Virus starting whilst travelling?

[Navalgem]

Anyone ever heard of this happening?

Moved a colt who is grazing with my colt to a diff field as the grass had run out. He was absolutely fine when picked up from his field, travelled for 2 hours and arrived snotty/misrable/looked colic. The colic symptoms dissappeared within 1 hr but still miserable this morning owner went to field and he wouldn't get up, but his buddy (my colt) was fine. Vet came and said he had virus and gave penicillin jab to him, and to my boy just in case although he has no symptoms. I've never heard of this happening just wondered if anyone else has?

 

[Patches]

I've heard of horses becoming ill with "cabin fever" when they've been transported on long haul flights etc. Not heard of it happening over such a short space of time.

 

[Navalgem]

Could it be possible that it was stress from travelling as the journey before had been from Holland? My boy was born and bred over here so has no fear of travelling.

 

[Guinness]

could be pleuropneumonia (shipping fever) have a look here:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/48502.html

 

[Navalgem]

I doubt it'd be that unless it can harbour in the system without being active for 10/12 weeks? Though reading it it could be that the cortisol rose and he was more succeptible to a virus and thats why he got it and my boy didn't.

 

[Baggybreeches]

Yes it could be the stress of travelling, if he is only a youngster andliving out ( especially in this sh1t weather) I would be to worried, just keep him quiet for a bit (no more exciting little escapades). He will be fine.

 

[Lynette]

Well it sounds more like Choke to me. Obviously had cleared the blockage by the time you unloaded him but left with a very sore throat. Is he eating or just drinking?

 

[Bossanova]

Stress can weaken the immune system and allow a virus or bacteria to become pathogenic. This virus was perhaps already present at low numbers within the horse and it was fighting it ad winning but the stress allowed the virus to take a hold.

 

[coffeeadict]

It could be pleuropneumonia - although journey not that far.Totally agree with Bossanova - there was probably an underlying infection. Had he had a virus even 3-4 weeks ago he would become more susceptible. If he had pleuropneumonia there would almost always be a raised temperature - was that the case? Treatment would be antibiotics. Totally agree with Bossanova - and think this the most likely reason. If it were choke rather than infection - vet should not have treated colt this way.

 

[foraday]

Agree with Bossanova and Coffeeaddict-virus already present and stress of travelling brought this on

With Choke you would have seen all clear fluid (saliva) with whatever the horse had eaten in the last hours before the blockage occured-believe me you would have seen bucketfulls on the floor!

So absence of that would certainly rule that out!