virus: this is kind of long, apologies!

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wannabee

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Am new to all this - please bear with me!
I have a 3 year old (almost 4). Came down with strange virus few weeks ago, looked lame behind, and was also really lethargic and had lost all appetite.Vet came and blood tested, she noted that he looked really tight in back and bum muscles (was concerned about tying up at this point) test results showed .white blood cells were all wrong and also muscle enzymes were slightly elevated. She was happy that muscle enzyme elevation was a side effect of virus and not azoturia
Vet gave him some intramuscular B12, didn't really do anything though, he had some more 4 days later and is now eating as though he's never seen a bowl of food before! However, I noticed that despite all this food, he had lost weight over his back end, and still hadn't really improved at all.
Vet came back, re blood tested and white cells are now worse and muscle enzymes slightly more elevated than previously. Going to re blood test in a fortnight, unless deteriorates beforehand.
Just wondered if anyone else had experienced anything similar, my concern is that muscle problem has nothing to do with white blood cells, and that there is an underlying problem that is going undetected. He will be going on Visorbin as of Monday...
Sorry this was so long, but wanted to be thorough!
 
Hmmmm not sure where you stand with your insurance but I would be asking vet for further investigation now rather than just bloods. Id also want a urine sample taken.
 
First thought with wobbly and virus is always EHV - equine herpes virus

But also check if she did the bloods in house or sent off to outside lab - might help to do that for a 2nd opinion and some other tests possible that might help - fibrinogen, serum amyloid A etc

Having said all that weight goes off fast but takes a lot longer to get back on again. If he has had a virus will still be fighting it off and that takes a lot of energy - it can take 6-8 weeks plus to recover from a virus.
 
Thanks guys, much appreciated, should have said in original post that although has lost weight on back end, since appetite returned, has put weight on on belly, and apart from back end, looks in good condition, ie ribs not on show, kinda have to dig a little to find them! and has shiny shiny coat, just back end concerns me really.
Bloods went off to an external lab
thank you once again
 
When Jesper caught a really bad virus aged 4yrs our vets were great and gave us some amazing green powder that they use on young racehorses. I'm really sorry I can't remember the name but I know they use it on the racehorses. It works very quickly and boosts the immune system. We used it because Jesper had two viruses very close together and this did the trick.
I'd expect the muscle loss if your horse is feeling down. I'd be pushing the vets to do something more.
 
Hi There

My 13 Y.O cob has just been diagnosed with a virus which has lead to him suffering from anaemia.

His appetite has been good however and up to now he hasn't suffered from any muscle wastage.

I picked up a foul looking green paste from the vet on Saurday which will be added to his feed over the next 3 weeks (will find out the name later).

The vet said to rest him for 2 weeks then bring him gently back into work and he'll blood test again in a month.

It does seem that there are a few nasty viruses doing the rounds at the moment which seem to be affecting blood cells.
 
Sheys_mum the paste sounds like what we used, which is amazing stuff if it's the same although it smells awful!
 
This is a bit more of a liquid and I must admit it doesn't smell too bad.

The green element is a bit too much of a coincidence though so yes it is probably the same stuff, maybe mixed a bit differently to make it a bit more palatable.

It's certainly not putting him off his feed anyway
grin.gif
 
Thank you all for your thoughts on this, def have some questions for the vet.
Visorbin is a green liquid, (my friend and I think it has magic qualities!) my other horse lived on it as he was anaemic, it actually tastes rather nice! Perhaps this is something different? Hopefully will help my baby out, as he's looking a little pathetic!
 
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