[Not-So] Sick Weanling - Update P.5: SHE'S HERE!!

[ElementFarm]

just wanted to send you huge Jingles!!

Many years ago I had a youngster in AZ that presented very differently from your filly, but did ultimately get put down. I too was not able to be present as I was stationed/deployed overseas. It’s hard when you can’t be there personally, but you seem to have fabulous contacts in the community, so in that regard you’re very lucky.

In 2016 I had a foal born prematurely and she spent weeks at the clinic, with various things popping up, which were treated, only to have something else pop up. However, after all that heartache, she’s now a very healthy and precocious 2yo. Fillies are fighters, and I’m so glad yours seems to be doing better. I think you’re doing everything you can under the circumstances. Here’s a huge hug to you! (and just try to ignore all the rude and snarky people)

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

Hey judgey judys…take a hike. You’re showing true colors and looking super bad doing it. Glass houses, and all that, you know.

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

@ElementFarm

just wanted to send you huge Jingles!!

Many years ago I had a youngster in AZ that presented very differently from your filly, but did ultimately get put down. I too was not able to be present as I was stationed/deployed overseas. It’s hard when you can’t be there personally, but you seem to have fabulous contacts in the community, so in that regard you’re very lucky.

In 2016 I had a foal born prematurely and she spent weeks at the clinic, with various things popping up, which were treated, only to have something else pop up. However, after all that heartache, she’s now a very healthy and precocious 2yo. Fillies are fighters, and I’m so glad yours seems to be doing better. I think you’re doing everything you can under the circumstances. Here’s a huge hug to you! (and just try to ignore all the rude and snarky people)

Second.

[Montanas_Girl]

Thanks, guys! Sydney had another good day. I’m starting to feel like I might be able to stop constantly holding my breath at this point. I don’t think I’ll be able to fully relax until she gets here, though, in about six weeks.

[beowulf]

Whooosh - day late and a dollar short but glad it looks like filly is improving. I’m not going to lie the first thing I thought was anaplasmosis - it comes out of nowhere and hits incredibly hard… though off of the top of my head I haven’t heard of many horses dying from it - but for a foal, might be very different. One of my TBs contracted it and it was awful.

BTDT with the controlling fever and not shipping a horse; I got a lot of flack for it (thankfully, not on COTH - you ladies all understood the rock and hard place I was in)… although the one thing that really troubled me was seeing that the fever persisted despite some seriously heavy hitting antibiotics (Excede?)

A shame you haven’t heard anything about necropsy… but it is out of your control. Poor colt - such a heartbreaking outcome :no:

Out of the box thinking time - it’s pretty likely the two foals being sick are due to related causes, but what if they are not? The only other times I have had out of control fever persist and very little improvement via antibiotics has been when there was a fracture, major abscess, or in one case I hope to never experience again, lipoma. It would not be out of the realm of possibility; colt died unexpectedly, filly extremely stressed and hurts herself somehow. It’s an out of the box, left stage idea – but I do think most of the time Occam’s Razor is law. Including with horses.

[Simkie]

@Ghazzu

Not a crappy suggestion. I was pondering some sort of internal abscess, but would expect to see some aberrations in CBC/fibrinogen with that.
If the fever weren’t apparently resolving, I might be inclined to do some imaging, including ultrasounding of the abdomen.

IIRC, the OP did say the fibrinogen was high early in the thread

[Montanas_Girl]

@beowulf

Out of the box thinking time - it’s pretty likely the two foals being sick are due to related causes, but what if they are not? [snip] It would not be out of the realm of possibility; colt died unexpectedly, filly extremely stressed and hurts herself somehow.

That thought has crossed my mind, as well. It’s entirely possible that she stressed herself out over the loss of her friend. No signs of injury/lameness, though, which surely would have surfaced at this point. At this point, the stress theory doesn’t seem completely “out of the box” at all.

Today was another good day for my girl. That’s now four days fever free! I’m not calling the “all clear” just yet, but things are looking up.

[keysfins]

@shayaalliard

You might try posting the case on the facebook group “horse vet corner”- only vets answer posts and it’s a good way to brainstorm ideas.

Not sure why there is dislike for this FB group. ONLY vets are permitted to reply to posts/questions/cases. I find the group educational, and there are some vets there who are more involved than others. I have seen some cases there that are simple, and others that are extreme, severe, or complex.

There is a huuuge drawback in trying to diagnose and recommend a treatment plan when limited info is presented, such as the owner’s narrative of what is going on with their animal. Particularly when using the written word in posts. The vets encourage posting diagnostic imaging, test results, and other specifics. There are always disclaimers about the ethical limitations of diagnosing-by-FB; they will not advise on dosing of medications, for example.

