Vibes please - atypical myoglobinuria

Angelbones

Angelbones

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I've had a dreadful week - one 33 yr old TB with cellulitis in his face now on antibios, and two days at the vets with my hunter who now it appears has SI injury and a 12.1 pony with hock problems, and tonight I got a call from my dad's yard to say that two of the horses (fit, competing, young, healthy TBs) had been through something really weird in the field.

They had been turned out at lunch time and checked on at 3pm. One was groaning really loudly and standing awkwardly. The lovely head groom found him in a muck sweat, with lots of little cuts around his hind fetlocks. She thought he had been hoolying and had tied up. Then she looked at the other horse. He had blood pouring from his nose, was in a muck sweat, couldn't walk, and also had cuts around his fetlocks. She called the vet and after a while and some meds they managed to get both horses indoors. The vet took bloods and these were analysed within 3 hours. We thought that perhaps a couple of dogs had chased them around and bitten them, or worse, but really didn't think we'd get to the bottom of it so concentrated on notifying neighbours, caring for the horses and trying to keep calm.

The result has come back as Atypical Myoglobinuria (which some of you may know has cropped up on here before). We have just been over there rigging up ladders above the boxes for the drips and trying to get both horses to drink. Both of them are very poorly; sweating up, groaning, eyes on stalks. The vet says the prognosis is bad and we may be calling the kennels by morning. The poor staff are besides themselves and they are staying overnight on the yard (we've set up camp beds etc).

I've done a search on here and I know this is extremely rare, there is little info out there on it, and the outcome looks bleak. Oddly though on all I read the general symptoms and description of horse type / pasture type etc really doesn't match ours at all, so I guess it really is indiscriminate.

So everyone, if you have a moment please send some healing vibes for Gamble and Colin, both beautiful talented and much loved horses.

Thanks x
 
So sorry to hear this. Sounds absolutely awful. Lots of healing vibes heading your way. Really hope they do better overnight.
 
Really sad to read this, its so awful....I don't know a lot about this illness, I think the first a heard was when a girl on this forum lost her horse to it a little while ago.
Sending lots and lots of good vibes your way x
 
i hope they have pulled through the night. Kokopellies little horse died from this last year and she has made a facebook page to raise awarness, the one thing she does strongly recomend is to take any other horses off the pasture where these horses have contracted it from.
 
I am sorry to hear this news. Having lost horses to EGS I know how sudden,traumatic and devastating these sort of diseases can be . You are in prayers and have my sympathies.
 
Terrible news :(
I hope they make it, but I know the prognosis is very bad for this affliction.

Whereabouts are you? I am also in East Sussex and I know these things tend to happen in "batches" so now on higher alert. PM if you prefer, and many thanks if you can let me know.
 
Huge thanks to everyone for your kind messages.

Both horses have made it through the night on their drips and meds, but both are struggling and have been physically supported all night. The vet has been this morning with more meds and drips to keep them as comfy as possible. It is early days and it may be that their internal organ damage will lead to them being pts even if they beat off the toxins themselves.

The other horses that graze in that paddock, and in the neighbouring paddocks have been blood tested and they have come back all clear, which is a huge relief.

I'll keep you updated as and when I know more, but again HUGE thanks for your concern.

x
 
Sounds terrible, but if they have both managed the night, then that is a positive, they are fighting. Sending more vibes to the horses, and hope they can remain strong and beat the odds.
Thoughts to the owners too.
 
mga4ever said:
Is there ant news. Fingers crossed both horses are still winning the battle.
Click to expand...

Well they are still with us... and tonight they are coming off the drip to see how they go. Apparently after about 72 hours there is little point still being on the drip. They were blood tested again this afternoon and although still very high the levels for their kidneys has come down slightly but the levels for muscles is still way too high. They are both eating and drinking, and going to the loo, and the worst one is managing to stand unaided. Tonight will be the big test.

I have to say that our vet has been fantastic - he's been off duty all weekend but been on call for us. He's jumped at the slightest worry from us, even if we just weren't sure the drips were working.

And of course the two girls who have been there day and night, on camp beds, eating pot noodles, as the temps go down and down. They are exhausted and still there. All credit to them they've done an amazing job and it isn't over yet.

The more research we do only seems to add to the speculation of what it is and how it works. But do be aware that this is a high risk time of year for it, with the weather changing, leaves falling, more rain and higher winds. We have been advised to stay off the fields for at least two weeks, and not to have anything turned out over night. If you find your horse with any sort of tying up or colic symptoms, please get the vet and mention this disease. Early treatment really can make a difference.

Once again, many thanks for all your support.
 
<<vibes>> they are continuing to respond to treatment

FWIW I've got a grass sickness (as a yearling) survivor who made it to HOYS and is now 20 so they can come back from appalling sickness to a useful life xx
 
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