Well they pulled two teeth today. I asked the vet if this was going to happen forever and he said, straight faced 'well no - he’ll run out of teeth eventually."
:sigh:
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No - when I asked about another culture he said there is no antibiotic on earth that will kill sinus infections. He said it might be an idea to test for Cushings which would explain his low immune response but I guess I’m just waiting for a few more of this front molars connected to the sinuses to rot out? 
Hmmm. It might be good to know if the infection is bacterial, fungal, or a combo of the two. That seems a bit odd to NOT do a culture. How would one know there is no effective treatment for an infection if the infectious agent is not identified?
As for assessing immune function, immunoglobulin levels, specifically IgG and the subclasses of IgG, may be more telling. Most horse people are familiar with the importance of IgG levels in foals. I don’t know if normal levels of the different immunoglobulin classes in horses have been studied/established.
In humans, IgG is important in fighting bacterial infections, particularly in the respiratory system. Sometimes persistent sinus infections are due to inadequate levels of IgG. (Speaking from experience here, PM if you have questions.) Again, I am not as familiar with immune studies done in adult horses.
Yes I was surprised by the reply - even if the action of flushing is what kills the infection, vs systemic antibiotics, surely you’d want to flush with the right thing? I’ll ask my vet about IgG. Thanks!
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OK so the vet says the flushing is with saline so it’s almost more mechanical than anything - you’re not flushing w anything antibiotic specific to a bacterium etc. And he’s never hard of checking immunoglobulin levels on an adult horse - we can see from his current state his immune is a bit compromised but he’d be dead if it was awful. And I guess it is what it is? Hm.
I do agree on the culture aspect, mine was cultured twice even though both infections were only a month apart, so logic said it was the same bug. The good thing is that the bug was a very simple penicillin treated one, so the antibiotics didnt cost a million dollars.
I am using a product called ‘Itz Magic’ and I believe its the only reason there hasnt been another flare up (yet) im not sure if you can get it in the US or if there is an equivalent, I highly recommend it, but you need to start it before the infection really sets in.
I wish you luck, I sincerely hope no more of his teeth are an issue and he makes a full and uneventful recovery. FWIW I read nearly every scientific study done on sinus issues and sinusitis has a good prognosis once the teeth are removed. There are a fair few sinus issues that have a shocking prognosis, so you and I are both lucky.
Well I’m glad to hear that tooth removal has a good prognosis for his sinuses! I haven’t seen Itz Magic before but I’ll take a look. Thanks for the wishes 
http://amaresh09.wixsite.com/itzmagic
Just to be clear I have nothing to do with the company or associated products. Interestingly when I thought my horse was relapsing again and had the vet out (Euth was the only option at that point) he said that there was a final thing to try, it turned out to be these chemicals, he was very surprised to hear there was a commercial product available, and said to keep using it. My horse went from appearing to have symptoms to perfectly symptom free. He is finishing the course in another couple of days, so be interesting to see what happens then.
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What’s in it? All I can see is some sort of caffeine derivatives?
Yes, I wouldn’t really expect a DVM to know about immunoglobulin deficiencies in horses OR humans.
Is your horse still in hospital, or are you doing the lavage treatments at home? You might want to check out Alkalol, a rinse for human use:
Indications
Alkalol is used as a nasal wash and mucus solvent to irrigate, cleanse, and freshen the nasal passages. Alkalol also provides relief from a wide variety of throat and mouth complications, including sore and dry throats, laryngitis, tonsillitis, and throat irritation caused by allergies, colds, and post-nasal drip.
