Emergency help needed!!!

TrinTx88 · 05-14-2006, 07:37 PM

We have a yearling colt. He went down in our pasture 4 days ago and could not get up on his own. Our neighbor stopped and with 5 of us we were able to ge him up and walking. For the first 2 days he was up in the pasture and doing fine and then last night he went down again and he has been "bad" all day today. He is eating his feed, grazing, drinking, and going to the bathroom. His only "symptom" is he is anemic and we can't figure out why. When we talked to our vet Friday he told us to give him B-12. So we have given him the B-12. He is UTD on his worming and all vaccinations. We live way out in the middle of nowhere our vet is closed this weekend and it seems like all other vets are busy or won't drive out here. PLEASE HELP!

appygurl · 05-14-2006, 07:40 PM

I'm really not sure. I'd be pretty scared though. If he starts to really get bad tonight, you are going to need to make an emergency call to the vet.

ToveroMom · 05-14-2006, 07:43 PM

Well Red Cell will help boost his hemoglobin and that will help his anemia.
Did the Vet do bloodwork on him?
I am unsure of anything you could do right now without knowing what exactly is going on.

I'm sorry
Can you haul him in to a Vet?

TrinTx88 · 05-14-2006, 07:44 PM

We have called 4 vets as emergency but we can't get anybody to drive out here tonight or they won't call us back.

Range · 05-14-2006, 07:53 PM

Is he up or down now? Is he eating and drinking and defecating while he's down? Has he given up trying to get up? Is there evidence of him trying to get up?

My first thought would be spinal cord....

Vets, it's very frustrating. Have you told them it's a dire emergency?

BYEARL · 05-14-2006, 08:25 PM

I would keep calling the Vet. Do you know where the Vet you use lives? Arrive in Person....or better yet arrive in person with the trailer and horse in tow.

Our Vet lives right behind his office, if he dont answer the phone i go knocking.

Touche · 05-14-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

or better yet arrive in person with the trailer and horse in tow.

That would be your best bet.
So you have anyone to help you get him there if you don't have a trailer?

Seanachie · 05-14-2006, 08:58 PM

Ok, he's doing all the important things: eating, drinking, eliminating, etc.

What do you mean "he is anemic"? Do you mean "he's weak" or have you run a hemoglobin/hematocrit analysis on him? If so, what are the lab values?

Is his urine or manure dark or does it look like it has coffe grounds mixed in?

TrinTx88 · 05-14-2006, 11:13 PM

The colt is up right now, only because he is hanging in a harness. His feet are on the ground he just can't lay down this way. He is eating, drinking, and defecating while he is down. He is sill trying to get up on his own, he just wears himself out by he time he gets up so he lays back down. I don't know where our vet lives. We are planning on calling him again tomorrow. I am just trying to get ideas until we can get a hold of him. We don't have a trailer so we usually rent one if we need it or borrow our neighbors. We are saying he is anemic because his gums and tongue are almost white they are so pale. He isn't weak but if he pushes himself to hard for too long trying to get up or move around he just stops to rest for a while. Then he tries again. Anytime he sees our other horses walk by he tries to get out of the harness to follow them and when we got home from the feed store before he was nickering at us. He is alert and doing everything normal except for not being able to get up/stand on his own and having the very pale gums and tongue. We are going crazy trying to find out what is going on. We have talked to neighbors and they are all as confused about this as we are. We thought it might be some kind of spinal injury-as far as we know he has not had any kind of accident and it doesn't seem to be hurting him at all. He will react when we touch him on his back and legs but not in a way that he is showing pain. I don't know what would cause him to have pale gums and tounge. Let me know if his makes since to any of you.

ToveroMom · 05-14-2006, 11:19 PM

Dang Trinity-nothing good I can think of..sorry but this is really serious.
I would be on the phone at 6 AM and getting a trailer-to haul him in to the Vet.

mellowdane · 05-14-2006, 11:20 PM

Well.. in addition to anemia.. pale gums can me a toxin of some sort. Could there be something in his pasture that he is eating that is toxic? I am not sure what toxic weeds you have in your area. Hm.. without full bloodwork that is going to be a hard one though. Good luck and I hope he is ok and it isnt something serious like a bone marrow problem.

