Sick

[jumpins_my_dream]

Hello,
I've just recently come into the ownership of a 17 year-old just retired school horse, My horse came to me healthy but unhappy. He has just gotten over this bout where he got sick (Symptons include: not drinking, wanting to lie down and stretching.) Got better then got sick again. If anyone knows anything about this I would apprecaite it if they could give me some info. We have taken him to the local vet clinic and they said it wasnt cancer and they think that it was colic but I wanted another opinion

[AidEE]

do u live in Oregon or Washington??? b/c if u do try taking him 2 OSU in Corvallis. They have a REALLY good vet school.

[jumpins_my_dream]

I live in Washington. We took him to Pilchuck Its supposed to be the best vet clinic out here and he's come back ok. But he did that last time and Im worried he'll get sick again. But Thank you. :)

[GoPonyGo]

You should possibly have him scoped for ulcers. We have a mare that on a weekly basis would show signs of colic, strretching, rolling looking at her stomach, pawing. She went in for an endoscope and was diagnosed with ulcers, she went on Gastro Guard for a few months and has been doing much better. Sometimes when she hauls to a show she will do it all over again when we get to the grounds. She gets a dose of Gastro Guard and some Banamine( Bute is very hard on ulcer stomachs). She also lives on Neighlox and gets fed small amounts of grain 4x a day.

[Lexi&Max]

im trying to think of what its called. *searches brain* potatomac horse fever? i think its called that. Anyways it can be deadly if it isnt caught and symptons DO include laying down, real lethargic. I would deffiently get a vet out soon!

[hunterjumperluv]

I can't say how to diagnose it without seeing the horse, but to treat the symptoms, is easier... It may not cure the problem, and I would still seek diagnosis, but if you can't get her to drink, (A) start giving him some bran mash in her food, and soak it to force the water into her, (B) Add applejuice to her water. We're having almost the same "symptoms" with a horse at my barn, but he is about 3 months out of gas colic surgery, he had a displaced colon.

[Lizard]

start feeding food like bran mashes, or alfalfa pellets, and soak them with lots of water. It could easily be colic, or it could also be colic caused by ulcers. Has the horse been scoped for ulcers? Does he live in a stall all the time?