Young horse down, help!

[Eboy]

Hi I am hoping for some of the excellent council that I have seen on here. I have a 3 year old bay gelding who, 2 days ago was down in the barnyard, looked like he had taken a kick from one of the older horses that would want to keep his attitude in check. We put him in a stall and noticed he had a good limp. Looked like he was favoring his right rear leg.

The next day we had put some salve on his leg, he seemed like he was getting better, we must have been mistaken for this morning he was down, unable to get up. The stall is 12×12 concrete with bedding

The other leg looked like it was sore but he wouldn’t get up, though he was eating, defecating and drinking water. (We had’nt seen him urinate, some thought is given to whether the kidneys are ok, no apparent swelling) He also looks tired and worn out.
We were wondering if he perhaps got some weed of some kind in his feed. If its a bug we are hoping to see some improvement in the morning.
Perhaps the 2 key symptoms are the apparent fatigue and the sore rear legs.
If he was a cow I would suspect black leg, but horses apparently can’t get black leg.

Any ideas would be most appreciated

Thanks
Robin

[sanhestar]

Robin,

sorry to be so brisk but a vet should have a look at your horse – soon!

[CharlyBonifaz]

If he was a cow I would suspect black leg, but horses apparently can’t get black leg.

They can 🙁
still you may want to check with your vet because horses can have phlegmons in their legs caused by other bacteria, that are well treatable.

[sanhestar]

well treatable but only if caught in time.

What happens during a phlegmon is that bacteria destroy the connective tissue between the cells therefore a untreated phlegmon will leave chronic swellings – often for the rest of the horses life.

They are also often accompanied by fever and general infection when the bacteria enter the bloodstream or lymph vessels – nothing to play with.

But could also be a undetected break, muscle, sinew or joint damage – diagnosis is important to determine the course of action.

[Eboy]

Thanks

This morning he has a lot more energy but is still down. So either damaged leg + lack of confidence and infection. I forgot to mention that I had given him 60 cc of penicillin. This appears to have greatly helped his energy levels.
I plan on giving him more and a vet’s on the way.

Will inform

cheers
Robin

[CharlyBonifaz]

This appears to have greatly helped his energy levels.

have you ever taken his temp? may be it cut his fever 🙂
good luck!

[Eboy]

Hi

I took his temperature yesterday he was a tad warm which helped to confirm the penecillin

Spent the morning building a sling and getting it under neath him, waiting for the vet to give some anti-inflammatory like bute and made a paste of black walnut, garlic, devils claw, and m.s.m..

He’s been down for 24 hours which from what I’m hearing is not a good sign.
Hopefully, should we lose him this will help somebody else out

Robin

[Eboy]

I forgot to add, if its black leg which is possible because there are puddles that he could have been drinking from then, I heard old timers would give sulfur. Not a good prognosis.

[Eboy]

Thanks all for your opines

Vet didn’t tell me anything we didn’t inform her of, but she was able to get $250. for a shot of bute and an unsolicited ‘exam’. Which confirmed that the bladder wasn’t full.

I could continue to whine, as I’m sore cause I think he’s done, (80%)

Robin

[tsigmon]

@Eboy 8206 wrote:

Hi

and made a paste of black walnut, garlic, devils claw, and m.

Robin

Black walnut is toxic to horses (in very small doses) and can/will cause them to founder

[Jean]

Robin – So sorry to read about your horse. Jean

[Eboy]

Thanks, I know that black walnut is the best for deworming , sheep, and us.

I will research this further.

I had heard that you should never use black walnut chips for bedding that this could cause problems.

Someone had warned me that black walnut was bad with sheep, but we know this to be poor advice as it with garlic does an excellent job deworming. There are differences with different aniimals, for ex. border collies will die if given ivomectrin, so your point is of great interest.

Cheers
Robin

[Eboy]

@Jean 8217 wrote:

Robin – So sorry to read about your horse. Jean

Thanks spent the day and night trying to help him out. Kind of wish he weighed 200 lbs instead of 1500 or so.

🙂

[Author]

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