TrinTx88 · 05-14-2006, 11:26 PM

I don't know that it is anything in the pasture...We have 7 other horses that stay in the pasture with him. He might have gotten into something that none of the others have.
Not that he has eaten them but are mushrooms toxic to horses?
What are some things that happen with a bone marrow problem?
Thanks for you help.

Range · 05-15-2006, 06:59 AM

Vet, you really need a vet. The pale gums does not necessarily mean he's anemic. As the two posts above have stated, this is serious and it definitely could be a toxic plant. Several toxic plants have neurological side effects. Some of those same plants can be eaten in small amounts and not effect the whole herd...just the one who ate enough for his body mass to cause a problem.

I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way and I really hope you can get him to a vet!

NChase · 05-15-2006, 07:32 AM

In addition to all the good advice others have given above, I'd like to add that even though he is up to date on his worming, you might want to have the vet do a fecal egg count. There are some worms out there that are resistant to certain types of wormers.

I had that problem last summer with some of my sheep: debilitating weakness and stark white gums and inner eyelids from severe anemia, because the wormer I was giving was not touching the infestation of resistant worms they had. When I switched wormers, the sheep got better.

Don't know if the wormer resistance situation is exactly the same with horses, but with my sheep, repeated high-level doses of Ivermectin and Safeguard (per my vet's recommendation) did nothing. I had to switch to Cydectin (in horse wormers, that would be the equivalent of Quest) before I saw results.

I don't know if that's your colt's problem, but a fecal egg count can tell you a lot.

Good luck,

--Nancy

irishmusic · 05-15-2006, 08:38 AM

Look to the obvious first. Pale gums = anemia in most circumstances. Anemia in horses is usually caused by worms. You might try the following:

1. Increase iron and b vitamins - blackstrap molasses or a commercial product called biotin.
2. Worm again.
3. Is your horse drinking enough - add a little sugar to his water to induce him to stay hydrated.
4. Has your horse had a recent coggins test?

ToveroMom · 05-15-2006, 08:41 AM

Just checking for an update.

TrinTx88 · 05-15-2006, 09:46 AM

Well, we have a call into our vet. He is out right now but he will be here around noon. GRRRR I want him here NOW!!! It doed us no good at this point to load him up and stress him out with a 40 mile drive to the vet clinic because we would just have to wait there anyways. When we talked to the vet on Friday he told us to give another wormer, get the B-12 and keep him hydrated. So we went to the feed store and got all of that. He is not dehydrated and he has a negative coggins test.
I did notice that he has these little gnat/flea sized bugs on him. They are light brown with a darker brown head and have like 5 black stripes on their back. He has them near the base of his mane and behind his ears. They are the same color as Renegade so we didn't notice them until this morning. My Mom was scratching on him and one got under her fingernail. After we started looking at him more he also has little white eggs in his mane. It is not lice but looks similar. We are guessing it is the eggs from these bugs. Does anybody know what they are or how to get rid of them?

MLovely · 05-15-2006, 11:53 AM

My TB had the same little white eggs on her last year (on her legs though), we usually use a razor blade to get rid of them, however I dont know if that would work in the mane. Either way, you dont want them to hatch. Keep us posted, my prayers are with you and your guy!!

~Marcie

muttduck · 05-15-2006, 12:00 PM

Nothing much more that I can add that wasn't mentioned above.

I hope that the vet's there and that he has some answers and cures.

Update us when you can...

irishmusic · 05-15-2006, 01:49 PM

Could the white spcs you are seeing be Bot Fly eggs? They certainly could make your horse very sick. You can shave them off with a razor, going in the direction of the haircoat. I think you can also get a bot fly knife, that strips bot fly eggs from your horses coat. Point these out to your vet , when he arrives. Here is a link for more info:

http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg241.html

05-14-2006, 07:37 PM
TrinTx88 Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 17	Emergency help needed!!! We have a yearling colt. He went down in our pasture 4 days ago and could not get up on his own. Our neighbor stopped and with 5 of us we were able to ge him up and walking. For the first 2 days he was up in the pasture and doing fine and then last night he went down again and he has been "bad" all day today. He is eating his feed, grazing, drinking, and going to the bathroom. His only "symptom" is he is anemic and we can't figure out why. When we talked to our vet Friday he told us to give him B-12. So we have given him the B-12. He is UTD on his worming and all vaccinations. We live way out in the middle of nowhere our vet is closed this weekend and it seems like all other vets are busy or won't drive out here. PLEASE HELP! __________________ \"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.\" Joshua 1:9

