My niece’s horse is at the vet hospital right now and everyone is stumped. Wondering if the brilliant COTH hive mind has any ideas.
This is a 3-year old mare otherwise healthy. Vaccinated a month ago for West Nile and 5-way. Moved to a new facility across the state to Western Wisconsin the following week. She’s been there for three weeks and was healthy/happy. Out in big pasture with creek through it and other horses, who are all healthy.
Four days ago presented with hives and fever. Banamine, cold-hosing brought down fever and reduced hives. The next morning fever jumped to 104 and hives still present. Vet came out and tested for anaplasmosis, erlichia,(both came back negative) and put on IV tetracycline. Fever reduced but when it was high, mare was wobbly and had water coming out her nose when she drank.
Next morning fever gone, felt better and everything seemed good. In the afternoon fever jumped back to 105 so she was hauled to the emergency vet. Neuro exam was fine, she was put on different antibiotics (can’t remember which kind), anti-inflammatories. They scoped her and did an ultrasound and all good.
Her fever has been decreasing and no more wobbling/neuro signs. She’s eating and drinking but they kept noticing her nose was wet periodically. This morning they took her out to graze and she would cough, then sneeze, then grass came out her nose. Rescoped. I had them check guttoral pouches, esophogus, swallow reflex, and for inflammation. All clear but a tiny bit of mucus in one pouch. Oral exam clear.
Tomorrow we test for EPM… but is there ANYTHING you guys can think of that would cause this? Her WBC was slightly elevated but everything else has come back normal. She’s alert, happy, eating and drinking (though grass coming out nose but not hay/grain) My poor niece. This is her very first week away from home at college and she’s just a wreck, as you can imagine. If anyone has experience with something similar, or ideas please jump in. Thank you!
