Toxins found in the blood

fliffkins

fliffkins

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Hi,

I have purchased a youngster from a breeder who has been breeding for over 30 years.
Hes just turmed 7 weeks so still at the breeders with mum - living in a herd including the stallion.
The have had a spate of several unexplaind deaths in the foals, on Monday blood and stool samples were taken, some of the blood results are back which have shown toxins in the blood - we are still awaiting results of the others.
All I know so far is that anti toxins have been given pending the other results.

Does anyone have any experience of this and any likely outcomes - long term effects or best course of action?

I am considering offering to foster the mare and foal at my yard until weaning and then returning the mare back to the herd, obviously I only want what is best and to try and help for the long term future and health of my little one.
 
What kind of toxins (nephrotoxins, hepatotoxins, neurotoxins...) specific names would be helpful

Personally I wouldn't consider a foal from any breeder where there have been a "spate of deaths."
 
I will find out which, I am visiting at weekend.
I purchased the foal when he was just a couple of days old and the deaths have been over the last couple of weeks, this is the first time it has happend to them in 30 years of breeding and their other 2 herds are perfectly fine ( I have been following the breeders for a number of years waiting for "the one").
 
Would be inclined to wait for all the toxicology results to come in and see what advice the vet then gave before considering moving the dam and foal. Think the cause of the recent deaths needs to be established and then long term prognosis given for remaining animals that have toxins in their blood. The stress of moving a potentially ill animal could cause whatever condition/illness they are suffering from to get worse or possibly spread to other yards e.g. through poo/saliva etc. if it is something that can be transferred that way. Hope your foal will be ok.
 
A mare of mine ingested a neurotoxin. All we could really do was treat supportively and wait and see.

She recovered well enough that she wasn't a sick horse but she never did get back to where we were before the poisoning. It also took a VERY long time to recover. We are talking three years of mild colic-ish episodes, battling to keep condition on her, extreme fluctuations in energy levels, sometimes I think she'd have a headache; she'd press her head against my chest quite securely and just stand like that.

She was never the same horse.

I'd be careful taking on one that's been damaged so young. Even if he is 100%, how will you know? With mine, I had a 'before' to gauge her recovery. Will you not find yourself questioning if every quirk might be a symptom of long term damage? Or worrying to push him in case he isn't actually ok?
 
Really. you need to ask permission to speak to their vet, and they may or may not allow you to remove mare, and it may or may not be the best thing.
Are they near a waste disposal facility or some sort of industrial facility?
 
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