pseudomonas

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beckieswann

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Hi all,

Please can someone explain what this is? My horse had colic surgery just over 3 weeks ago and his wound started weeping, anyway the vet came out and did a swab - grew the bacteria and was told he has this. The vet explained on the phone earlier this evening but I went into a bit of shock after he started telling me what happens to humans when they have it ! I am calling them again tomorrow, but can someone please shed some light?

Thanks :)
 
Hi

My horse got Pseudomonas after having a tooth removed just over a year ago. She was in hospital over two months as it wasn't diagnosed for about a month!! However if your horse has already been diagnosed, then it will probably be quicker to get it sorted. Part of the problem is actually getting it diagnosed - thumbs up to your vet!!

Pseudomonas is an aerobic gram-negative rod bacterial infection. Think of MRSA in humans. It's generally associated with injuries caused by burns, when seen in humans. My horse was treated with silver sulphadiazine dressing and iodine when everything else failed. She eventually recovered but lost a lot of condition and came home like a cruelty case. I think gentamicin is generally the drug that is used to attempt to clear it up.
Your horse should recover, but it's a bugger to get rid of and could take some time. It's a pain in the backside because of it's resistancy. Good luck, it's a very worrying time. x
 
Thank you for your reply and I'm glad yours cleared up. I think I only heard the bad points my vet said... Is it contagious to others? Just wary he's on a yard with other horses and we have been previously cleaning it as told by our vet. Its very worrying times and I wish I hadn't googled it. But I'm so glad to hear to hear your mare recovered.

The vet immediately asked how he is, and he's very perky at the mo, but came off antibiotics 48 hours ago due to inflamation in the gut, his legs have filled again, and I guess the next few days will determine what happens..

Thank you for putting my mind at ease a bit. Its frustrating and upsetting as we just seemed to have turned a corner with his recovery...
 
My horse was in hospital when she had hers, with lots of others in the stables there who were ill, but there was no mention of it being contagious, although I'm sure there must be an element of it. I just didn't ask because when I brought her home, they had got on top of it. Might be worth asking your vet for silver sulphadiazine dressing for the wound and see what they say. Have they given you gentamicin yet?
x
 
I only found out a couple of hours ago so nothing has been given as of yet, but will mention to him about the silver sulphadiazine and also what he plans to do to get rid of it! Your poor girl. Ill be asking many questions tomorrow as soon as they open.

It doesn't read very well at all. I hope my boy gets over this quickly! X
 
My husband has 2 strains of it, he has cystic fibrosis and cf suffers get it all the time. He has Iv antibiotics every few months to try and keep on top of it he will never get rid of it, its just a case of managing it to help keep his lungs well.
 
A long time ago (and I will show my age here), I was a nurse in a plastic surgery unit. Pseudomonas was very prevalant with the sorts of wound we dealt with. It certainly isnt life threatening in humans (I wouldnt like to say with horses). We used to treat wounds infected with Pseudomonas with vinegar. Cleared up the infection very nicely in a few days.
Hope your horse recovers soon.
 
Thanks all for your tips and advice.

Vet has said its hidden under his stitches so is hoping when they disolve, the infection will as well. He still seems perky and has a healthy appetite, guess its just a waiting game :) x
 
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