Hi ALL! Helllp!
I posted another thread about a year ago regarding my horse with severe hives, which we ended up realizing they were just a symptom of ‘Leaky Gut.’ And not necessarily allergies per se. After exhausting all true veterinary help, I contacted an Equine Nutritionist (also a former vet) and she helped my horse immensely. We brought her back from absolute depletion to normal with the help of pre & probiotics, endocrine supplements, spirulina, camelina oil, minerals, whey protein, and a few other items.
Old thread, but not necessarily relevant anymore: Severe Hives
Unfortunately, we are back to the same issues again, but with some new troubling symptoms. I immediately put her on all of the temporary supplements regimen as last year when I saw the start of hives on her neck, and her same wild behavior. Unfortunately- this is not working now.
Would LOVE to hear any other ideas from you all. I will do, and try anything for her! Here is a list of what is going on past and present, and also a list of things I have already tried to do for her:
Old symptoms:
• Severe hives all over.
• Whole body depletion: coat, weight, muscle, etc.
• Very stressed out, wild & vacant eyed.
• Started in November/December ish (and this time again too)
New Symptoms (Uncertain if any are related, or if her whole system is just so out of whack that everything is falling apart.)
• Refused to continue eating her alfalfa, maybe a few small bites here and there
• I added in some orchard grass for another offering she seems to like it better, but still will only slowly graze and ends up turning away from her hay and stands outside in her run staring into the distance. She will however graze on grass when I hand walk her to some outside of the barn.
• She stopped wanting her supplements (that she has been on since last spring).
• I had the Nutritionist come out again and evaluate, she gave us a new list of supplements to try. Unfortunately, my horse will not eat any supplements fully- only a few bites.
• She switches moods from having a WILD/Vacant look in her eye, constantly yelling out when her horse neighbors move around their stalls, or leave their stalls and then goes to having a very dull/tired and has a painful look in her eye.
• Swollen milk duct with leaky fluid out of one side
• Itches UNDER her tail (not on top) and acts very restless before and after she tries to itch- with pinned ears.
Things I have already done/do:
• New supplements from nutritionist addressing stomach & immunity issues: she will not eat or finish them. I have tried new mixers, and have started with one supplement, then added one by one to try and eliminate what she doesn’t like. She just wont eat more than a few bites.
• Have purchased Organic hay (one alfalfa one orchard) and offered that to her- eats only a few bites and refuses the rest.
• Had the regular vet come out and do a blood test (all normal), fecal test (negative for worms/parasites), & awaiting results of the culture from her leaky milk duct fluid.
• Treated her for ulcers as directed by the vet (twice a day) with Sucralfate. Has not helped at all.
• Checked for vaginal infections (due to itchy bottom). Results show nothing in that regard.
• Had her teeth checked: they are Ok.
• Talked to a horse psychic: She mentioned treating her liver & kidneys with some supplements- but cannot get her to eat supplements so have to put a pin in that one
• Had a Reiki session: No big findings, or anything I can quite comprehend yet.
• Turned out every day for at least 2 hours in a giant arena.
• No riding right now- (due to hives and how she is feeling) obviously.
"Normal” happenings:
• Pooping several times a day- normal limits.
• Drinking plenty of water: normal amounts of pee spots throughout the day
• Rolling, running and strolling around the turn out with her friend (my other horse) for two hours every night.
Open to having the vet come out again to do any sort of testing/examination, but I seem to be failing in the area. I have to give them a list of things to do, vs. them being proactive and helping me investigate or giving me any suggestions.
I do want to try moving her to grass pasture life, and let her ‘be a horse’ for a while. My only hesitation is she gets VERY stressed with moving & trailering. I am worried that her condition will worsen if I put a big move on her right now, and separate her from my second horse. Additionally I’m concerned that she will worry further if she does not see me regularly every day like she does now (I’ve had her for 8 years). There is no grass boarding available near me- closest options would be about 1.5 hours away + which would limit me seeing her /checking on her regularly during the week. Although, open to it if it felt like the right thing to do that wouldn’t make her worse.
If you have actually read all of this so far, THANK YOU! I am willing to try/do anything for her, and welcome any new ideas or things I haven’t thought of.
