course of Doxycycline (Karidox) which may have to continue for longer. He obviously hates the stuff. I've managed to syringe a few doses in but it is getting harder and harder. I am trying to also syringe apple juice to help take the taste away but its not really working. Any helpful tips or experiences with Lymes? Many thanks
 
Sorry to hear your horse has Lyme's, I hope you have an up to date vet who diagnosed it early.

Lyme's scares me witless as I'm in deer country and often have them on my field. Can you give us an idea of what region you are in?

If you want to try a feed, the only one my fussy eater a couple of years back would eat his supplements in was Saracen Re-leve.

.
 
My friend had one with it, same treatment as yours syringed in daily, plus a long time off but she was 'retired' at the time as they were trying to get her in foal, breeding failed and she returned to full work advanced level dressage training although had retired from competing, she is now fully retired living out her days at home well into her 20's.
 
AT least your vet is on board with long term antibiotics. I'm a FB group with a girl who only got 2 weeks' worth for her welsh D who has it. He's a shadow of what he was (chunky show cob) right now sadly.

One of the reasons I got to know her story is because she is now going down a herbal route to support his immune system and see if he can bounce back that way. Its not covered by insurance and is produced by a herbalist who specialises in chinese medicine - its expensive. I'll see if I can find the details and PM you so you can follow up down the line if you are interested. I know a human Lyme sufferer who tells me they started to feel human again once they went down the herbal route and I don't think its just a placebo effect.

I've managed to hide some nasty meds in watery copra before - might be worth a try.
 
My lad hates ABs too. I ended up mixing it into a fairly thick paste with apple juice and adding a couple of drops of peppermint oil. I also ended up using a worming bit rather than have the hand held fight every day. Good luck!
 
I feel your pain - I remember vividly trying to get copious quantities into my mare for what seemed like forever, the most successful seemed to be a paste of strong peppermint cordial (the proper stuff you can get from pubs) cold stewed apple and her daily dose of XCell plus - she usually lapped it up but I only found this mix worked for her towards the end of the antibiotics.

I hope you get a good long term resolution, I understand many do if it is diagnosed early enough. Unfortunately ours was picked up rather late and she did struggle when we brought her back into work slowly, but she was never the same horse again sadly. I took the decision to retire her as she is 19 anyway, and very happy as a family pet and field ornament, still costs me a fortune in herbal remedies and blood boosters to keep her well though, but she gave me many happy years so worth every penny to still have her.
 
Thanks all. Region - I am in Surrey. I actually diagnosed it myself. We do have ticks, not actually loads but some. He had a bad reaction and a very swollen sheath which I could clearly see had the tick 'crater' in it. The next day he had a temperature which resolved within 12 hours. He wasn't right though and is normally a very stoic horse. I asked about Lymes and my vet said it was highly unlikely and a horse would appear very ill not just have a temperature for a few hours. He hasn't been right since and I thought his joints were swollen (heavily feathered so hard to tell). Anyway he was due another blood test as the last one wasn't quite normal and I pushed for the Lymes test. His actual diagnosis therefore I believe is 2 months since he was infected. He is 20 so no spring chicken but was fairly fit before all this. I have tried with apple juice but he's not having any of it. Total PITA but he is allergic to Mint and also Yeast as I really wanted to give him some probiotic support. I've got some honey to try tonight but reading some online comments I'm now worried about colic as after the first night he had the Karidox I thought his bed suggested evidence of colic. He's totally off food although is picking at grass and hay. I'm very limited as to what I can feed him due to his allergies (Mint, Yeast, Coconut, Carrots). His favourite is Redigrass but he won't even touch that. I've spoken to the vet and it seems Oral is the only way to go with Doxycycline. I could go IV (Oxy) but that will be so expensive and carries risks too.
 
I have no experience of lymes disease but I did have a gelding who would not take antibiotics nor would be have wormers syringed. I therefore tried all sorts of ideas. Mix with golden syrup, treacle or molasses - sometimes put in a bread sandwich. Mix with sugar beet.

I feel for you as it is a big problem. My gelding used to take the stuff in his mouth but refuse to swallow and then minutes later it would drool out of the side of his mouth down and all over the floor!

Good luck - hope you get it sorted.
 
My vet had my horse on Gastro guard at the same time as the antibiotics as he was also concerned about colic risk and that it can rather wreck their stomachs giving those large long term Doxycycline - could you ask your vet if that would be advisable for your horse too, especially as you suspect you might already be seeing signs of discomfort?
 
