One other thing: has your vet aspirated some of the fluid for analysis? That could give some clues about what is going on (lymph blockage, infection, etc).
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7910381]
One other thing: has your vet aspirated some of the fluid for analysis? That could give some clues about what is going on (lymph blockage, infection, etc).[/QUOTE]
Haven’t done that yet. I figure we will wait on the Chem panel and then go from there. Certainly an idea worth thinking about.
I hope the issue resolves for you. Honestly, 2 days of ventral edema with no other outward symptoms wouldn’t have me super concerned just yet. I hope it just goes away. 
I also have seen a ventral edema resolve on its own. Something that helped me was to photograph it with my phone every day, so it was easy to monitor changes in appearance.
[QUOTE=SoShootMe;7910316]
Wow, eerily similar. I hope this is the case. If you don’t mind, what area are you from?[/QUOTE]
Northeastern Vermont.
Any weeds in the hay e.g., hoary alyssum?
[QUOTE=AKB;7910745]
Any weeds in the hay e.g., hoary alyssum?[/QUOTE]
Not that I am aware of. She’s pastured with three other horses and hasn’t been off the property since August 31.
Chem panel might not be in till tomorrow. And the salix I ordered cannot be delivered because I am in Canada and they require a US vet to prescribe it 
[QUOTE=SoShootMe;7911564]
Not that I am aware of. She’s pastured with three other horses and hasn’t been off the property since August 31.
Chem panel might not be in till tomorrow. And the salix I ordered cannot be delivered because I am in Canada and they require a US vet to prescribe it :([/QUOTE]
Where are you located in Canada? My vet’s office has one vet that still has their US licence…maybe you can find a clinic nearby that can do it for you?
Chem panel came back unremarkable. All results normal.
My vet isn’t as optimistic as you guys though. He still figures heart failure. The visible jugular pulse and murmur are hard to ignore.
Oops, missed the fact that her CK is high. So could indicate an enlarged heart…
Hoping for the best. Is the edema better or worse?
It’s the same…
[QUOTE=SoShootMe;7913999]
Chem panel came back unremarkable. All results normal.
My vet isn’t as optimistic as you guys though. He still figures heart failure. The visible jugular pulse and murmur are hard to ignore.[/QUOTE]
I hope it isn’t for, for you and your mare’s sake, but the signs were similar on a 5 year old large pony mare I lost six years ago. CHF due to myocarditis. Full necropsy done without any definitive answers but vets theorized that she had a virus at one point (she and her foal had a non productive cough for a few days, NO big deal) and that it travelled to her heart and in their words, “destroyed” it. I hope that you have a better outcome.
The ventral edema, the murmur and the elevated CK would all indicate a heart problem, that would be number one on my differential list. If you have the funds, abilities and the mare isn’t in her last days I would be on a trailer to a referral clinic. I will say I am nervous about what you may find there.
[QUOTE=Dune;7914962]
I hope it isn’t for, for you and your mare’s sake, but the signs were similar on a 5 year old large pony mare I lost six years ago. CHF due to myocarditis. Full necropsy done without any definitive answers but vets theorized that she had a virus at one point (she and her foal had a non productive cough for a few days, NO big deal) and that it travelled to her heart and in their words, “destroyed” it. I hope that you have a better outcome.[/QUOTE]
That is what our vets said, our horse had leptospirosis, that is what caused his heart problems.
I expect the OP’s vet has checked for all that.
Our horse went downhill so fast, there was no question what the diagnosis was.
The OP’s horse seems stable, not sick, so maybe it is not that.
I hope, if it is something that can be treated, they find it soon.
She continues to be stable. Still eating and drinking. Edema is still there.
I am really struggling with whether or not to haul her to the UofM for ultrasound. It would be a 7 hour haul. I talked to my vet and he is concerned about the stress that would be put on her.
I wish it was closer. I wouldn’t think twice about bringing her. But 7 hours is a long ride…
I lie awake in bed at night thinking about this. I just don’t know what to do.
Any past history of Strangles?
I think as far as hauling her to the university… what is it they could find that would be treatable? If all they can do for you is to confirm she’s in heart failure, that seems to me a poor bargain, robbing her of her energy reserves and causing her stress and discomfort. If there’s some test they can do there that might show a treatable condition, that makes the trip more worthwhile. Make sure you fully understand what the treatment would be, what it would cost, what it buys for her, and how much stress it would be. There is no point in starting down a path unless it leads to your destination.
Remember that you are proposing not just one seven-hour haul, but two in relatively close succession.
That your vet is not encouraging about the trip suggests to me that he does not think it will help your mare.
Myself, I would be inclined to explore alternate possibilities at home, but otherwise, just keep her as comfortable as you can, and love her and enjoy her. Often, that maximizes both quality and quantity of remaining life.
I wish you well.
[QUOTE=poltroon;7919697]
I think as far as hauling her to the university… what is it they could find that would be treatable? If all they can do for you is to confirm she’s in heart failure, that seems to me a poor bargain, robbing her of her energy reserves and causing her stress and discomfort. If there’s some test they can do there that might show a treatable condition, that makes the trip more worthwhile. Make sure you fully understand what the treatment would be, what it would cost, what it buys for her, and how much stress it would be. There is no point in starting down a path unless it leads to your destination.
Remember that you are proposing not just one seven-hour haul, but two in relatively close succession.
That your vet is not encouraging about the trip suggests to me that he does not think it will help your mare.
Myself, I would be inclined to explore alternate possibilities at home, but otherwise, just keep her as comfortable as you can, and love her and enjoy her. Often, that maximizes both quality and quantity of remaining life.
I wish you well.[/QUOTE]
Wow, thank you. We have no reason to doubt it is her heart that is simply failing on us. The university would just give me answers as to how much damage there is, and maybe a timeline of how long she has. I want to know those answers. But I also don’t want to disturb her life for something that won’t cure her. Part of me feels like I should be doing everything I can for her, but I think I have to realize there’s nothing that I can do.
I would be hard-pressed to haul a horse for 7 hours unless you thought the outcome would change. If it was me, I would try to do a distance consultation with an internal medicine specialist, who can work with your vet to rule in or out some of the likely differentials.
Failing that, I would look for a closer internal medicine specialist. You can search for one here (look for LAIM). http://www.acvim.org/AnimalOwners/FindaSpecialist.aspx
