Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hi Catfish
In my experience shots could have a LOT to do with it. If you see him 
pooping all right today and if his breathing is OK, his pulse OK and his 
temp normal, then you might be able to hold off until after the weekend 
and see if he improves. If not, I would have a blood panel done 
immediately to rule out things like thyroid problems, etc. I am far from 
a vet and the symptoms you are describing could be serious, perhaps even 
cancer, although I don't know if they yet have a test for that in horses 
as they do in people. Of course most medical breakthroughs seem to start 
in the animal world so who knows?
Good luck and I wish your horse the best.
Bette

Catfish Daniels wrote:

> My young 5 yr old gelding that I've had now for about two months has 
> had this dull coat for the past two weeks.  At least that's when it 
> became aparent to me.  He's also lost weight.  I put him on a worming 
> program and silennium (sp?) per doctor's orders (we are in a very 
> sandy region).  His energy level at that time was still very high and 
> healthy.  I gave him free choice hay all day long, although he seemed 
> to be a picky eater.  Despite soybean pellets, all the hay he wanted, 
> etc, he did not gain any weight and his coat did not get better.  I 
> brought him back to the vet, and found that he really needed his teeth 
> floated.  The vet was confident that it would solve the problem and I 
> should see a big improvement.  That was Friday, and his energy level 
> was still great.  Yesterday morning I wanted to take him for a ride 
> and noticed that he was rather lathargic, and knowing that something 
> wasn't right ( a horse with normally almost way too much energy), I 
> turned right back around.
> Since then he only nibbled a tiny bit in the grain and the bran, 
> didn't come close to finishing it.  He ate hardly any of his hay.  He 
> seems to still be drinking, but he looks awful.  VERY lathargic, very 
> frizzled hair with no shine whatsoever, something is VERY wrong.  I 
> have tried calling my local vets and left urgent messages on answering 
> machines.  Not knowing when I may get a call back, I was wondering if 
> anybody had any advice.  On Friday he also received all of his shots - 
> could that have anything to do with it?  The shots included 
> everything, including strangles, etc, etc., etc.
>
> I hate to use the word "urgent" in my subject line, but something is 
> definitely not going right.  Thanks in advance for any reply.
>
>
> ============================================================
> REAL endurance is reading the LD vs. Endurance thread/debate every 3
> months!!!
> ~ Heidi Sowards
>
> ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/
>
> ============================================================

--
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of Bunny and 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com

Always remember: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (George Carlin)



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There are few places where the horse does not fit in; at least in my world,
as delusional as that one may be.
~  Howard Bramhall

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