[Kiwayu]

I just thought I'd let everyone know that Kiwayu is 100%!!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c.../icon_cool.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif I spoke to the vet yesterday and she wants to do 2 more weeks of doxy just to be safe. She feels that he improved "late" in the 30 day treatment and wants to make sure we "kill" it all. I'm so happy right now. I got on him yesterday for the 2nd time and he felt GREAT!!! http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...milies/yes.gif If Kiwayu can over come this, I'm sure everyone else's horses will get to this point too.

How is everyone else doing?

[Luie's Person]

Congrats Kristen and Kiwayu - WOOHOO!! We're very excited for you!

Luie's muscle aches and pains are down to ZERO but the skin thing is still hanging on. Getting much better - the sores are finally shrinking- (the armpit area is just totally problematic). Yesterday I think he could have been a poster child for the "Annals of Equine Dermatology": *who knew* so much skin could shed at one time yet leave a haircoat perfectly in tact? It looked a tad alien http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...n_rolleyes.gif. I'll report back once I'm able to mount the summit of my very own K-2! Health to all.

[Robyn]

GREAT news, Kristin! I'm so happy that he's finally turned the corner! I'm also happy to report that my ride on Reggie yesterday was the best in five weeks http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...icon_smile.gif He seemed totally normal, but did seem to tire a bit toward the end. But he was full of get up and go - for a change! I'm also going to talk to my vet about another two weeks of doxy for him, just as a precaution. We seem so close, I don't want to take any chances that it's not really gone.

Good luck!
Robin

[Kiwayu]

I'm so glad to hear that Luie and Reggie are doing better too! http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...milies/yes.gif

Robyn- I'm curious as to what your vet will say about another 2 weeks of doxy. Everyone has different opinions and it's driving me nuts. I don't know what to do. I picked up the other two weeks of doxy today at the vet's, and I swear I have paid for a new house. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...n_rolleyes.gif Three bottles of doxy cost me $233 today, on top of the $848 I've already spent in tests/medications. http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...ilies/sigh.gif I think Kiwayu needs to get a job so he can get health benefits. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c.../icon_wink.gif

[Robyn]

I'll be gone over the weekend, but will talk to the vet on Monday and report back. Out of curiousity, what are you paying per bottle for 500 count 100 mil. tablets? I can get them from the people pharmacy for about $55, which is the same as Valley Vet. Reggie was on 5000 mil. daily, or 50 pills. I'm more than willing to fork over the extra $60 or so dollars to make sure that this horrible disease is gone. I LIKE having my horse back http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...icon_smile.gif

Robin

[CMBEQ]

I'm glad this thread was at the top, I was just going to make one. I read through 80% of this, and that article but can someone explain if there are any other tell-tale symptoms besides leg swelling? Sonora, my 1.5 year old Paint has had swelling in her hind legs for almost a week now. At first it was both, then the right, now the left, etc. I put poultice on her for two days, I thought it might be from lunging her. That seemed like it helped at first, but now the swelling's been back. I haven't done anything with her except groom her and she gets turned out everyday. She does seem slightly grumpier than usual, though that could be due to the growing filly syndrome. If anyone has advice, or some insight please let me know. I'm going to give the vet a call tomorrow as it is. Thanks in advance.

[Phaxxton]

Glad to hear the good news on your horses, guys! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...icon_smile.gif

[Robyn]

CMBEQ, my horse never had any swellings. Just an "out of gas" attitude. Blah, dull, just leave me alone kind of thing. Oh, and somebody else mentioned a blank stare, which he also had. Like nobody was home. My old horse who had lyme about 10 years ago, had the same symptoms in addition to lower limb swelling in all four legs. Good luck with your filly.

Robin

[chism]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Robyn:
CMBEQ, my horse never had any swellings. Just an "out of gas" attitude. Blah, dull, just leave me alone kind of thing. Oh, and somebody else mentioned a blank stare, which he also had. Like nobody was home. My old horse who had lyme about 10 years ago, had the same symptoms in addition to lower limb swelling in all four legs. Good luck with your filly.

Robin </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Robin....mine too. She's normally the life of the party and just had no get up and go. Her test was low positive, she wasn't lame, just "blah". After the Doxy, she's got a lot more energy but she lost a lot of muscle and has no fitness.

[Kiwayu]

Robyn- Kiwayu is getting 100, 100mg pills DAILY = 10,000mgs at $70 a bottle. I did find Costco cheaper the first time at $67, but for the last three bottles it was easier to just pick it up at the vet rather than dealing with prescriptions, etc. How big is your horse that he's on half of Kiwayu's dose? Kiwayu is about 1000 pounds at 15.2h.

Kiwayu's symptoms: Extremely stiff, on/off lameness, swelling, very grouchy, hurt in every muscle, and very "blah".

[Boston Chicken]

My horse continues to do well and his treatment is now over as well. We're waiting a couple of weeks and re-testing to see what the level says now. I still feel a stiffness when he first gets into the ring but he works out of it. However, it's new since this last bout with Lyme so I am still concerned.