It is just a tool, to get some other insights to a presenting problem. Nothing will replace a hands-on exam and evaluation.

Except maybe the input of our COTH vets here, like @Ghazzu and others—-they really rock for our COTHers.

That said, I hope the weaning is improving, and there is a diagnosis!

[keysfins]

@JB

If you spend just a little time there you will see some of the scariest suggestions and recommendations coming from some of these “vet” :eek: :no: I trust COTH WAY more than that group.

Not sure why there is dislike for this FB group. ONLY vets are permitted to reply to posts/questions/cases. I find the group educational, and there are some vets there who are more involved than others. I have seen some cases there that are simple, and others that are extreme, severe, or complex.

There is a huuuge drawback in trying to diagnose and recommend a treatment plan when limited info is presented, such as the owner’s narrative of what is going on with their animal. Particularly when using the written word in posts. The vets encourage posting diagnostic imaging, test results, and other specifics. There are always disclaimers about the ethical limitations of diagnosing-by-FB; they will not advise on dosing of medications, for example.

It is just a tool, to get some other insights to a presenting problem. Nothing will replace a hands-on exam and evaluation.

Except maybe the input of our COTH vets here, like Ghazzu and others—-they really rock for our COTHers.

That said, I hope the weanling is improving, and there is a diagnosis! OP, I am sure you will be relieved when you get your filly home. Pix would be lovely!!

[JB]

@keysfins

Not sure why there is dislike for this FB group. ONLY vets are permitted to reply to posts/questions/cases. I find the group educational, and there are some vets there who are more involved than others. I have seen some cases there that are simple, and others that are extreme, severe, or complex.

When vets recommend double-dosing Quest, giving ivermectin then in a week give Quest (or vice-versa), give IM banamine injections, give doses for penicillin without asking which formulation the OP has on hand, and other things that are either outright incorrect, or really malpractice, it’s a scary place. Does that often happen? Not that I’d seen before I left. But often enough that I couldn’t take it. I also think it’s a place where too many people go instead of calling their actual vet. I think it gives a false sense of security because “only vets are answering”. I just think it’s a dangerous group in general, not in its entirety. JMHO, and YMMV

[JB]

And I guess to be fair, it’s been a while since I’ve been there, so maybe the quality of the vets on hand has improved

[keysfins]

@JB

When vets recommend double-dosing Quest, giving ivermectin then in a week give Quest (or vice-versa), give IM banamine injections, give doses for penicillin without asking which formulation the OP has on hand, and other things that are either outright incorrect, or really malpractice, it’s a scary place. Does that often happen? Not that I’d seen before I left. But often enough that I couldn’t take it. I also think it’s a place where too many people go instead of calling their actual vet. I think it gives a false sense of security because “only vets are answering”. I just think it’s a dangerous group in general, not in its entirety. JMHO, and YMMV

I read it to expand my “equine healthcare horizons”. I am fortunate to have an excellent practice with top vets, and they would certainly be my first call in a time of need. But some of the cases in that FB group are interesting, and involve things I have never seen or experienced. There are also vets from different parts of the world, and their input is interesting. I would not follow ANY online advice for the animals in my care without having a discussion with my OWN vets. I think that is just common sense.

OP, jingles for Sydney continue!!

[hoopoe]

Who is the filly doing?

[Montanas_Girl]

Thanks for asking, @hoopoe! She’s continuing to do well. I’m starting to think that we’re out of the woods on this. Still no results on the lab results from the feed; I imagine that may still take a few days. Either way, she’s on a completely new product now, to be on the safe side.

[Canterwell]

Glad your weanling is doing better. Keep us posted!

[skydy]

How is your weaner? Home and well I hope. Was the illness ever diagnosed or does it remain a mystery?

There is a poster on the Breeding forum asking for information from people with “custom foal” experience and I thought of you.

[Montanas_Girl]

Thanks for asking! She’s doing great; never displayed any symptoms or missed a meal. The cause of the fever remains a mystery - the feed tested clean. So, we’ll never know. She’s due to ship in a couple weeks, and I can’t wait to finally get my hands on her.

[Where_sMyWhite]

MG, great news!!

You do realize she didn’t get there until there are photos, don’t you???

Will be looking forward to the next update.

[Montanas_Girl]

@Where'sMyWhite

You do realize she didn’t get there until there are photos, don’t you???

Haha. Of course!

[skydy]

Though it’s unfortunate that it remains a medical mystery, it’s great news that all is well !