Re: RC: How to improve Ridecamp..........

[DreamWeaver <dreamweaver@gbis.com>]

At 04:01 PM 10/20/2000 -0500, Bob & Amber Roberts wrote:
>DreamWeaver wrote:
>
> >   Weaver got a few months off this year because of a vaccine reaction.
>
>Oh, oh.  Please tell us about this.

Well, he'd just done the Gambler's ride in early April and I was planning 
on taking him on the Washoe 50 in May.  So I had the vet out for spring 
shots, coggins, etc.  He gave each horse their regular shots, then came 
back a week later and gave the nasal strangles.  This was the third time 
Weav had received the nasal strangles vaccine (and last!).  It totally blew 
his immune system.  He would lie down and not get up unless forced to (tho 
he would still eat, he'd just lie down in the hay and eat <G>).  His sheath 
swelled up like a football, and so did his glands and nodes under his jowl 
area.  Let's see...oh yeah, he also broke out in hives on his neck, became 
extremely sensitive and sore all over his entire body (you couldn't groom 
him), and an old spot on his side that had originally been a small fungus 
infection the size of a nickel (from 2 years before)---re-erupted again and 
this time it became raw and oozing.

Exercise helped reduce the swelling, however it always came back.  It was a 
very difficult time, to figure out how much exercise he should have (which 
really helped him) without risking making him any worse.  No exercise and 
he could hardly move, I had to walk him at least 5 miles 5 times a week.

Ultimately, what helped him was regular exercise combined with cramming him 
full of herbs and stuff to boost his immune system, and time.  If somebody 
didn't know, they'd think he had tied up by how he walked, poor 
guy.  :+((   His sheath is still very large for a gelding, some people tell 
me it may always be that way.

That happened in April, and it was probably September before the lymph 
nodes in his jowls starting going back to normal again and staying that 
way.  He's now done 3 rides since then, and appears to be over the swelling 
problems.  His coat is glistening, and he's very happy and energetic, 
really glad to have my horse back :)).  He won't be getting anymore 
vaccines for awhile (if ever), and we will be very careful with him in 
regards to his worming program too.

My horses biggest problems always seem to be their owner trying to do 
what's best! <G>

k