carthorse15
Well-Known Member
Hi I would be interested to hear if anyone has come across this condition? I have read a couple of posts about this but there doesn't seem to be an outcome posted.
A few weeks before Christmas my cob started to lose interest in hay, became depressed and drop a bit of weight (normally a good doer). His sheath swelled overnight. Vet called out next day, took blood, urine, checked heart, teeth, worm count. Blood shows low albumin protein - liver, kidneys fine. Over a couple of days he lost his appetite for hay altogether and would pick at bucket. He was admitted to hospital for tests, scans, scope, attempted biopsy but too much fluid, nothing remarkable showed up except that he is losing protein. The only way to obtain a diagnosis is invasive which would require surgery, which I'm not too keen on at the moment and the treatment for any form of gut/bowel inflammation is steroids.
He was sent home with a 4 week steroid course to see if picks up (dose was increased a few days ago and we are halfway through). He is on adlib haylage, build-up cubes, alfa a, healthy hoof, oil and sugarbeet - all of which he will pick at. He continues to lose weight, the sheath swelling his decreased (but not much).
Thank you for reading, I would be grateful for your thoughts.
A few weeks before Christmas my cob started to lose interest in hay, became depressed and drop a bit of weight (normally a good doer). His sheath swelled overnight. Vet called out next day, took blood, urine, checked heart, teeth, worm count. Blood shows low albumin protein - liver, kidneys fine. Over a couple of days he lost his appetite for hay altogether and would pick at bucket. He was admitted to hospital for tests, scans, scope, attempted biopsy but too much fluid, nothing remarkable showed up except that he is losing protein. The only way to obtain a diagnosis is invasive which would require surgery, which I'm not too keen on at the moment and the treatment for any form of gut/bowel inflammation is steroids.
He was sent home with a 4 week steroid course to see if picks up (dose was increased a few days ago and we are halfway through). He is on adlib haylage, build-up cubes, alfa a, healthy hoof, oil and sugarbeet - all of which he will pick at. He continues to lose weight, the sheath swelling his decreased (but not much).
Thank you for reading, I would be grateful for your thoughts.