Ingredients
Purified Water (USP); Menthol; Eucalyptol; Thymol; Camphor; Benzoin; Oils of Wintergreen, Spearmint, Pine, and Cinnamon; Potassium Alum; Potassium Chlorate; Sodium Bicarbonate; Sodium Chloride; Alcohol (2/100 of 1%); Caramel Color
Directions
Alkalol is intended for use at variable strengths depending on personal preference and thickness of mucus. We recommend starting with a mild dose and adjusting according to preference. Mild: Add one teaspoon of Alkalol to the Alkalol Nasal Wash Cup, filling it approximately 20% and the balance with saline or warm water.Medium: Add two teaspoons of Alkalol to the Alkalol Nasal Wash Cup, filling it approximately 40% and the balance with saline or warm water.Strong: Add three teaspoons of Alkalol to the Alkalol Nasal Wash Cup, filling it approximately 60% and the balance with saline or warm water.Extra Strong: Add four teaspoons of Alkalol to the Alkalol Nasal Wash Cup, filling it approximately 80% and the balance with saline or warm water. ALKALOL is formulated to be refreshingly strong. Upon initial use, you may experience an invigorating sensation lasting only a few seconds. This sensation is part of the process that allows ALKALOL to work.
I think its Potassium something and ammonium chloride?
Maybe its potassium chloride and ammonium something. I will have a look on the bottle when I get home!
I think the caffiene is just the perky aspect, it will swab though (though if you are using this I doubt you are competing!)
He’s at a rehab facility which is about 2 hours away for the next 2 weeks. I’ll ask about Alkalol - thanks!
Kiwichick, hm… having looked at that website I am none the wiser on how this works! Some things just work, it’s true 
Time to discuss w my vet.
Yeah I dont know either.
I do know that I had luck with it in the past so tracked some down.
I started him on it before any of the surgery, but he had way too much infection back then for anything to work. After the bone flap surgery his symptoms started to return and I knew I was going to have to Euth at this point.
I started this stuff again as there was nothing to lose, and about 5 days later when the vet came out he thought I was being overly dramatic as the horse was basically symptom free, and remains as such.
When I told the vet what I was using, he said the chemicals that were in it would work, and too keep giving it. He said its not usually an equine ‘go too’ more cattle, and wasnt even aware there was an equine product that carried this particular combination.
Its this
Product Name: ]ITZ Magic Oral Solution
Active Constituent/s: caffeine, 20g/L
]potassium iodide, 20g/L ammonium chloride
Applicant Name:]ITZ Magic Ltd
How is your horse going Xhanoria
Getting better every day according to the rehab facility! He’s getting rechecked next Tues and might be able to come back home the following weekend
oh good. Fingers xd
Mine came off its magic 3 days ago and had his angry pants on yesterday sheesh.
Im away on holiday for a week so hopefully when I get back he has got over himself lol
That sounds promising!
Yes I expect I’ll pay a dear price for leaving His Royal Decrepitude at the rehab for 2 weeks, but TBH it’s been nice not to worry as I know he’s being taken care of. I might leave him there an extra week just to be safe!
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Well just in case others go down this road with their horse, here’s another update.
Two weeks of rehab. They called me halfway thru, saying he was lame on LH. Could be an abscess. Can they get the vet out? Yes. Vet goes out, treats as abscess.
I go fetch him and he’s in WORSE shape than when I went up there.
- He’s on 2g bute, antibiotics, gastrogard and pergolide (the latter two given by the rehab place - their idea vs vets)
- He’s very lame - and I DON’T think it’s an abscess
- He has awful thrush in all 4 feet (not causing lameness)
- He still has a snotty nose!
- Appetite is awful - has he LOST weight?
- Very stocked up on all 4 legs
I was really upset, got 2g IV bute in him and loaded him to come home. Spent the next 2 weeks curing the thrush, handwalking, applying standing wraps, 2x a day meds. Told my vet all this. Vet comes out and diagnoses a very much blown stifle (so. not. an. abscess) and he’s annoyed that in 3 vet teaching hospital visits, one specifically for lameness, and with a rehab center’s daily expertise, nobody noticed this.
Had rads done yesterday, awaiting vet’s full dx. I’m down another $3k, and my horse is in the worst shape of his life. I could spit. :mad:
So yeah - sinus infections: not super easy to fix… :no:
