crazyarab
Mar. 11, 2010, 03:54 PM
I'm frustrated and perplexed and welcome anyone who has had horse exhibiting similar symptoms.
Horse is 20 year old Arab w/pretty good history of healthy, regularly active life.
The major symptoms are periodic episodes of deep abdominal stretching (front legs out) usually accompanied some staring at both flanks/hind end, brief sitting/laying down (no rolling, etc.) and lethargy. These episodes come on quickly and pass quickly, usually with only 10-15 min of hand walking. He's had about 10 of these episodes since 10/09.
The onset of the episodes coincided with discovery of tapeworms. Treated for tape and did 30 day gastrogard and seemed fine for few weeks, then fecal tested positive for tapeworms and these episodes also started.
He did not bounce back w/n week of second tapeworm finding, and blood test showed elevated kidney levels, which resulted in 1 week stay at equine clinic. Kidneys are functioning normally, no permanent damage.
We've had two episodes since left clinic in mid-January. The last one was accompanied for first time by muscle tremors and white gums but no temperature and good gut sounds, and his heart and lungs sounded fine.
There appears to be no correlation between onset of these episodes and exercise or meals. He's never really stopped eating grain or hay. Weight and muscle tone is good (even gained back what lost at clinic within few weeks of discharge).
We've done: multiple ultrasounds, internal ultrasound via rectum, endoscopy through stomach, several abdominal taps, kidney biopsy, rectal biopsy, abdominal x-ray; numerous fecals; numerous blood panels.
The only significant abnormality found is some thickening of outer wall of a section of the small intestine but that area was contracting normally and intestines are processing normally.
Latest blood is negative for Ehrlichia and Rocky Mtn; waiting for Lyme results and results on Vit. E/Selenium.
I'm sorry this is so long but if you have any ideas or experience with situation I'd appreciate very much hearing from you.
Thanks
Horse is 20 year old Arab w/pretty good history of healthy, regularly active life.
The major symptoms are periodic episodes of deep abdominal stretching (front legs out) usually accompanied some staring at both flanks/hind end, brief sitting/laying down (no rolling, etc.) and lethargy. These episodes come on quickly and pass quickly, usually with only 10-15 min of hand walking. He's had about 10 of these episodes since 10/09.
The onset of the episodes coincided with discovery of tapeworms. Treated for tape and did 30 day gastrogard and seemed fine for few weeks, then fecal tested positive for tapeworms and these episodes also started.
He did not bounce back w/n week of second tapeworm finding, and blood test showed elevated kidney levels, which resulted in 1 week stay at equine clinic. Kidneys are functioning normally, no permanent damage.
We've had two episodes since left clinic in mid-January. The last one was accompanied for first time by muscle tremors and white gums but no temperature and good gut sounds, and his heart and lungs sounded fine.
There appears to be no correlation between onset of these episodes and exercise or meals. He's never really stopped eating grain or hay. Weight and muscle tone is good (even gained back what lost at clinic within few weeks of discharge).
We've done: multiple ultrasounds, internal ultrasound via rectum, endoscopy through stomach, several abdominal taps, kidney biopsy, rectal biopsy, abdominal x-ray; numerous fecals; numerous blood panels.
The only significant abnormality found is some thickening of outer wall of a section of the small intestine but that area was contracting normally and intestines are processing normally.
Latest blood is negative for Ehrlichia and Rocky Mtn; waiting for Lyme results and results on Vit. E/Selenium.
I'm sorry this is so long but if you have any ideas or experience with situation I'd appreciate very much hearing from you.
Thanks