[kcooper]

Cleo is doing well, too. She has about 4 days of doxy left.
CMBEQ - Cleo had swelling in all four legs by the time she was diagnosed. It started in her hind legs and then shifted. The shifting is a frequent Lyme symptom. Also, poultice and wrapping did no good at all. She also had general overall stiffness and was very down and depressed.
I have been riding again every other day for about 2 weeks. She is still sort of stiff, but I think is improving. I attribute some of it to the time off and the fact that she lost some muscle and is always a horse who needs to work to maintain flexibility. Congrats to all the others who are making it to recovery!

[CMBEQ]

Thanks guys. I spoke with my vet today and he said to keep working her how I had been and see if she works out of it, that it might be just because she's young or something. But basically if she doesn't change in a week, give him a call. He said that a lot of people mistake lyme for other things so to try that first. I guess I'll see.

[Robyn]

Kristin, Reggie is about the same size as your guy. (Advertised as 15'3" and a half, but they always exagerate and I've never sticked him.) Maybe he was on less because of the initial oxytet IVs?

Robin

[Kiwayu]

I'd be interested to find out why Reggie is on half the dose. Everyone I talk to around here tell me their horses are/were on somewhere between 80-100 pills of doxy a day. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...n_confused.gif

[Phaxxton]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CMBEQ:
I'm glad this thread was at the top, I was just going to make one. I read through 80% of this, and that article but can someone explain if there are any other tell-tale symptoms besides leg swelling? Sonora, my 1.5 year old Paint has had swelling in her hind legs for almost a week now. At first it was both, then the right, now the left, etc. I put poultice on her for two days, I thought it might be from lunging her. That seemed like it helped at first, but now the swelling's been back. I haven't done anything with her except groom her and she gets turned out everyday. She does seem slightly grumpier than usual, though that could be due to the growing filly syndrome. If anyone has advice, or some insight please let me know. I'm going to give the vet a call tomorrow as it is. Thanks in advance. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Have you checked for lymphangitis? I'd look into that...

[Luie's Person]

Good news continues! Luie's nasty http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...ilies/dead.gif armpits w/ oozing sores is 100% cleared up. AND I longed him last night and apart from his 'old gimp' which I expected to see after so much time off - HE"S PERFECT!!!! Bright-eyed and sense of curious humor returned. I'm so happy. will start his routine US tonight. Figure it will be basically walking for eons - but who cares! I'm going to keep him on a low does of muscle relaxers for awhile to make certain that rehab doesn't wig him out. He tends to get worked up when he doesn't do things 'perfectly'. *Best* boy http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...on_biggrin.gif!

CMBEQ: Luie's first symptom was hyper-skin sensitivity (like invisible flies or midges all over him), followed rapidly by a REALLY sore back that would switch sides every few days. One lower leg got puffy from what appeared to be a routine pasture nick - no heat, just swelling that went for what seemed like ages. He also had colicky behavior (probably from back and 'skin'). Needless to say he was really grumpy. Hope your little one seems better these days!

It will be interesting to see if any of our beasties have any changes after recovery. Tiring more easily or everyday booboos not healing as quickly etc. Cheers!

[Kiwayu]

Luie- That's great news!!! http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...milies/yes.gif Kiwayu is still doing great, and he's been CRAZY!!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...s/icon_eek.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...n_rolleyes.gif But I'll take crazy anyday. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c.../icon_wink.gif Kiwayu's got another 13 days left of the extra 15 days of doxy. I'm curious to how he's going to be once the meds are done.

[can't re-]

It's great to read the Lyme's horses are doing so great.

Has Kiwayu's water intake increased from the 2 or so inches a day?

[Kiwayu]

Can't re- Kiwayu normally doesn't really drink and averages 2-3" of water a day. The first weeks he was on the doxy he was drinking BUCKETS!!! I had spoken to the vet and she claimed she's never heard of the doxy doing anything like that to a horse. We have no idea why, but after that first week he went back to normal. http://chronicleforums.com/images/cu...ilies/sigh.gif I don't want him drinking buckets to the point where he's peeing every chrystal clear 2 minutes (like he was), but I don't want him drinking 2" a day. Why can't he find a happy medium??? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_c...n_rolleyes.gif With the weather changing so much the past couple of weeks, I've been giving him a bran mash every night, which he NEVER finishes. He hates bran mashes. His feeding times had to be switched because of the doxy, so when I feed the other horses, I just feed him a bran mash so he's getting something. He gets alfalfa cubes daily so I'm not concerned about the Ca/Pos levels.

On a good note, Kiwayu has about 7 days left of the extra 15 days of the doxy. Then he's DONE!!!! He's been moving 110%, and feeling great! I'm moving him to a new barn soon, which has me concerned with his immune system and the stress, but I have no control over the move. He should be happier at the new place anyway.