Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

[mickey]

- This is the rather vague term being applied to what my horse is currently suffering from.
He has swelling of the glands UNDER the jaw, and a high temperature. Main symptoms to me seemed to be discomfort in the mouth/head. No nasal discharge and no cough.
The vet came today and took a swab from his nose and some bloods. As we don't know the cause of his condition we are having to isolate him.
I was panicking that this could be strangles. The vet was not ruling it out......but said it could be any number of things causing the infection.
I am worried about what it could be, how he is going to respond to treatment, and of course other horses that may have come into contact with him.....
Has anyone else had this kind of problem?

 

[vicijp]

Have you had him scoped?
Sounds like it could be the sinuses, infections generally caused this time of year by pollen allergy.
Should be sorted out by short course of antibiotics.

 

[mickey]

Nope the vet just suggested a nasal swab and the bloods.......
It is alarming though because you start thinking of all the possibilities of what it might be.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Is he depressed, unable to eat or drink unless you lift the bucket? In the swellings under the jaw can you feel an abcess forming? You say no discharge, this could change by the hour. Did the vet give antibio's (hoping not). How long have you notice these symptoms?

 

[mickey]

The prevailing symptom has been lethargy/depressed mood over the last 10 days (since we brought him back from Hickstead actually). I put this lethargy down to a tiring trip/outing. But I then noticed when I was feeding him apples by hand (broken in half first) he was struggling to chew/bite with any strength. That was a few days ago now. Today we noticed swollen glands under his jaw. (I'd say about 1/2 inch raised in 2 seperate bands). I don't think I can feel/spot an abscess but I am not an expert. I took his temp today and it was 93.3. Haven't seen any discharge nor a cough for the whole period.
The whole of the last week I have felt that he was rather quiet and had pain in his head/mouth somewhere. He has been eating OK but apparently struggled to bend down to eat his hard feed this morning. I left him this eve and he was eating and drinking off the floor OK. (Post painkiller injection). The vet has given him antibiotic powders........I am really sressing now as to what is up with him.

 

[mickey]

Sorry his temp was 39.3 C, not what I wrote above! (Thankfully!!). I am losing my marbles

 

[Llwyncwn]

Oh dear hun, Im worrying now with you. My old boy had strangles some years ago and your symptoms fit. I so hope it is just a normal virus, but if it is the 'S' word, then the vet should not have given antibios as this will just suppress the virus. Antibios shouldnt be given until any abcessess have burst.

My suggestion would be to put a hot wet towell (as hot as he can stand) under the jaw as many times a day as you can to encourage any abcess to form and burst. Change your clothes as soon as you get home and wash. Disinfect everything and dont have contact with any other horse. Lift his water bucket and feed bucket so that he can reach them. Lots of tlc and understanding.

The strangles virus can live in wood for up to 6 months. Make sue you Jeyes everything.

Mickey, I am not a vet and would not profess to diagnose. If you want more info, PM Star, she is on the board tonight. There are other vets too on HHO including 'ann-jen'. Please feel free to PM me if you want to chat.
Hx

 

[mickey]

Oh god. I am freaking out now. Mainly because of the logistics of him being on a livery yard with other horses and how that could impact everyone else. I wont know until I get the results. He is well isolated now in a stravation paddock with a shelter away from everyone else. I may well put a sign up telling people not to make contact with him.
I really hope the vet knew what she was doing. She said she didn't think it was stagles but couldn't rule it out. Sleepless night for me I think......

 

[Llwyncwn]

Stop worrying hun. If the vet didnt think it was strangles, then she is the best person to know

There is a virus which simulates the 'S' word going around. All very similar symptoms. The fact that there is no snot or coughing is a good sign.

 

[alsxx]

Really dont panic - my mare has an infection of the upper respiratory tract - vet has put her on antibiotics for a week so I am keeping my fingers crossed she will improve. Her main symptoms are an awful cough, she's been coughing up mucus the last couple of days, and gunked up eyes (she has one tear duct blocked because of infection). Her temperature was normal. He thinks she probably picked up some kind of virus and has gone on to develop a secondary bacterial infection.

Edited to say - we are on a very busy yard and nothing else has any symptoms. Just bad luck I think.

I'm in Kent too - makes you wonder what is going round at the moment!

 

[mickey]

Sorry to hear that your mare is poorly. Maybe there is something going around local to the area.....you could be right. I hope your mare feels better very soon.