05-14-2006, 07:40 PM
appygurl Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,820	I'm really not sure. I'd be pretty scared though. If he starts to really get bad tonight, you are going to need to make an emergency call to the vet. __________________ Appaloosa--brains, looks, and temperment all in one

05-14-2006, 07:43 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Well Red Cell will help boost his hemoglobin and that will help his anemia. Did the Vet do bloodwork on him? I am unsure of anything you could do right now without knowing what exactly is going on. I'm sorry Can you haul him in to a Vet? __________________

05-14-2006, 07:44 PM
TrinTx88 Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 17	We have called 4 vets as emergency but we can't get anybody to drive out here tonight or they won't call us back. __________________ \"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.\" Joshua 1:9

05-14-2006, 07:53 PM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,738	colt Is he up or down now? Is he eating and drinking and defecating while he's down? Has he given up trying to get up? Is there evidence of him trying to get up? My first thought would be spinal cord.... Vets, it's very frustrating. Have you told them it's a dire emergency? __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

05-14-2006, 08:25 PM
BYEARL Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hico/Stephenville, Texas Posts: 245	I would keep calling the Vet. Do you know where the Vet you use lives? Arrive in Person....or better yet arrive in person with the trailer and horse in tow. Our Vet lives right behind his office, if he dont answer the phone i go knocking.

05-14-2006, 08:58 PM
Seanachie Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,091	Ok, he's doing all the important things: eating, drinking, eliminating, etc. What do you mean "he is anemic"? Do you mean "he's weak" or have you run a hemoglobin/hematocrit analysis on him? If so, what are the lab values? Is his urine or manure dark or does it look like it has coffe grounds mixed in? __________________ Seánachie "I'll keep my guns, my religion, and my money - you can keep the change."

05-14-2006, 11:13 PM
TrinTx88 Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 17	The colt is up right now, only because he is hanging in a harness. His feet are on the ground he just can't lay down this way. He is eating, drinking, and defecating while he is down. He is sill trying to get up on his own, he just wears himself out by he time he gets up so he lays back down. I don't know where our vet lives. We are planning on calling him again tomorrow. I am just trying to get ideas until we can get a hold of him. We don't have a trailer so we usually rent one if we need it or borrow our neighbors. We are saying he is anemic because his gums and tongue are almost white they are so pale. He isn't weak but if he pushes himself to hard for too long trying to get up or move around he just stops to rest for a while. Then he tries again. Anytime he sees our other horses walk by he tries to get out of the harness to follow them and when we got home from the feed store before he was nickering at us. He is alert and doing everything normal except for not being able to get up/stand on his own and having the very pale gums and tongue. We are going crazy trying to find out what is going on. We have talked to neighbors and they are all as confused about this as we are. We thought it might be some kind of spinal injury-as far as we know he has not had any kind of accident and it doesn't seem to be hurting him at all. He will react when we touch him on his back and legs but not in a way that he is showing pain. I don't know what would cause him to have pale gums and tounge. Let me know if his makes since to any of you. __________________ \"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.\" Joshua 1:9

05-14-2006, 11:19 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Dang Trinity-nothing good I can think of..sorry but this is really serious. I would be on the phone at 6 AM and getting a trailer-to haul him in to the Vet. __________________

05-14-2006, 11:20 PM
mellowdane Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA Posts: 1,098	Well.. in addition to anemia.. pale gums can me a toxin of some sort. Could there be something in his pasture that he is eating that is toxic? I am not sure what toxic weeds you have in your area. Hm.. without full bloodwork that is going to be a hard one though. Good luck and I hope he is ok and it isnt something serious like a bone marrow problem. __________________ Has is occurred to you that there's a certain inefficiency in questioning me on things you've already made up your mind about? - Spock

