Fisher 🐠 update!
A lot more people followed Fishy boys story than I anticipated.
Unfortunately I was given NO explanation for why he had peritonitis and colitis.
*edit to add* he is UTD on all vaccinations and had not traveled in a month. No new horses to our barn. No new feed. No change in routine to trigger anything*
To recap his symptoms were:
Sunday acting colicky. Sometimes he gets this way in an ulcer attack. Quieted after banamine and ulcer guard. Ate grass, had gut sounds. Left sleeping in his stall.
Monday. Had not eaten or drank. Very quiet and depressed all day. No temp. Some gut noises. Called vet out didn’t arrive till 7. Ran full colic work up. Was dehydrated. Ran blood kidney values were off. Prob due to dehydration. Noting else off in blood work. Heart rate 52. No temp no other signs of illness. Still normal pooping.
Tuesday morning. Still hasn’t ate or drank. Vet revisited to give more fluids. All other vitals normal except heart rate at 54.
Tuesday around 3 he had a cow pie and still had not eaten or drank anything. I knew there no way I could manage an already dehydrated horse that was now having diarrhea, further dehydrating him.
We got to OSU just after 5. I didn’t see him till after 7. When he came out sporting this fancy haircut and they told me he was being put in isolation. Fears being PHF or salmonella.
They tested him repeatedly for PHF and salmonella. He never tested positive for any known pathogens.
His initial belly tap was 55,000 ppu where 5,500 is considered high of normal range.
At one point they thought he was going septic. Once at OSU he spiked a fever for just a few hours, was in ice boots to keep from foundering, went though bags upon bags of IV fluids, had horrible diarrhea for several days.
They were hesitant to send him home. Worried he was agitated in his stall/not eating/ picking up his legs/standing with one leg forward and I had to assure them that is all VERY typical behavior for the quirky old ma
Fish update.
He is very very sick. We think we caught it early. Colitis which 30% of cases ever get a real cause diagnosed.
It’s possible he has salmonella or Potomac horse fever. Tests come back tomorrow.
His vitals and blood work are good. He’s very healthy and in great condition. Aggressive antibiotics and fluids.
His belly tap fluids has some blood which is not good. But he’s not septic which is very good.
I was not exactly expecting this clip job but I rather have my horse than his hair.
He will be at OSU for minimum of 3 days. In ice boots and on fluid.
Will know more tomorrow.
Good news he’s being an ass and tormenting the vet head butting him. So he’s in good spirits.
He was acting colicky Sunday afternoon. Treated for ulcers on top of banamine. Slowly went off food. Low temp on sunday regular temp since then. Normal poops and urinating . Elevated heart rate was only odd vital sign apart from obvious drepreasikn and discomfort.
Not what I was expecting at all!
Doing my best to tire these spring breakers out.
Parts of the horse dual style.
Sam and CD Shiny Lynx aka Kat 😺 made their debut!
Two years ago I was skeptical of this mare ever being showable let alone ridden by an 11 yr old! She’s come leaps and bounds and turning into a steady ride. With still plenty of sass.
Placing 5,5,3 in large youth classes! And twice just missing the ribbons with 7th in the HUGE level 2 youth class showing against 18 others!
These two will be quite the pair as they figure each other out!