Would you call the vet out on a saturday if...

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flyingfeet

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You top horse was looking not himself at all had dug a hole in his bed last night and had a temp of 40.1 last night and 39.5 this morning.

I don't think its colic, but he is not a happy chap. On the other hand doesn't look like he is about to keel over either and is pooing, weeing and eating.
 
i would ring up and ask to speak to a vet as i would be worried about the high temperture. are you still rugging? if you are i personally would only put a cooler on until the temperture comes down.

you could give some bute to bring the temperture down.
 
Already rung spoken to vet, bute given, monitoring temperature haven't de-rugged him, but tested his mate next door who is wearing more rugs but is a normal 37.5oC

Now wondering whether I am being paranoid calling the vet out, hence the question!
 
i would def have the vet with the temp
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, keep rug on him as offen they have a high temp but they are infact cold!

maybe he has a virus? of infection?

best get the vet - if in doubt aways call vet, that my moto
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hope hes okay - poor chap
 
Vet been and given painkiller and antibiotics injections in case it is an infection. Bloods taken, so should know next week whether its virus or infection.

Bute has lowered the temp a bit, and its definitely not colic.
 
His temperature is now normal at 37.8oC.

However now he won't eat, I took him out to one of our massive field and he wouldn't nibble grass. Now in the box and won't eat his feed. This is a horse that would trample you to get his grub, so I'm now climbing the walls and worrying.
 
CotswoldsSJ I know it's hard, but try not to stress! If he hasn't been feeling good then he may well not want to eat, plus you're stressed. Give him some time to get his thoughts back together. Hope all is well. C.x
 
Well he was 39.7oC this morning, I am having to syringe in the bute as he is refusing to eat.

Now wondering how I am going to get the trimediazine powders into him as there is rather a lot of powder.
 
Sounds like the stranglesy type thing mine got - couldn't eat or swallow and had massive temps. In which case AB's are contra-indicated at this stage and it won't matter you can't get him to eat them
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Eta- bet you are glad you called the vet!
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Cotsworldsj how is he doing now. if he is not eating ask your vet to give you the antibiotic and bute in the paste form as both are available in paste. another option would be to get the vet to give you the intra muscler injestion antibiotics as they get into the system quicker although you need to know how to give the injections and have a good patient as canbe a nightmare with a horse that is bad with needles. my horse will not eat anything i her food so we go down the route of paste bute and i/m antibiotics good luck and hope he feels better soon
 
After bute temp came back down to 38.8oC this morning

He has been out and managed to nearly eat a whole scoop of build up mix when brought in, so doesn't look quite as pathetic as earlier!

Just taken temp and he is down to 37.3oC! *yay*

Going to mix trimediazine powders into paste and syringe it into his mouth to save having any faff with food.

He had intravenous antibiotics yesterday, I did ring vet again but the penicillin we had in the fridge for injecting expired a year ago! So going to give the trimediazine tonight and see what the bloods come back with in the morning.
 
I don't think its stranges-ish type as he hasn't got even a sniffle in his nose.

So just tried the syringe method on the powders but may have used too much fluid as ended up with 120ml of fluid to syringe using a 40ml syringe (yes had just bought a 60ml syringe, but this one was adapted for thicker stuff)

So he was quite put out about this and I am now wearing quite a lot of the solution!! By the fourth syringe full he told me it was disgusting and he didn't want it.
 
Cotswold this is EXACTLY what my veteran is suffering from. He has had a few good days this week where I have been able to tempt him to eat a bucket feed (with the help of peppermint cordial) but all he really wants is to slowly pick his way through his haynet and rest. Turned him out today which in hindsight was a mistake, he cried to come in, and is really knocked for six again tonight. he hasnt touched his tea but is happily going through his hay again this evening.

This has been going on now for two weeks, some good days and others bad and Ive been using bute on the bad ones and trying to just gently nurse him through.

All I can do really is keep him warm and nourished and hope he manages to fight it off. Its awful to see your horse head down and listless at teatime, just so out of sorts.

Ed to add he has seen the vet and been bloodtested. Vet reckons a virus as all things apart from red and white counts are normal.
 
Dont know if this is any use to you here is a sure fire way to get Trimedazine powders into them, tried, tested and works!!
Get 2, 20ml syringes cut the whole of the end off them both not just the bit you attach the needle, all the end. Put Trimedazine in a small bowl add a little water and 2 teaspoons of strawberry jam, mix it to a paste, slightly runny, tip it into the 2 syringes now squirt down him. Hope your boy gets better
 
Ah thanks for that Steeleydan - i've got one 40ml syringe with the end cut off as the bute kept getting stuck due to the fact that it doesn't dissolve.

Sounds a good method - I added sugar, but probably not enough, and far too much water! I will try jam tomorrow!
 
Please stop self medicating, if you think your horse is ill call the vet- they can then decide what drugs your horse needs! (that is what they are qualified for!)
And if you are questioning whether or not to call the vet, I would make that call.
 
I was posting regarding the advice given to give bute to bring the temperature down!!!
This is a general problem of horse owners sef medicating with bute especially and this post illustrated the point nicely.
You did the right thing by calling the vet out!
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[ QUOTE ]
Please stop self medicating, if you think your horse is ill call the vet- they can then decide what drugs your horse needs! (that is what they are qualified for!)
And if you are questioning whether or not to call the vet, I would make that call.

[/ QUOTE ]

So who exactly is this post directed at? I cannot find any reference in this thread to anyone self medicating.
 
The advice was spot on - the vet also gave me bute, although I had some already so declined to pay for more meds!

Bute is like paracetamol for humans and is absolutely the right thing to use if your horse is uncomfortable due to a high temperature.

The Vet actually gave him something stronger than bute beginning with "f" via injection to make him more comfy.

The post was started because I was worrying I was another paranoid horsey owner calling the vet out for no reason. However I'm glad I did and I am still worried about him, as his is not himself and I would like to know what is causing the high temp - either virus or infection.
 
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