Vet help? Metformin/Laminitus/Swollen Sheath

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canteron

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Any vets out there? My elderly horse (15hh cob) is on Metformin for his EMS - we have done 3 weeks of an 8 week course. I have read some good, but more not so good reports on this drug - and getting 35 down a horse a day is not that much fun.

The horses sheath has been swollen for a few days, it seems filled with water. I have washed it, put anticeptic cream on it and can't find any fly bits/tick marks. So am coming to the conclusion it is a side effect of the drugs. Today, I think he is having problems getting his willie back into the sheath after a pee - which is more than a bit worrying.

Is this a common side effect AND does anyone have an opinion on this drug.

I will talk to my vet tomorrow after the Bank Holiday, but in the meantime, does anyone have any advice.

Thanks!!
 
I'm not a vet , but just wondered if your horse is on box rest at the moment as my boys swelled up like that while stabled for laminitis , just a thought don't know if very helpfull . Good luck with him , i know how heartbreaking it can be
 
Thanks Kerry, I thought about that as well. So has he actually is out in a starvation paddock (about 15m square) all day as I know his limbs do tend to swell up if he isn't doing anything.

But no, Sheath still swollen, in a really 'puffy' sort of a way - it doesn't seem to hurt or irritate, but if you put a finger in it, it leaves an impression?
 
A swollen sheath like you describe can be a sign of low blood protein, so well worth calling your vet out to have a blood sample taken. There are plenty of other potential causes as well, but I'm not aware of metformin ever being reported to have this side effect.
 
My lads sheath swelled up when on box rest for laminitis too. His was likely a combination of lack of movement and dropping weight through box rest stress...worth a thought.
 
Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Called the vet out today, and they too are stumped. So going to try bute and more exercise (retired through a tendon injury 6 years ago, so can't do anything too dramatic). Personally, I don't think it will make a difference, but have to try!!

The vet confirmed the swelling was fluid just under the skin .... has anyone come across anything similar? The whole sheath really is very large, but luckily doesn't seem to be causing the horse any problems.

If anyone has any experience of anything like this, I would love to hear.
 
Just in case anyone is interested in this thread I would like to mention a couple of things, as my last comment may have been a misleading (OK I think the vet is right and I am grumpy!). So ...

1) The vet has checked and there are no recorded incidents of metformin causing swelling sheaths.
2) On reflection, the swelling co-incided with the horse's field companion going away. So therefore it may be depressed and not moved around much and therefore making the horse move more (it really isn't showing any laminitic signs any more) would be a sensible thing.

So I have taken the horse for a walk tonight, and he loved it - so did I!!! So apologies to the vet, I think you are probably right and it was very good advice!!
 
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