The effecacy of testing

I'm naming the blog this because the results are back on the tests. I know I said he had strangles, but that's what the vet told me after the blood test; the blood work came back that night, high WBC and all that indicative of infection, large swollen glands indicated strangles as the infection (that's equine distemper, BTW). The swab, however, came back negative for Staph. equi, the organism actually responsible for strangles. Go figure. In fact the swab came back negative for growth, which is pretty unusual, as there's aways tons of flora groing in your nose and throat passages. So does he have a virus? Or just some bacterial infection that doesn't grow on general growth plates? I don't know. The vet will be out this afternoon, so I'll find out then, I hope!

Happily, the abscesses have burst (I can't tell you how nasty that was) and he's feeling better, for sure. For whatever reason, he really doesn't mind having his temp taken, as in, really doesn't mind at all, and in fact may find it a mildly pleasant experience. He will probably go on antibiotics now, as he has these holes in his head. (Ok, they're under his jaw, but it's still his head, technically!) And I'm hoping he'll be ok to get outta his space and back with the herd in a few. I'm guessing it may well be a few weeks for him to be able to mingle, Fiona, one of Amanda's horses, seems to be getting ill as well. Total bummer.

Strangled by strangles!

Ok, the vet was out, did blood and throat swab. It's strangles. Damn. I'm just hoping that I got Pip away from the other horses in time. He's got it and there's not much to do about that but let it run its course for now. But the others may not get it if we're lucky. I did feel terrible because how could he have gotten this? It turns out that a barn about a quarter mile away has a case/epidemic. I'm not sure how long it will take the other horses there to get it, but from what I've read, I'm guessing that they will all probably get it. You can't move them once they get it, as it's so dang contagous. So Pip is now in official quarratine.

I wrote last time that his lymph nodes were big, well I had no idea, they are huge now, like two golf balls crammed between his jawbones. His neck and all along under his jaw and chin are swollen. His breathing is getting a bit stenorious, and I've been listening to his chest, but that seems clear so far. I'll take my stethescope out there next time I go. It's just such a bummer. No one is allowed near him but me for now. I do everything, because I'm afraid that we'll spread it otherwise. I'm just glad that I'm not really in the habit of petting Amanda's horses very much. I really hope her foal doesn't get it.

Well i have all the disinfectant I could find out by his stall. He's quarrantined, and I have left my gumboots out there, and I won't go near the house or barn at all. If I need anything I call Amanda and have her bring it out. I am freaked that he might spread this to her horses. If any horse can pull through this, it's Pipper. He's tough. And I have to say, every time I go out there, he nickers at me, and follows me around, and eats quite happily. I can't tell if he just feels comfortable around me, and likes me best of all humans (which is what I hope, really). But he probably just hopes I can make him feel better. And I hope I can too. I'm putting hotpresses on the swellings, hoping to make them burst. He's not as bad as some photos I've seen, but it's still just the first week, really. I think it takes about a week or so to do it's thing, if it doesn't get complicated. I pray it doesn't get complicated, I can barely afford a healthy horse....

This last week Pip hasn’t been well. It started with him not finishing breakfast, which if you know Pip, is certainly unusual. He’s like my little Electrolux, sucking up all the hay he can get his lips on. But not on Thursday, he was looking like he just felt dumpy; he just sort of moped around. However by about 3 that afternoon he seemed to be feeling fine. I didn’t think it was colic, he didn’t have that internalizing look to him, and he didn’t mind me touching his belly, and had motility sounds. I decided to wait a day. The next day, also blah, so I called the vet. Based on my explanation and his elevated temperature, she said he probably had a viral infection, and to keep him cool, and give him banamine (horse aspirin, basically). So I did. She also told me that it would probably take about 4-5 days to pass, and he should be back to normal. Ok, no problem.

Also, as a tip to bring down body temperature, put an alcohol soaked towel on a horse’s back. Worked a treat! I used isopropyl, not vodka, BTW.

Alright, back to Pip. So yesterday the farrier was out, and there’s Pip in the crossties, and he’s drooling like you would not believe, like right down to the ground. So after the farrier leaves, I call the vet, because now I can see that Pip’s neck and lymph nodes under his jaw are totally hard and swollen. He’s eating and drinking, but certainly it’s not comfortable. I also put up some panels so that the other horses can’t come close to him, as this may be strangles! Crapo.
The vet is coming out in about an hour, so I’ll keep you posted what happens. We will probably put hot presses on him to get the abscess to burst on its own. They are also going to do a throat culture to see what’s growing, but I’m guessing he’ll go on antibiotics as well. Damn.