05-14-2006, 11:26 PM
TrinTx88 Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 17	I don't know that it is anything in the pasture...We have 7 other horses that stay in the pasture with him. He might have gotten into something that none of the others have. Not that he has eaten them but are mushrooms toxic to horses? What are some things that happen with a bone marrow problem? Thanks for you help. __________________ \"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.\" Joshua 1:9

05-15-2006, 06:59 AM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,738	horse Vet, you really need a vet. The pale gums does not necessarily mean he's anemic. As the two posts above have stated, this is serious and it definitely could be a toxic plant. Several toxic plants have neurological side effects. Some of those same plants can be eaten in small amounts and not effect the whole herd...just the one who ate enough for his body mass to cause a problem. I'm sending lots of good thoughts your way and I really hope you can get him to a vet! __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

05-15-2006, 07:32 AM
NChase Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,125	In addition to all the good advice others have given above, I'd like to add that even though he is up to date on his worming, you might want to have the vet do a fecal egg count. There are some worms out there that are resistant to certain types of wormers. I had that problem last summer with some of my sheep: debilitating weakness and stark white gums and inner eyelids from severe anemia, because the wormer I was giving was not touching the infestation of resistant worms they had. When I switched wormers, the sheep got better. Don't know if the wormer resistance situation is exactly the same with horses, but with my sheep, repeated high-level doses of Ivermectin and Safeguard (per my vet's recommendation) did nothing. I had to switch to Cydectin (in horse wormers, that would be the equivalent of Quest) before I saw results. I don't know if that's your colt's problem, but a fecal egg count can tell you a lot. Good luck, --Nancy

05-15-2006, 08:38 AM
irishmusic Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 602	Look to the obvious first. Pale gums = anemia in most circumstances. Anemia in horses is usually caused by worms. You might try the following: 1. Increase iron and b vitamins - blackstrap molasses or a commercial product called biotin. 2. Worm again. 3. Is your horse drinking enough - add a little sugar to his water to induce him to stay hydrated. 4. Has your horse had a recent coggins test? __________________ It seems that some creatures have the capacity to fill spaces you never knew were empty. Captain Jean Luc Picard

05-15-2006, 08:41 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Just checking for an update. __________________

05-15-2006, 09:46 AM
TrinTx88 Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 17	Well, we have a call into our vet. He is out right now but he will be here around noon. GRRRR I want him here NOW!!! It doed us no good at this point to load him up and stress him out with a 40 mile drive to the vet clinic because we would just have to wait there anyways. When we talked to the vet on Friday he told us to give another wormer, get the B-12 and keep him hydrated. So we went to the feed store and got all of that. He is not dehydrated and he has a negative coggins test. I did notice that he has these little gnat/flea sized bugs on him. They are light brown with a darker brown head and have like 5 black stripes on their back. He has them near the base of his mane and behind his ears. They are the same color as Renegade so we didn't notice them until this morning. My Mom was scratching on him and one got under her fingernail. After we started looking at him more he also has little white eggs in his mane. It is not lice but looks similar. We are guessing it is the eggs from these bugs. Does anybody know what they are or how to get rid of them? __________________ \"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.\" Joshua 1:9

05-15-2006, 11:53 AM
MLovely Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 1,105	My TB had the same little white eggs on her last year (on her legs though), we usually use a razor blade to get rid of them, however I dont know if that would work in the mane. Either way, you dont want them to hatch. Keep us posted, my prayers are with you and your guy!! ~Marcie

05-15-2006, 12:00 PM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,956	Nothing much more that I can add that wasn't mentioned above. I hope that the vet's there and that he has some answers and cures. Update us when you can... __________________ Custom stall signs and pet portraits, Wood Burned by hand with your equine's (or pet's) image: www.WoodburnedPetPortraits.com Self Defense Supplies, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays: https://selfprotectionsupplies.com/

05-15-2006, 01:49 PM
irishmusic Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 602	Could the white spcs you are seeing be Bot Fly eggs? They certainly could make your horse very sick. You can shave them off with a razor, going in the direction of the haircoat. I think you can also get a bot fly knife, that strips bot fly eggs from your horses coat. Point these out to your vet , when he arrives. Here is a link for more info: http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg241.html __________________ It seems that some creatures have the capacity to fill spaces you never knew were empty. Captain Jean Luc Picard