Will your vet not let you inject?
FLF contracted Lymes 3 months after I took her home in 2016, it was very much touch and go to start with, Liphook advised her vet to advise owners to inject as the mare was very off eating.(they run a med size stud with comp animals too, and were keen to do this).
She took a long 3 plus months to recover and looked dreadful during the early weeks, but sadly 2 years later succumbed again to it, as it will lie dormant and an acute stress allowed it to re emerge. This was a rare occurrence tho and many make a good permanent recovery x
Also Surrey south of Farnham, most vets in the NW area are aware.
I hope yours makes a good recovery x
 
I have/had Lyme myself and can only say your vet is more educated than my GP! I can tell you as a human it causes me severe headaches, nerve pain, neck pain, TMJ pain, confusion and cardiac issues. I’m lucky that I don’t get joint pain but I know many sufferers do.

Things that help me are plenty of rest and things to boost my immune system plus antiviral and antibacterial herbs. I also blood tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and added any that were lacking. It made a big difference to my overall well-being.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Will your vet not let you inject?
FLF contracted Lymes 3 months after I took her home in 2016, it was very much touch and go to start with, Liphook advised her vet to advise owners to inject as the mare was very off eating.(they run a med size stud with comp animals too, and were keen to do this).
She took a long 3 plus months to recover and looked dreadful during the early weeks, but sadly 2 years later succumbed again to it, as it will lie dormant and an acute stress allowed it to re emerge. This was a rare occurrence tho and many make a good permanent recovery x
Also Surrey south of Farnham, most vets in the NW area are aware.
I hope yours makes a good recovery x
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Hi TTF my vets have said IM injections carry a high risk of extremely sore and painful muscles. IV they could catheter but would have to check every 3 days and you have to be incredibly careful and push it through v slowly as can cause heart attack. I twitched him tonight and got it down him quite quickly with some honey in it.
 
MrsJingle said:
My vet had my horse on Gastro guard at the same time as the antibiotics as he was also concerned about colic risk and that it can rather wreck their stomachs giving those large long term Doxycycline - could you ask your vet if that would be advisable for your horse too, especially as you suspect you might already be seeing signs of discomfort?
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I will ask about that tomorrow thanks. I think he coliced a bit the first night on it (although I'm sure he's taken it before) bed showed he'd not been happy. He is brighter today though and even ate an apple from my hand (eventually!)
 
BBP said:
I have/had Lyme myself and can only say your vet is more educated than my GP! I can tell you as a human it causes me severe headaches, nerve pain, neck pain, TMJ pain, confusion and cardiac issues. I’m lucky that I don’t get joint pain but I know many sufferers do.

Things that help me are plenty of rest and things to boost my immune system plus antiviral and antibacterial herbs. I also blood tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and added any that were lacking. It made a big difference to my overall well-being.
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Gosh poor you. My vet was actually dismissive of my suggestion of Lymes. I was the one that thought he might have it. I work at a company where many workers have to go on site - often rural areas and they had a big push on awareness and what to look out for. I put 2+2 together and convinced myself he in fact had Lymes. My vet was surprised when the test was positive. I will take on board your suggestions. Do you take something like Echinasia? The trouble is he is a very brave chap and will carry on regardless. He loves to hack out and indeed was last week on the day he had his blood test. He is obviously off work now though.
 
Cocoa powder? Being on the hampshire/wiltshire border, Lymes is a worry. My friend's pony was tested for it but it apparently isn't always reliable. He had the symptoms but results were negative. He was put on antibiotics anyway.

I hope your boy makes a god recovery.
 
Hetsmum said:
Hi TTF my vets have said IM injections carry a high risk of extremely sore and painful muscles. IV they could catheter but would have to check every 3 days and you have to be incredibly careful and push it through v slowly as can cause heart attack. I twitched him tonight and got it down him quite quickly with some honey in it.
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They do, but on occasion its something to weigh up if you cant get them down, glad you found the trick last night x
 
We had one on karidox and the vet gave a probiotic to use at the same time as you are destroying the gut flora with the treatment, protextin would be good for the purpose.
 
be positive said:
We had one on karidox and the vet gave a probiotic to use at the same time as you are destroying the gut flora with the treatment, protextin would be good for the purpose.
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I am currently searching for a probiotic that doesn't contain yeast as he's allergic to it. I've used protexin before and I know its good. Unfortunately it contains yeast :(
 
More dramas this morning and even getting the twitch on was a bit of a task. Spoke to vet who has said they can get a 'horse friendly' version (which is a thicker paste with some flavouring in it) made up for me and I can collect tomorrow. Fingers crossed I have more luck. Thank you everyone who has replied. I think I will get hold of a worming bit for future use. He's not amazing to worm but I usually manage it. Obviously that doesn't happen nearly so frequently! He's pretty good with most things but I have to say the stuff smells vile and I really don't blame him. His eating seems to have picked up a bit though so I'm a bit happier.
 
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Peregrine Falcon said:
Cocoa powder? Being on the hampshire/wiltshire border, Lymes is a worry. My friend's pony was tested for it but it apparently isn't always reliable. He had the symptoms but results were negative. He was put on antibiotics anyway.

I hope your boy makes a god recovery.
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Yes I was told you often get a -ve result even if the horse is +ve.
 
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