Unwell horse, vet unsure

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AlinFaolan

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A horse on the yard is very out of sorts, not eating, will graze a little and pick at nice food, carrots etc. Drinking and peeing loads, his sheath is very swollen as are the blood vessels running under his belly. The vet took bloods and gave him Bute and a steroid jab, but didn't really know what was wrong, also advised worming him. Anyone seen anything like this? Owner obviously very worried, horse is in his mid twenties.
 
A friends horse had similar symptoms he was 26 they did think worm burden but bloods showed he was clear, but had reduced protein levels they wanted him in for further tests but owner didn't want to pursue this as was quite invasive as in scoping and scans so she had him pts, sorry its horrible but it is often an indication that something is seriously wrong, x
 
Unfortunately those symptoms are normally indicators of something pretty serious and often sinister. See what the bloods come back like but without admitting to horspital there's probably a limited chance of diagnosing what it is and it's likely to have a sad outcome. Fingers crossed for the horse
 
I have a similar problem with my 25 year old 'original' Irish Draught. Not the sheath and noticeable problems underneath - just weight loss and the squits. Blood tests showed nothing - vet thinks it's just SOMETHING inside that's worn out. He's rugged, of course, ad-lib haylage, and 2 feds a day of conditioning cubes with Brewer's Yeast which has helped a bit. He's happy and does eat - but I will have to bid him farewell soon, I think.
 
Thanks all, still waiting on blood results, the swelling has subsided a little and he is eating a little bit more. He's not been tested for cushings as far as I am aware. At his age I don't think the owner would put him through too much in the way of tests.
 
I'd be surprised if the bloods didn't throw something up out of whack. I'm surprised you've not had results yet though as is usually very quick to run a basic screen and decide if you need to test for more. At least he seems to have picked up a bit though.
 
AlinFaolan said:
Thanks all, still waiting on blood results, the swelling has subsided a little and he is eating a little bit more. He's not been tested for cushings as far as I am aware. At his age I don't think the owner would put him through too much in the way of tests.
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The symptoms sound like it is worth testing, I would have thought the vet would have suggested it when he took the blood. The drinking and peeing were the main symptom of mine having it.
 
Low protein levels can cause swellings in the stomach and underneath, they often prescribe steroids which will perk the horse up while they are on them, but I have known a few that once the steroids finish the symptoms come back.
 
Still no results, I will suggest she asks the vets about cushings when she speaks to the vets on Monday, she did check his sheath today, and the vet did ask if his penis was ok, but he's not the sort to drop it out very easily, but I don't think there was anything obviously wrong when she checked.
 
Bloods came back with very low protein, vet wants him to go to a referral clinic for further tests, but there is a risk his heart won't stand the stress of it, And his owner I believe doesn't want to put him through this, so it will be steroids till he has had enough.
 
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