Update on Mares That Died.

TheresaW

TheresaW

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I posted at the beginning of the week about 2 mares that died of some form of suspected poisoning in their field, and another that was badly injured when being moved from the field.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...rue#Post2538588

Injured mare is healing well and a lot brighter. She is tucking into her hay with a lot more gusto now. Still no news on whether she is still carrying her foal or not though.

Of the 2 that died, the vet suspects a form of tetanus. He said it is very rare over here (is known in Belgium by all accounts). Apparently the weather we are having, warmish and damp then freezing cold, has caused it to come up through the soil. Not sure why 2 of the 3 out got it, or why no horses in the other fields were affected, but if I hear any more, I will let you know.
 
Wow how bizarre, Ive never heard of that before, were the mares not vaccinated then?
Pleased that he injured mare is doing well, hope its good news about the foal.
 
do you hink the vet is just perhaps cluching at straws for a reason because its so puzzling, is there any test that can be done to find out what caused it, it is very worrying isnt it.
frown.gif
 
That's interesting; let's hope she recovers and still in foal.

Does that mean the mares hadn't been vaccinated at all? If they had been, it will pose a problem for your YO as that field will never be safe again for horses, the tetanus will remain in the soil forever. If they hadn't, then they need to make sure that anything turned out on there is well and truly up to date with all vaccinations. It might be worth their while to have soil analysis done to see if there is anything they can do although I admit, I don't know if it would pick up about the tetanus.
Let's hope for a speedy recovery; if it was that, she is incredibly lucky.
 
That is really odd and also very scary for us horse owners to think that we get our horses jabs done and they can still get it
confused.gif
, glad to hear that the mare is doing well now, such a shame about the other 2.

hope it is a good out come for the foal
 
Would like to hear more, if you find anything out. All ours are fully vaccinated and I fondly suppose they're OK. Could this not be the case?
 
Tetanus is not a 'contagious' disease as such. The fact that two mares died from the same field (if it is tetanus, it's only an idea by the vet atm if I read opening post right) does not mean they caught it from each other, but that both had soil contact an injury which could have been as small as a mild scratch and completely unnoticeable. Any small nick is big enough for tetanus to find a way into the system if it is in the ground, which is why it's so important to have your horses vaccinated.
If these had been vaccinated and if this has been tetanus then that is a matter of concern for everyone so I hope we can be updated as and when.
 
this is some info posted by someone involved on another forum,

If it is as they suspect Atypical Myopathy then it wil depend on your grazing, its not common, similar to grass sickness but has the effect of botulism, with the muscles and discoloured urine etc, Basically kidney failure ,

The Atypical Myopathy was apparently confirmed at PM.
 
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