peritonitis (how bad)

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murphysallymolly

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a horse at our yard has came down with peritonitis today. This is after 5 days of colic like symtoms. the owners have been turning out this little pony even when he is colicing, i have rung them and told them that he is bad. Just want to know really how bad peritonitis is? how it is caused? and what shound the owners be doing to help him, he has lost a lot of weight and wants to eat but doesnt seem able to. Any info appricieted x
 
We nearly lost a horse to peronitis a few years ago, we sent her to the equine hospital and they managed to save her- we still have her but they were very suprised.
To diagnoise it they usually do a stomach tap where they drain the fluid from the stomach using a large syringe.

I would think that it is pretty touch and go to be honest- its usually a sign of something really not right.
 
As said, it needs disgnosing by a peritoneal tap and the prognosis is not always great. Need to find out what is causing it and take necessary action.
 
Hi Tor. Cass had peritonitis caused by a perforated ulcer when she was a yearling, both have poor diagnosis (in those days), it was identified through a peritoneal tap, although that had to be done twice as the vet put the syringe in the wrong place! Luckily she survived with antibio's. The ulcer was treated seperately.

Hope ponio is ok hun.
Hx
 
Peritonitis is very bad and VERY painful .Surely he being attended to by the vet and they are following his advice, if not they are guilty of neglect. I do hope the pony gets better and feel very sorry for him
 
I've no experience of equine peritonitis, but I've had it myself and it was very nasty (no end of gunk came out of my stomach). Poor horse.
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I think that there are varying degrees - my friend was told that her pony had peritonitis and was horrified when she researched on the 'net. In actual fact, it just refers to inflammation of the periotoneal cavity (inside the abdomen) and the major issue is what is causing it - for example the vet thought that her pony had a 'leaky' gut due to encysted redworm and the peritonitis was mild and cleared with antibiotics. If the gut is ruptured (e.g. due to blockage) and there is major leakage of gut contents, the damage is likely to be much worse and life threatening.

Sorry that got a bit long - I suppose I am basically trying to say it depends on the root cause..... I have been following your posts, and I am not sure that is too certain at the moment, but with colic going on for so long is likely to be more serious. I would suggest that the owners get the vet immediately, get a peritoneal tap and go from there - assuming that they haven't already done so. The vet will then advise re treatment.

Will be keeping my fingers crossed!
 
Poor pony, must be in some pain.

A friend's twin foal, eight months old so a very strong colt, developed this overnight; was fine the night before, bright and eating; next morning very ill. Was on the vet's table by 10am but they lost him in spite of the best care, he didn't survive the operation. That's how quick and severe it can be.
I hope this pony has better luck but it doesn't sound as if his owners are too bothered about it does it?
 
My mare is just recovering from this, she has had colic on and off for 6 weeks.. and has been admitted twice in that time, once at York Minster and then finally into Leahurst.

Presuming to come up with that diagnosis they have tapped the abdominal cavity as it is the only way. If left untreated it can be fatal and in some cases surgery will be required to rectify the situation.

Following a 2 week stint in Leahurst she is home and doing well but they really shouldn't hang around.

I would be asking for a referral if the vet hasn't already suggested it.
 
hi everyone and thank you for the advice. what gets me is these owner will not listen to a word i or anybody else says, a small animal vet has been coming out not even a equine vet, a few days ago she was trying to take a pulse and she couldnt even do that, she said she couldnt hear anything over the gut sounds. she then went to do a rectum and phoned another vet about how much to use to sedate him, it seems to me she has no idea. what i dont understand is she sed he has peritonitis but hasnt done a peritoneal tap as of yet, she jus sed his blood is toxic and that is peritonitis. i personally would have taken him to leahurst a a while bak, we have even offered them transport there, i really dont think the vet understands how bad this is, a different vet took his pulse today and it was 72. also today i saw that he was breathing 61 times a minute, surely this is incredibly dangerous for him? i get the feeling eithier the vet has no idea how dangerous this is or they want to keep this case for the money?
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[ QUOTE ]
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I was just going to suggest they talk to you Boo!

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Ive ventured over to talk to Coligone Kate as you suggested

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Oooh - I am a little matchmaker!!!
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I've had peritonitis and I can hand on heart say its blinking painful, makes you feel like your going to die and in fact I nearly did
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I didn't have an abdominal tap but I had to have fluid asperated (sp?) on a daily basis. The pony needs urgent and proper medical attention. Is there not a YO who can help and insist that a proper vet is called out?

Poor pony
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our YO is a farmer and is very new to the horsey world, he likes to keep him self to him self and if i ever mention about anyone else he just thinks am being nosey. so no there would be no point. good idea though. i have been annoying them telling them how dangerous it is, i dont think they like me much any more i am not being horrible to them i just try to explain to them that he needs more done. i dont really care if they dont like me i am just looking out for the horse.
 
So whats the story today ? Has this pony received any treatment yet ? If it hasn't and it is perotinitis then the condition will become fatal.
 
Hi guys, sis is offline so i'll post!
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Vet is a nonse but she's been out again today. Was meant to be doing the tap, but decided not to as he seemed perkier today.
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She asked the owner to take him to some grass to see if he'd eat. He did, but in an odd way - he was eating from the same patch over and over until her got to the soil.
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She's left more bute and antibiotics and given him a vitamin injection. I cant belive how fast the weight has dropped off him! And his poos are sooooo watery. He's drinking and lot and licking the wood in his stable obsessively.
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He does seem brighter today though, so maybe it's not peratinits - dont know how she's come to that conclusion without doing the tap, but hey ho - she's the 'vet'! Something to do with the colour of his eyes (bloodshot) and gums (purple) apparently. Fingers crossed it's just taking him a while to get over his colic.
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For gods sake what is wrong with people... If a horse has dark gums it is a very very serious sign of a complicated colic. When they go dark it is usually an indication that there is a build up of blood in the abdominal cavity which will only occur if there is an impaction or similar.

Is there anyway you can encourage the owners to have a second opinion..

Don't take the fact that he is a bit brighter that he is ok.
 
Totally agree with BBoo, this horse is critical....dont mess about, tell your friend she needs a second opinion urgently....today....now.
 
Believe me, we have asked them every day to get another vet out. They've had 2 vets now, both from the same surgery and they happy with this second vet - she's the "top vet" apparently! We offered to take him to Leahurst, they said no. We offered to take him to our own vets' surgery yesterday, they said no. We've offered to call our vet ourselves and ask them to come out and share a call-out with us (lame horses!), they said no! Unless we do it behind their backs, i dont know what else we can do. I dont think it could constitute as neglect because they ARE getting a vet out...it's just that she's poo! They're being so stubborn about it all! The daughter doesnt care and has been leaving her dad to see to him while she goes clubbing and crawls home at 6am!
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