Septicemia: Any information desperately needed.

Q

QueenDee_

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Following on from yesterdays post:
So she has been diagnosed with Septicemia and I am absolutely devastated and petrified. She is currently on a drip in the stable and has been since about lunchtime on Wednesday. Stayed with her last night up until about 2, read her a bit of Harry Potter, changed her drip then went to bed and checked every hour.

She has been drinking, and eating, vet came out today again and said her pulse was still high and so was her temp, but better than she was to start with, but we're making the decision what to do tomorrow lunch time and I am trying my hardest to say positive, but the vet was 50/50 and I am just terrified of loosing her...having had her for 10years she literally is part of our family, even my Dad who normally stays well away from horses is upset about this.

Please just anything you can give, information, positive thoughts, advice or just send positive vibes our way :(

-Elena.
 
Oh hunny!

I haven't had a horse with it, but I had it years ago (a scratch on my ankle). I was ill for about three days if I remember right (it was a long, long time ago). Sorry, I have no idea how that equates to it being in a horse.

Will be thinking of her and you and keeping fingers tightly crossed.
 
How has she managed to get that? I am afraid I don't have any personal experience of a horse blood poisoning but I think that it isn't all necessarily doom and gloom and that they can recover. My pony died of peritonitis (following on from other issues) but many people have had animals - horses and other animals - who got the same and recovered well so there's no definite outcome at all.

I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.
 
ladyt25 said:
How has she managed to get that?
Click to expand...

Vet is not 100% sure...says it could easily have escalated from a minor respiratory infection, other causes can be from cuts or grazes getting infected as MrsMozart said how she got it, but we checked all over and there were no signs of this being the cause..
 
I'm so sorry to hear this, I missed your post yesterday.
Unfortunately this isn't what you want to hear but I lost my ID mare to septicaemia at the end of July. She got cellulitis from a graze on her lower hind leg, which didn't respond to the 1st course of anti-biotics but did seem to be improving on the 2nd course. She suddenly went downhill, the vet suggested taking her to horsepital but wasn't keen on the idea of putting her on a drip at home. She went down while we were organising transport and although she got up again the decision was made not to put her through any more. I have wished since that we had tried putting her on a drip at home but actually she went so fast that I doubt if it would have made any difference.
I do so hope that you have a better outcome. It does sound as if your horse has a better chance as the infection seems to be a slower type. Fingers crossed.
 
I've posted on your other thread. My horse definitely got worse before she got better. She would not eat, at all. It took three days for the IV antibiotics to take effect, but I too was given the 50/50 chance, at that point her blood was clotting due to the proteins being broken down. We did not give up on her though, and within four hours of being given those odds, she started grazing, then took herself off for a walk around the field.
My horse got it through her intestine, her mesoteric nodes were enlarged. She had been a a course of antibiotics for a minor skin complaint (rainscald) that wouldn't clear up with lotions, and we think that the antibiotics disrupted her gut flora, allowing the bad bacteria to proliforate and pass into her bloodsteam. My vet did also mention that lung infections are another cause.
The main complication, apart from the obvious, is laminitis. As the blood flow is disrupted by the proteins, it can stop the bloodflow to the feet, causing laminitis. Mine never had a hint of it, so it is not always a forgone conclusion.
My main advice to you, don't be too hasty with any decision tomorrow, you really do need to let the antibiotics get to work, and she will look ill. Mine looked like a hatrack, she lost all her muscletone, but it did come back. The fact that yours is eating and drinking is a huge plus, that is half the battle. If you can cut her some nice fresh grass, then that will be a big pick-me-up.
All the best of luck tomorrow, but please have faith in those antibiotics.
 
I haven't had a horse with it but my friends horse did and made a full recovery. I'll keep everything crossed for you and hope that tomorrow she is showing signs of improvment.
 
<<< healing vibes being sent to your horse >>>

My old Boy Motor got Septicemia (sp) in February and the Vet said his white blood cell count was the lowest he had ever seen ..... but thankfully, with lots of AntiB's and TLC we got him through it and (fingers crossed) he is doing ok at the mo ....... at 30 that shows what a fighter he is .....
 
Sorry to hear about your horse. I've only experienced one horse to have septicemia and he was very very sick indeed. The vets didn't think they would save him. He tied up one morning and then got down but couldn't get up then the septicemia took a grip. He was in slings off a JCB loader and after a huge amount of drugs, vet care, grit and determination he pulled through. Something of a miracle all round. All the best for your horse but it will be a long old road to recovery.
 
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