Weener situation...

[pines4equines]

And how I save myself $175 with the vet.

So my horse was acting very weird the past day or two. He would paw, look at his sides. He was indicating very mild colic signs but then again not really. This horse is a cribber and can have some gas. He was slow to finish his food. He was arching his neck and then his front legs would shake like he was going to fall over. I kept an eagle on him because the signs tended to subside once he was in his stall.

He's an older horse so I thought, geeze, maybe it's his time?!?!

(Before you all jump on the band wagon and attack. I'm a horse person 40 years and have owned horses 30 years. I know a colic case...this was symptomatic but then it wasn't...)

Well, last night I went out to the barn and he was worse. More pawing, more looking at his sides, more standing with his neck arched and his front legs shaking. When I brought him in to his stall, I figure now I've got to call the vet. Again, slow eating and then after he finished the front legs were shaking and he was arching his neck, looking at his sides, pawing.

Then while I'm standing there, he looks at his side and lifts his left hind leg. Then does this repeatedly along with looking at his side all the while front legs shaking.

Then I decide before I call the vet, let me bring him out in the aisle and give him a more thorough once over. Symptoms stopped when I approached him. Symptoms stopped when food was put in front of him but he was eating slower. Just plain weird...

It turns out he had a small tick bite right inside his sheath. Apparently, it was itchy as all get out and that is why all these weird symptoms and gyrations. His sheath, that he couldn't reach, itched like hell. It was just on the inside in the folds of skin, not way up in there. Apparently the front legs shaking moved some muscles and helped itch himself a wee bit.

His sheath had been cleaned two weeks ago during a routine floating while he was drugged. It was cleaned with plain water. The sheath wasn't terribly dirty. I recleaned it last night with some mild soap and then "scrubbed" for several minutes it in the exact spot where it was itchy with a soft cloth. Yes, hand in there scrubbing away. Horse was drooling. And then I thoroughly rinsed with water.

You could see the look of relief on this horse's face after I did this. Then, after I was done, I put him back in his stall. Happy as a clam, he ate like a monster. However, after that, every time I walked by his stall, he followed me with his head and nickered loudly at me...

It did make me feel...well, a little cheap.

Horses oi-vay! ;)

[deltawave]

Hahahahahahaaa! That was great. Hope the boy doesn't start stalking you. :p AND glad he's feeling better.

[pines4equines]

Or texting me perverted messages...

[normandy_shores]

LOL! The title caught my eye, I admit!

Poor fella!

[JetsBuddy]

Sounds like you are his new BFF!

[LSM1212]

:lol:

Now he just might start doing those things when he feels the "need". :D

That was a great story!

[Auventera Two]

It turns out he had a small tick bite right inside his sheath. Apparently, it was itchy as all get out and that is why all these weird symptoms and gyrations. His sheath, that he couldn't reach, itched like hell.

:lol: :lol: :lol: ROFLMAO! What a funny story to read!

We are plagued with boxelder trees that grow everywhere like weeds. They'll grow a foot tall in a teaspoon of dirt in about 5 days. My QH mare figured out that the 4 foot tall weedy sapplings growing in her pasture made great udder scratchers. I kept thinking they were eating the leaves off the trees till I looked out the window one day to see a huge buckskin horse with a large poof of green leaves sticking out her butt crack. Then about 6 feet over was the sappling that used to own the leaves, standing there stripped naked. :eek: :lol: Oh my god I needed a kleenex I laughed so hard.

[Lulu]

Thank you for the wonderfully written story and the "happy ending."

[li'l bit]

However, after that, every time I walked by his stall, he followed me with his head and nickered loudly at me...

It did make me feel...well, a little cheap.

Horses oi-vay! ;)

:D:D:D:D:D:D Great story P4E.

[2DogsFarm]

Pines & Auventura :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Pines: I had a friend whose gelding enjoyed sheath maintenance so much she disgustedly told me:
"He looks like he needs a cigarette when I'm done!"

Auventura: so much for mare ownership making things like horsey hygiene less "interesting"

And thanks so much to the both of you for the spew now on my keyboard

[AngelainTexas]

OMG, what a funny story! I can just see him when you walk by his stall saying, hey, how yooouuuu dooooing??

Hahaha, thanks for the chuckle.

[WB Mom]

You have an absolutely wonderful sense of humor, and I for one am glad you care to share it with us! I guess your horse will never look at you quite the same way again ;) Your relationship has gone to the next level.... :D

[aspenlucas]

If he starts lifting his hind leg when he sees you, now that will be funny. I can only imagine how good you made him feel. Good for you for figuring it out on your own and knowing your horse!

[msj]

Well, if I were you, I sure wouldn't bend over in front of him! He may try to hump you like a dog or stallion! :eek:

[MunchkinsMom]

Thanks for a good laugh tonight.

I have a mare that . . um. . .likes to have her teats cleaned. I can tell when she wants it done, she does stalk me while I am in the barn, and the excitement on her face when she sees that I have a baby wipe in hand! And this is a mare that ordinarily is not that friendly. And yes, she does lift a leg, and drool while I am cleaning her. It is a bit embarrassing.

