Hi,
Pretty little, chubby gray mare (now almost white) about 25, belonging to people down the road, was seen walking (Tuesday morning) with a stiffened, side to side motion with her head down as though grazing but she was not.

Around 5 PM she was seen down and is still that way now, about 9AM. She attempted to get up several times through the night without success. When I saw her last night she would try to stand but wasn't thrashing or struggling with anxiety. Her breathing is labored. Her temp was 102 degrees last night, resp rate OK and vet said heart rhythms were OK. She was very quiet (not normal according to owner who says she is a little ball of fire) and passive. Gums and eyes looked good. Owner thought she was paralyzed in hind quarter but she did respond to stimuli and could move the back legs. (I think down horses assume a straight legged posture with the hind legs when down for a long time and in pain which looked to them as though paralyzed......?) Other than her breathing being labored the only outward symptom I could see was a clenching, grinding of the teeth......reaction to pain? Not constant. She felt cold to the touch when I got there (had forgotten my thermometer) but temp was 102 one hour later when vet came. I covered her with blankets and piled straw all around her and she started to feel warm to the touch within about 2 hours.

She hasn't been vaccinated for years. Vet drew blood sample but has yet to report. Vet injected Banamine (Flunixin meglumine) for pain and inflammation of musculoskeletal disorders and something else that owner couldn't remember (sorry). The mare lives in a nice pasture with a turn-out shed. Not stabled at night. Weather has turned cold quickly last few nights. Her hay has not changed, looked and smelled fine, and to the best of my knowledge her grain is the same as always. There was a fresh pile of manure near her that appears to have been passed while she was down which appears normal. Owner says mare cantankerous, obstinate and never been sick or lame all these years. (Do I remember something about a cold snap.....migration/movement of worms.....causing these kind of problems?? Been so long since I was "horsey".)

Gave her Arn 30C, one every two hours....total of 4 times. I thought she would die overnight or the owner would have her put to sleep but she is still lying there. Her breathing was described as more labored.

The first thing considered nown in our area is West Nile or regular encephalomyelitis. The vet informed owners that should the mare die or be put down he would be required to take a brain tissue sample. She wasn't acting like a drunk, staggering, etc. when up.

Any suggestions would be appreciated......thank you.

PS...forgot to mention that owner said vet had great difficulty drawing a blood sample and suggested it could be due to an aneurysm.



[This message has been edited by gpm (edited 11 October 2000).]

Update on horse: GPM is having computer problems. She wants to add that Vet thinks this could possibly be Botulism. He bases this on th fact that the horse's tongue is hanging out of it's mouth.

gpm,

I'm sure GM will know what to do.
I just wanted to let you know I'll be thinking of you guys.

Warmly,
onebabykitty

ist collapse remedie is camphor 30, and low temperature confirms it, its not arnika, it could be a poisoning, but i doubt it. If its nux v, then the belly is swollen.Ist rem now camphor.

My prayers for recovery are with you. Mselle

GM,
Thanks for answering my plea. I think I didn't state the situation clearly because I was having such difficulty with this darn internet server and was really rushing around. I gave the mare Arnica because I figured there had to be some trauma for her to end up on the ground in agony. Her temp was 102, not terribly high since 100.5 is normal. I actually thought of Camphor because it was in my mind from other recommendations you have made and had it with me. But I was of the impression an elevated temp and other vitals seeming OK....that it would be best to go with the Arn.

It's so nice of you to take the time to help. I feel so badly because no one seems to be attending the mare. She's just lying there alone in the field in pain. I had to find water to dampen her mouth, take the blankets to cover her and then go back to take them off today. No one is even staying with her. I did for as long as I could today and last night but haven't the time to stay through the night again. I suggested they have her put to sleep and hope they do so soon. Horses can't stay down very long without everything giving out. So far they are refusing to have her euthanized. I'm sorry to have taken your time for this and will return tonight and do as you suggest. Today, her breath was like fermented grass, area around lips quivering. Her mouth is completely dried out and her tongue is hanging out. Her only response was when I rubbed her belly (hard to tell if bloated because they always look swollen when down) and she pulled her head and shoulders up a bit. She had another bowl movement while lying there and it looked quite normal. Horses have a hard time urinating when down and I saw no evidence that she had. Her breathing was very hard, deep and loud. GM I do so appreciate your help and wish the people who "own" her would do as much as you have for the mare. The vet went there two times today to tell the owners they could ship her to the University Vet School and begin treatment for botulism (which is what he thinks is the problem) that would run upwards of $7000 plus the transportation costs for an ambulance. Or he can begin treatment with IV use of DMSO which will run about $700. They have refused both and he tried to convince them to put her down. They just won't do anything.

onebabykitty and Mselle,
Thanks very much for your nice thoughts. I will tell the mare someone cared for her and sent their good wishes. I feel at a loss because I know someone should be with her all the time and since she isn't here on my farm, I just can't spend as much time with her as she should have. Just can't understand them sitting in the house while she is out there in the field. They had a hole dug right next to where she's lying but won't have her put down. I was so upset when I saw the hole. If a miracle did happen and she stood up, she would fall in it. They are going to let her just lie there and die. If I had anything to me, I'd go shoot her. It is nice to hear from good people because I'm not feeling too good about people right now.......thank you both.

gpm,

I am so very, very sorry for you and the little mare........wish I could be there to stay with her. I know how hard this must be for you.
I can't believe those people, how horrible! I'll send extra loving thoughts to the little chubby, gray mare and of course, to you.

Warm Hugs to you both,
onebabykitty

If it smells of fermentation, its nux vomica, give her one dose of 200, its risky but has to be done.

GM,
Thank you, kind man, for all your help in this. I went down to give the Camphor last night (after your post but before the last one) and she had, thankfully, just died. Don't mean to imply I wanted her to die but that I didn't want her suffering any longer. I am sure you are right and had I given the Nux immediately perhaps it would have helped. Thank you, GM.

remeber this, if it smells apples,of mouth, its agaricus, if fermented, nux v.if metallic, berb, merc-i-f, or mez.