Poorly horse

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Marilyn

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I could do with some advise on this- I'll give you a quick precis.

This time last week my horse wasn't 100%- strange, eating stangely, quiet. On further examination, I noticed she had a lump under her jaw. I called the vet and he said she had an infection, probably caused by a thorn going in under her tongue. She was given pain killers, antibiotics and visit booked for following Monday as he was worried about her temp (103).

Next day, she seemed to be getting worse- dribble everywhere, really quiet, not leaving field shelter- another vet came out and examined her- temp has come down to 102, more pain killers and she was put on bute and more antibiotics (so two lots- one injectable, one in feed)

Lump reduced in sizes, seemed a lot brighter, vet came out Monday (after drugs stopped Sun pm) and her temp was down to normal and the lump was small and hard rather than like it had been. He said she should be fine now.

However, I'm still not happy. She isn't half as bad as last week, she is walking around the fields in the day but she is not grazing. She's eating her hard food and hay OK ish, but she just doesn't seem right. There is still a lot of saliva.

So, my question is, am I expecting her to mend too quickly? Should I ask for more antibiotics? Should I get a second opinion? Should I hold my horses and wait for a bit longer before I have some kind of meltdown? I have called the vet again and asked him to call me back as I think it might be pain associated so I'm thinking of putting her back on bute.
 
Unlikely to be pain associated.

Did they look inside her mouth, under the tongue etc.?? Have you had a good look??
 
They did have a really good look- they said her teeth were fine and they couldn't see anything but then, if it's something really small, it's going to be tricky for them to see anything I think?

You think it's unlikely to be pain?
 
Marilyn said:
They did have a really good look- they said her teeth were fine and they couldn't see anything but then, if it's something really small, it's going to be tricky for them to see anything I think?

You think it's unlikely to be pain?
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Sorry, I thought you meant associated as in remembered. But of course yes, the horse could still be in pain - and the excessive salivation is totally wrong.

I'd have the vet back out, and check her temperature regularly.

The fact that she's eating though is a plus.

Marilyn said:
It's back to normal now- the vet came and took it Monday and gave her a check over...it's so difficult...
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Monday it was normal - but you need to check it yourself as well. It's not that difficult really. Horse is exhibiting symptoms that are telling you there is still a problem. So vet comes back out.
 
Yes, Strangles has been ruled out for a few reasons a) this horse and my other horse live together by themselves and don't mix with any other horses at all b) the other horse is absolutely 100% fine c) the vet says her temp was not high enough and she is not ill enough for strangles.
 
Marilyn said:
I could do with some advise on this- I'll give you a quick precis.

This time last week my horse wasn't 100%- strange, eating stangely, quiet. On further examination, I noticed she had a lump under her jaw. I called the vet and he said she had an infection, probably caused by a thorn going in under her tongue. She was given pain killers, antibiotics and visit booked for following Monday as he was worried about her temp (103).

Next day, she seemed to be getting worse- dribble everywhere, really quiet, not leaving field shelter- another vet came out and examined her- temp has come down to 102, more pain killers and she was put on bute and more antibiotics (so two lots- one injectable, one in feed)

Lump reduced in sizes, seemed a lot brighter, vet came out Monday (after drugs stopped Sun pm) and her temp was down to normal and the lump was small and hard rather than like it had been. He said she should be fine now.

However, I'm still not happy. She isn't half as bad as last week, she is walking around the fields in the day but she is not grazing. She's eating her hard food and hay OK ish, but she just doesn't seem right. There is still a lot of saliva.

So, my question is, am I expecting her to mend too quickly? Should I ask for more antibiotics? Should I get a second opinion? Should I hold my horses and wait for a bit longer before I have some kind of meltdown? I have called the vet again and asked him to call me back as I think it might be pain associated so I'm thinking of putting her back on bute.
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There was something on telly the other day about excess salivation in a horse they'd rescued and they were having difficulty rehoming her as she salivated so much. They did the dental check, endoscopy, etc and found that she has stomach ulcers! This might indicate why she is so quiet, not eating, etc too. It might be worth getting this checked out.
 
Spoke to the vet earlier, he said to put her back on bute. I have also purchased some immuplus (the global herbs one) has anyone else used it?
 
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