[pines4equines]

Aspenlucas said: "...If he starts lifting his hind leg when he sees you, now that will be funny..."

He already does that with a little gurgling nicker and you have to know, is he lifting his hind leg in an aggressive manner or a "come hither..." manner. :uhoh:

Arh, arh! These animals...

[deltawave]

You do have to wonder what he's telling his gelding buddies about you. :lol:

[MoonWitch]

Thanks alot - how do I explain what I'm laughing about to all my co-workers???

I have a boy that would rather kill me than let me get close - wanna come over and try your "hand" with him??? Please?

[Indy-lou]

Great post because I think it helps us to think beyond colic and ulcers when horses show strange behavior or discomfort.

[pines4equines]

Indy-lou said: "Great post because I think it helps us to think beyond colic and ulcers when horses show strange behavior or discomfort."

Actually, this was the real reason of the post. Sometimes, they exhibit bizarre behavior or behavior that may be classic for one thing and it's totally something else!

What I would be curious about is what would the vet findings be? Shaking front legs, looking at his side, etc...

[deltawave]

It's true. If you read this BB too often you're led to think that every flick of a horse's ears that isn't normal is a sign of either EPSM, EPM, ulcers or IR. :lol: Nice to add something as benign as some itchy wedding tackle to the list. :p

[pines4equines]

Or that it should go barefoot if it has shoes or it should have shoes if it's barefoot.

[Just Wondering]

Indy-lou said: "Great post because I think it helps us to think beyond colic and ulcers when horses show strange behavior or discomfort."

Actually, this was the real reason of the post. Sometimes, they exhibit bizarre behavior or behavior that may be classic for one thing and it's totally something else!



I totally agree. It frustrates me when a lot of folks automatically head for the banamine.

[Trakehner]

I always hire the vet to clean my geldings sheaths...there are just some things guys shouldn't do to their friends.

[deltawave]

Is your vet a guy? ;) That means you're paying another guy to do the deed to one of your friends. :p :lol:

[LSM1212]

Is your vet a guy? ;) That means you're paying another guy to do the deed to one of your friends. :p :lol:

ROFLMAO. :D

[Just My Style]

Or texting me perverted messages...

:lol:

[juliet]

Was there a mark or did you have to find the tick and pull it off earlier (yuck).

[pines4equines]

There was actually a tick there, dog tick. I had a flash light and did some inspecting, thankfully I was the only one in the barn at the time of this particular inspection. What I really need however is a light that goes on my head rather than the whole fumbling with the flash light while you inspect...

[Trakehner]

Is your vet a guy? ;) That means you're paying another guy to do the deed to one of your friends. :p :lol:

Nope, I use an all-female vet practice...the boys deserve the best!

[QM2]

:lol::lol::lol::lol: That is a great story!

What made you even look there?

[Tilly]

Only on COTH would you find a thread title like this :lol: :lol: :lol:

Lucky me, I have mares ;)

[Parker_Rider]

omg, my professor is probably wondering why I think her lecture on country risk and commodities markets is so funny... I should take this as a lesson to not read COTH religiously in class, because my death by laughter probably isn't well received... what a GREAT story!!!! You'll be the most popular lady in the barn! :lol:

[TBJumper514]

That was great! I used to board at a place where this woman's mare liked to, ummm, pleasure herself on the water faucet. LOL, the things these animals do...

[bamboozled]

What I would be curious about is what would the vet findings be? Shaking front legs, looking at his side, etc...

Neurologic. And all sorts of blood tests to rule out EEV, WNV, Lyme Disease, etc. I would also venture a spinal tap as well.

I will pass this thread on, as my sister's gelding exhibited similar last year. We're still baffled over what it was.

[pines4equines]

Don't forget an MRI. I always joke with my S/O who is much more conservative with money than me. Gotta get the MRI trucked in for Beasley, not that he needs it but let's rule out what could be?!?! Arh arh!

[merrygoround]

It's true. If you read this BB too often you're led to think that every flick of a horse's ears that isn't normal is a sign of either EPSM, EPM, ulcers or IR. :lol: Nice to add something as benign as some itchy wedding tackle to the list. :p

HEAR! HEAR!!!!! :D :D

[pines4equines]

QM2 said: "What made you even look there?"

Really his visual/vocal reaction every time my hand even got near his privates.

[LoveMyArabians]

Great story!
Glad it had a happy ending!

Cindy

[Frank B]

That was great! I used to board at a place where this woman's mare liked to, ummm, pleasure herself on the water faucet. LOL, the things these animals do...
My mare had a repeated affair with a low-hanging tree branch......until, for her own protection, I sawed it off. :(

Yeah, I know, I'm a cruel horse owner!

[johnnysauntie]

Thank you for the wonderfully written story and the "happy ending."

Oh, Lulu, that was a baaad pun!

What a great story.

[Baybaby]

My dear, you are now a "FRIEND WITH BENEFITS!" HA! HA!

[msj]

My dear, you are now a "FRIEND WITH BENEFITS!" HA! HA!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol::lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: