your opinions please! while I wait for the vet to call back

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monsterwillow

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7 month old colt has a very swollen sheath! I noticed it a little swollen on Monday morning when I went to turn him out. Thought it would go down with turnout so left him out last night. Took him in this afternoon for a feed (which he wont eat) and its like this! No heat its actually cold. And doesn't seem bothered by me prodding about.

Also I'm struggling to get him to eat any hard feed. Turns his nose up at everything he's offered. He eats all his hay so he's not starving but he's obviously not going to get everything he needs from hay.

Lastly he is very quiet.... Almost lethargic. Bright enough, grazing, eating hay, drinking etc. But for a young colt he seems too quiet? My thinking on this is lack of essential vits and minerals as won't eat hard feed but could just be very laid back I suppose. He is sports horse breeding so I expected more spark?

Vet is out on an emergency so waiting for a call back but as foal is eating hay,drinking etc I doubt vet will want to come out tonight.

Any thoughts/ experience would be appreciated x
 
Have you been able to take his temperature? Has he ever gone off his hard feed before? I have never seen this before so have no experience and wouldn't like to say what it was, but if his sheath is especially cold then it could maybe be a blockage a little further up, like a UTI? I suppose if he's been out all the time you haven't been able to tell whether he is passing urine as normal.

At least he isn't in pain with it at the moment, hope the vet can come out soon and fingers crossed it isn't anything too serious xx
 
If it was me I'd ask the vet to come out as that is very swollen, failing that how about texting the vet a picture so they can see the extent of the swelling. I'd have thought that the colt will have a raised temperature hence why he is lethargic, have you taken his temperature?
 
Gucc said:
If it was me I'd ask the vet to come out as that is very swollen, failing that how about texting the vet a picture so they can see the extent of the swelling. I'd have thought that the colt will have a raised temperature hence why he is lethargic, have you taken his temperature?
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Ive not taken his temp yet. Should make it clear too that his quietness is nothing new. He's been like this since weaning. Was a brat up until then, I thought maybe a bit depressed with weaning but was weaned about 6 weeks ago x
 
Tash88 said:
Have you been able to take his temperature? Has he ever gone off his hard feed before? I have never seen this before so have no experience and wouldn't like to say what it was, but if his sheath is especially cold then it could maybe be a blockage a little further up, like a UTI? I suppose if he's been out all the time you haven't been able to tell whether he is passing urine as normal.

At least he isn't in pain with it at the moment, hope the vet can come out
soon and fingers crossed it isn't anything too serious xx
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He hasn't ever been keen on hard feed at all. Will pick a little but never eats enough. He always eats all his hay though so not overly concerned about that.

He's been coming up to stable every day so I know he's peeing as have seen him. He's not bothered in the slightest about me poking about etc so pretty sure he's not too sore x
 
Laafet said:
I'd say he needs some antibiotics, you need to take his temperature, that will help the vet out. It is serious enough that I'd get a vet out ASAP especially since you say he is lethargic.
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I will go take his temp just now. The quietness is nothing new. Think this is more related to not eating hard feed to be honest but will mention it to vet too of course x
 
Could also possibly be Lympangitis (sp) if he has has a small cut or nick somewhere, infection can set in. Antibiotics should help along with running bloods etc but either way I would want the vet out. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
monsterwillow said:
Ive not taken his temp yet. Should make it clear too that his quietness is nothing new. He's been like this since weaning. Was a brat up until then, I thought maybe a bit depressed with weaning but was weaned about 6 weeks ago x
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looks like one of our gelding's sheaths did when he had cellulitis in it - needs pain killers and antibiotics.
On a side note my boy has chilled out since being weaned and is a much nicer horse, in his case I think it's cause he's gone from being an only child with his mom and an uncle so a bit spoilt by them to out with a herd who have taught him horse manners and put him in his place.
 
mynutmeg said:
looks like one of our gelding's sheaths did when he had cellulitis in it - needs pain killers and antibiotics.
On a side note my boy has chilled out since being weaned and is a much nicer horse, in his case I think it's cause he's gone from being an only child with his mom and an uncle so a bit spoilt by them to out with a herd who have taught him horse manners and put him in his place.
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Temp is 37.7. Hopefully vet phones soon.

Re. Weaning.... He has changed from not catching, not wanting to be touched (apart from face) biting brat to a very cuddly baby! Catches, leads, loads, picks up feet etc. I have always had native foals until now and don't think ive ever had such an easy baby! I suppose I expected him to be a bit of a hot head.......
 
monsterwillow said:
I will go take his temp just now. The quietness is nothing new. Think this is more related to not eating hard feed to be honest but will mention it to vet too of course x
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It won't be due to lack of hard feed! Has he got any swelling along the bottom of his tummy or in his fetlocks? Agree with the others about taking his temperature.
 
Silverfire said:
It won't be due to lack of hard feed! Has he got any swelling along the bottom of his tummy or in his fetlocks? Agree with the others about taking his temperature.
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Maybe its not but he clearly cant be getting much nutrients from grass and hay!

Temp is 37.7. No other swellings at all
 
Silverfire said:
It won't be due to lack of hard feed! Has he got any swelling along the bottom of his tummy or in his fetlocks? Agree with the others about taking his temperature.
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I was going to ask this! Also any swelling on his chest? One of my boys had very similar because of fluid due to Liver Fluke. Is he pooing alright?
 
You are right to be concerned, that is a very detailed photo you have posted, the best you can do now is wait for your vet to visit tomorrow and put your mind at rest.
 
The lethargy would worry me, I would be getting vet to take bloods too, sounds like a foal at work who went from boisterous colt to suddenly very well behaved - great except it wasn't normal for him - bloods showed he was aneamic.
 
ridefast said:
The lethargy would worry me, I would be getting vet to take bloods too, sounds like a foal at work who went from boisterous colt to suddenly very well behaved - great except it wasn't normal for him - bloods showed he was aneamic.
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Thanks. Will see what vet says once he gets here x
 
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