In case it helps someone else - how my horse went from possible neurologic diagnosis to cellulitis:
At night check Tuesday he was struggling to stand in his stall ā seemingly ataxic in the rear and not lameness per se, but reluctance to walk and ropewalking when I pulled him out of the stall. In my mind, this was an emergent situation and I was concerned about what his condition would be in another 6 hours considering how badly he had deteriorated in the previous 6 hours (he was reluctant to come in from turn-out which is unlike him ā I was already thinking Lyme at that point and planning to call the vet the next day). There was the very earliest signs of swelling in his left front leg that in no way would suggest that it would render him unable to walk. (Looking back, I was finally able to get him on the trailer likely when the banamine dosed orally kicked in and the pain had subsided enough to move.)
When he got to New Bolton I pointed out the leg, said he is prone to cellulitis and that should be treated immediately so as to avoid blowing up (insert groan here). Presumably they believed the leg was secondary as well ā he did not have a fever and they started antibiotics the next day (following the initial neuro eval which had lead to the 3 possible diagnoses of 1) CVSM (Wobblers) 2) EDM or 3) EPM - considered least likely/unlikely. The leg blew up to āstovepipeā approx. 24 hours after he arrived at New Bolton. I never saw how bad it got and maybe thatās a good thing. I admit to being frustrated with their treatment protocol as my experience with cellutitis and treating this horse in particular involves at the very least steroids for the swelling and they remain reluctant to use any steroids. I was also surprised to hear they didnāt want him moving as I have always understood the complete opposite to be true. Itās been very hard to feel my hands are so tied now with his care.
Incidentally, I actually posted earlier this summer about accidentally blistering his legs with fungasol ā both hind legs were hot and we treated immediately with my vetās protocol of iv oxytetracycline, naquasone and followed with doxycycline. The swelling went right back down immediately and then we were just very careful while the blistering healed. I am incredibly careful with washing his hind legs now ā weāve had problems with washing with Microtek in the past too, so now just super gentle soap very gently worked for me once the blister mess healed. We had treated him successfully earlier this year using the same protocol when his right front leg started to swell up following a wound to the leg. A few weeks ago I was away for a long weekend and came home to a healed over cut on the left front leg ā I cleaned up as best I could but I now believe that is likely the origin of this whole ordeal.
So now we continue to wait and see⦠the current working theory is that once the celluitis resolves, what initially looked neurological will also resolve. I am kinda beating myself up that I took him there because I really believe if I had kept him home I would have at the very least started him on antibiotics earlier. Hindsight is 20/20 right?