Bought a sick horse

[findeight]

Try asking the race track folks, ask around, check at the bigger tack stores. If there’s racing, there’s sensibly priced lay up facilities that can also handle a simple quarantine without having to price care to cover a fully staffed on site clinic with surgical suite. They don’t advertise though.

Doesn’t sound like he’s “been sick for a very long time” or somebody would have picked up on that and he’d look like it…he may have been an asymptomatic carrier for a long time though.

Might pay to get at least a consult with another vet with more of a background in current protocols, not every vet can be an up to date expert on everything in today’s rapidly evolving veterinary environment. There may be more you can do.

[RedmondDressage]

[QUOTE=Sick;8817734]
Does anyone know of any quarantine places in the Los Angeles/Simi Valley/Moorpark/Santa Clarita/Thousand Oaks etc. areas? I’ve called everything I can think of.

It looks like he’ll be ready to leave in a couple of days. Poor guy, he’s been sick a very long time, much of what he had in the pouches was dried and firm, very hard for the vet to get out. She said he needs about a month of quarantine to make sure he’s not contagious. Since he doesn’t need daily care the clinic could use his spot for other horses.

Thanks![/QUOTE]

Have you checked out any Auction Horse groups? I know they can be hit or miss in terms of sketchiness in different areas but in my area there’s a good network of people and a number who can offer quarantine services. Maybe there’s something similar down there?

And I apologize for the harsh words previously, it wasn’t clear that it was possible he was a permanent carrier. You’re doing right by him from the sounds of it. I hope he recovers and turns into a great horse for you.

[findeight]

Excellent idea, check with the auction operators, they aren’t all vile kill buyer fronts and they have contacts that could help you locate a place that can handle his special needs…maybe have more experience in dealing with them then your average general practice vet.

Do the 2 year colleges out there still offer pre vet type courses? Know there’s one in the valley that used to and another over near Cal Poly Pomona, a state University with an Arabian breeding program that used to do a lot of research. Might give them a call, they might have some ideas and names you can check with.

[Sick]

[QUOTE=findeight;8817937]
Excellent idea, check with the auction operators, they aren’t all vile kill buyer fronts and they have contacts that could help you locate a place that can handle his special needs…maybe have more experience in dealing with them then your average general practice vet.

Do the 2 year colleges out there still offer pre vet type courses? Know there’s one in the valley that used to and another over near Cal Poly Pomona, a state University with an Arabian breeding program that used to do a lot of research. Might give them a call, they might have some ideas and names you can check with.[/QUOTE]

That’s an excellent idea. Surprisingly, I found a barn with a quarantine stall. He should be able to leave the vet in a couple of days.

Word has gotten out, however, and I’ve already received a couple of nasty emails telling me not to bring my horse to the area, ever, because Strangles can live in the soil for 10 years. Apparently there are people who still believe that.

He was two hours at the barn we brought him to when I bought him, none of the other horses have gotten sick at all.

If the social pressure is too great I’d have to move him further away. Horse people can be pretty aggressive when protecting their own. otho, I don’t know who would take a horse that was a former Strangles carrier. Had to add the “former” since he’s cleared now.

I’m just taking this day by day. Can’t look too far into the future.

[Ghazzu]

Good on you. Glad to see things are looking p somewhat.
Don’t let the ignoranti get you down!

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=Sick;8810754]
They’ve cleaned him out twice, but it comes back completely each time. They’re doing it again tomorrow. They say they just have to keep doing this until it come clean, if it ever does. I don’t know what to do. It’s possible that he’s been a carrier for so long that his body can’t get rid of it.

Personally, I think the horse was healthy and the ride stressed him out. I did see and ride him the day before he left.[/QUOTE]

There is a procedure where they clean guttural pouches out, then pack them with a gelatin + antibiotic mixture. It stays in place and kills the infection better than just lavaging.

Ask about it at the nearest vet school if your vet is not familiar with the technique.

It talks about it here under Treatment & Aftercare

www.acvim.org/Portals/0/PDF/Animal%20Owner%20Fact%20Sheets/LAIM/Strangles%20Formatted.pdf

[shezabrazenmare]

I hope none of my horses ever get strangles, but I’ve learned a lot from this thread.

I hope the OP’s horse recovers and turns out to be worth all the cost.