[Kiwayu]

My 24 year old OTTB has some weird symtpoms. I have a "thought" of what it could be in the back of my mind, but would like to know your imput. I'm putting a call into the vet today.

This all started coming on within the past 3-4 weeks...
-Started getting nasty to his paddock buddy and me! (Has attempted to double barrel kick me when putting on the saddle pad to tack up or putting a sheet on him.)

-Every joint is cracking, including his neck when he turns it. He sounds like "snap, crackle, pop"

-Been on/off lame in his right hind (but sound the past 1-2 weeks).

-Won't move forward whether it's hand walking out to graze, on the lunge line, or under saddle. Normally when I handwalk him on the trails he's a lunatic because he's so happy.

-After any sort of work (handwalking, lunging, etc.) he acts like he worked the whole day and is exhausted, just standing exactly where I leave him in the paddock.

-Just started having trouble getting his hind end up from rolling. He attempts getting up 2-3 times and then just pops up.

Some of these things I could contribute to old age, but they all just came on within the month. I want to see what you guys say. Thanks.

[My2cents]

Lyme.

[pharmgirl]

Ditto- Lyme is my first thought.

[My2cents]

Grumpy and reluctance to move, two key symptoms, in my experience.

[Zu Zu]

Jingles for Kiwi .

[mvp]

Lyme.

Let me know when you get enough votes.

[equidae]

Keep us posted!

[Kiwayu]

I had Lyme in the back of my head but this might be the 4th time we treated him.

[dwblover]

Have you treated him with 21 days of IV tetracycline?

[Dalemma]

I would check selenium levels

Dalemma

[Kiwayu]

My vet doesn't really believe in 21 days of tetra. We've only done 10, and even then had a nasty colic on day 2. Waiting for the vet to call back now.

[vxf111]

Classic Lyme (if there is such a thing).

[dwblover]

Well, after four treatments I'd be looking into doing the full 21 days of tetra. You can probably call Cornell, they have done studies on it. I'd run another titer first though.

[joiedevie99]

If your vet isn't willing to do a reasonable treatment for lyme, I'd deal directly with one of the bigger clinics that see more of it.

[LauraKY]

Yes, Lyme, 21 to 30 days Oxytet followed by oral Doxy.

[AHorseSomeDay]

I also say Lyme.

You can see my post about my horse's Lyme titer. My horse's back legs have been swelling up and he has been stiff and sore to a point where he is short behind at the trot. He was tested and his titer is 40,000. He is going to be put on a IV on Wednesday.

Good luck. I hope it's not Lyme. It's a pain to treat.

[AHorseSomeDay]

I had Lyme in the back of my head but this might be the 4th time we treated him.

Once an animal gets Lyme, they have it forever. It never goes away. It's just a matter of keeping the level in the system low. In times of stress, it usually comes back. I know this because I have to treat my dog with doxyclycline every spring. He is currently on doxy right now.

[Kiwayu]

Vet pulled blood tonight. Is doing a snap test and a elisa/western blot.

As much as I want to do 21 days of Tetra, I'd be afraid. There are NO clinics within a 3-4 hour distance. I'm afraid because the last time I did the IV Tetra (last September) he had a nasty colic on day 2 to the point where it lasted a good 2 weeks. We didn't start back on the Tetra for about a month later. The doxy did nothing for him the 2nd time I treated him a few years ago. This Lyme seems to relapse every year.

[Stacie]

You might have some other options. My vet said he's read some research where erythromycin worked on Lyme. Cornell would know.

[ivy62]

What about the new clinic in Elmont that opened up across from Belmont Park? Can they help you? If your vet doesn't believe it find a vet that does, I ams ure there is someone out there that can help you.. You are on Long Island so it shouldn't be that hard....