PLEASE HELP Weanling suffered Capture Myopathy / severe rhabdomyolysis

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tjenkins

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Hi, I need advice - has anyone gone through this and has a success story to tell? My 7 month old colt got out of his paddock on Thursday and was found stuck with his legs in the mud and collapsed to the side, after what appears to be a long struggle. He was seen at 10am grazing happily in his paddock with his companion, and found at 3.30pm (I was away on business trip and returned Friday night only).
He had to be hauled out by a truck that night after heavy sedation and with a vet present, and although he tried to get up never found the strength to and kept collapsing. My very good and amazing friend stayed with him the whole night to keep him warm and company until the equine vet arrived the next morning and concluded straight away that his symptoms were a secere and acute case of exertional rhabdomyolisis (tying-up) caused by intense stress. He was put on intravenous fluid and transported to the clinic 2 hours away, where he has been since Friday afternoon.
I was told that the next 24 hours would be crucial and that there was a chance he might not make it.
I went to see him yesterday afternoon - and was horrified. He is covered in cuts and scrapes and has one front leg excessively swollen. But the worse thing is that now he has stopped trying to get up. The vets have tried to raise him with a crane TWICE and now he will not even try to support himself or stand. I have been in contact with the Sydney University Vet clinic for second opinion, and they said he HAS to try to stand otherwise prognosis is slim of recovery, especially because of the muscle degeneration he has undergone. I am in North Queensland near Cairns and although he is at a great vet surgery - I want to find out if anyone has had a similar case or/and what the prognosis of recovery is? Will he have a good quality of life? Vet also told me they are not ruling out potential spinal damage or fractures as a reason he just will not / cannot stand. He is passing urine and poos - but is lying flat on one side and gets flipped over to the other side every time they move him which is only twice a day - is that enough?
ANY ADVICE would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
After researching for the last 12 hours - he looks like having exactly what are the symptoms of capture myolysis in wild animals...
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!..... Please help!!!....
 
UPDATE - Might have bruised spinal cord but did try to use legs whilst being raised up in the harness - although he can't support himself...
 
((((HUGS)))) poor wee man - hope he comes right. Wonderful that your friend was able to stay with him.

I would have thought that he needs to be rolled over hourly to prevent on going problems.
 
Evelyn said:
((((HUGS)))) poor wee man - hope he comes right. Wonderful that your friend was able to stay with him.

I would have thought that he needs to be rolled over hourly to prevent on going problems.
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I would strongly agree with this and it is going to be a very long haul what with box rest for several months IF he does finally get the use of his limbs back.
Don't forget the trauma of being stuck in that one position for many hours and then being almost sucked out of the mud which would pull badly on his limbs and system is likely to have brought more problems that are unseen; it is so very easy for the blood vessels to the limbs to have been severed/squashed and if there is no blood circulating for any length of time then you'll lose the limb because it's supply had died let alone the internal pressure on his young system.
I hope I'm wrong but it doesn't sound very hopeful unless he can stand easily quite quickly and that you have the time or can afford all the medical care he's going to need for some months to come which will surely involve box rest for some of it too. Good luck and do let us know how it goes, it's always a heart breaking time.
 
Thank you to all who have written on this post and taken the time to read this. Today, the vets tried to lift him up twice with the crane to see if he would try and stand by himself. They said he fought a little more but would not put his feet on the ground or try to support himself. I am very concerned that this is causing him more stress than anything else!
This morning the head vet looking after him said she would like to give him another 48 hours to see if he will stand - but it has already been over 77 hours since he was found stuck! They said that turning him twice a day was enough - but everything I read confirms what you said about turning him around more ofter! My foals breeder is also very concerned about how this is affecting his lungs.
I am actually going to see him again tomorrow and hoping that as it is Monday they will be more helpful! The problems is that until he stands, we cannot assess how bad any other injuries are... spine, pelvis or possible fractures.
I am feeling so sorry for him and am worried we are inflicting him unecesary suffering as this seems such a lost cause.
Does ANYONE have a similar story where the horse survived and recovered?
Thank you for all your support - it helps!... T.
 
UPDATE today, 6th June: My little man had to be put down today - I was by his side and patted him to sleep, and talked to him as he was lying on his side - he actually looked relaxed for the first time. Then the vet administered his injections and all he had was a sight and he was gone. No more pain, no more stress. I told him to go gallop in the fields in horse's heaven.
Today, it was confirmed after more blood results, x-rays, and neurological tests - that he suffered from a very bad crushed spinal cord, and unrecoverable neurological damage which means he had no control over his legs - hence there was no way he could stand up. Three different vet surgeries worked together on this, so I trust their recommendations, and am grateful for their assistance today.
My heart is so sad - I lost my perfect foal, my dream horse. Now he will only be in my dreams.
Thanks to all for your support and advice. This forum was of great help to me - and helped me also prepare for what I had to do today. Tx.
 
i am so so sorry for your loss, you have done the right thing, hes no longer suffering and he can gallop free.

My baby was put to sleep today, he too also looked so relaxed and peaceful, I think its when the constant pain goes from them :)

good luck in your future, stay strong xx
 
Spellbound13 said:
i am so so sorry for your loss, you have done the right thing, hes no longer suffering and he can gallop free.

My baby was put to sleep today, he too also looked so relaxed and peaceful, I think its when the constant pain goes from them :)

good luck in your future, stay strong xx
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Thank you everyone for all your nice words :-)
I burst into tears today as I saw a horse float this afternoon.
My sincere condoleances to you too... It is too hard to watch them suffer and not be able to do anything to help and make them good again! Tx
 
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