PLEASE HELP ME SAVE MY FRIESIAN - Page 4

Jenni, your Friesian is beautiful. I am happy to learn that he is out of surgery per you post.  Sending positive wishes that his recovery goes well.  I admire your dedication to your animals. You have beautiful dogs and a beautiful horse.

He is alive this morning! 

He had volvulus in his small intestine. Tissue was badly bruised but not yet necrotic so it's a good thing I didn't wait to give them the go ahead until I figured out how to pay for it, LOL! At least now I'll be begging to help a recovering horse, not pay bills on a dead one. What caused the volvulus is both interesting and very disturbing. They found tapeworms. Apparently, there is growing resistance to a number of popular dewormers, and while he was just dewormed previously in December, it obviously didn't kill them, or enough of them, and the other wormer he had did, OR, that it irritated his stomach and intestines and caused inflammation, that combined with the tapes, was enough to cause the blockage. Either way, the wormer is implicated but not in a direct cause/effect. 

So, while I'm angry that something so "simple" caused this (and concerned about what to do moving forward), I'm relieved that this isn't something going wrong with "him", ie, this would have happened to any horse, and he is not necessarily destined to now be a problem horse, health-wise. I had a gut feeling this was a special case, because he's never had a vet call in his life for more than coggins. Never even the mildest bout of colic, and *most* horses will not just have a major surgical colic for their very first episode, though it does happen. There is a lot of concern in the Freisian breed about health problems and I'm sooo relieved to find it's not a "Chief" problem; it's a worm problem. 

We really need to rethink about overuse of dewormers, like with dogs and heartworm; just as we're seeing HW+ dogs who have been on preventive, we're seeing very well cared for horses colic due to worms. The vet was quick to tell me he is seeing a lot of this in their area, and I should not be ovelry angry about the situation. 

Glad for you that he is in recovery.

Probably should start a new thred, but I believe its inadequate dosages of de-wormer that are creating resistant internal parasites. Low dosages that don't kill everything leaves them strong/resistant. I always give the entire tube of wormer, whether the horse weighs 900 lbs or 1,200 lbs. My pony gets enough for a 600 pound horse even tho he only weighs about 400. Likewise for heartworm preventative, I use ivermectin and give one cc for a 75 or 90 pound dog, 3/4 cc for 65- 70 pound dogs....the directions are 1 cc per 110 pounds. My vet gave me these instructions, telling me that when de-worming, under dosing is far more detrimental than an overdose. In fact, he gives the whole tube ( dose for 1,200 pounds) to my pony if we are deworming at the same time as rabies etc.
BTW, the patent on Droncit is expired, so one can buy ( without prescription) the tape worm drug, Praziquantel, over the counter/on line. Its much less expensive than when Droncit had the monopoly on the drug. Jenni, Zimectrin Gold has proziquantel for tapes, and Quest Plus, and Equimax also contain prozi.

How rude, just because you own a Friesian doesn't mean you are loaded. They have become a lot more affordable in the past several years.

I too had a mare colic after being dewormed, and worms were the culprit. Well cared for, rotated pastures and dewormers. I was shocked that she had an impaction.

I am glad to see that he is doing well, I hope he continues to progress!

Joan, that's not what the vets are seeing, according to what I was told last night. He has always been slightly overdosed with wormers, always given the full tube. QuestPlus and Equimax or Zimectrin Gold (which I hate, never use, and was used this time) are given twice yearly which is obviously not enough for him for whatever reason. Current tape recommendations still say once a year is fine for most.  Could be where he is, could be his personal resistance, but according to my research, tapes are a worm that horses do not have a lot of natural resistance to. 

Hntrjmpr, you know, I wasn't really offended. I can understand it; there are a lot of people seriously hurting (myself included, obviously, lol) and it may seem frivolous that while people are struggling to put food on the table, I'm wanting to spend money saving a high dollar horse. The part that they forget is that they're only worth money if you sell them.   Otherwise, they are just our friends. 

 

So glad he made it! 

I hope Chief is doing well, he is beautiful! I wish I could have done more, but we are still fighting to get our heads above water. I'm so grateful for all your help, if I had it I would pay the whole tab for you, but I don't......

much love & prayers to you & Chief

jackie harris

jackie, you continue to make the biggest contribution of all of us, by reminding us regularly that with tenacity, faith, love, family and friends, miracles CAN happen, and it IS possible to overcome obstacles placed in our paths...and we all need the touchstone you are in that capacity.  That's something that can't be matched with any legal tender.

You know what, Jackie, without you, I'd never have even thought to ask or thought there was hope. Major obstacles CAN be overcome (no, I am not comparing what you went/are going through to my horse!) and the support of an animal-loving network sure can't hurt. 

 

I was just thinking about a colt I'm raising up and that I should get him insured, mainly for the medical. Sorry for your situation but what was the deal with your insurance? I thought most medical riders covered colic surgery and if your horses mortality amount is high enough there can be an automatic coverage of some sorts.  Take care...