Tessie's Saga Continues

[here to stay]

This morning Tessie's right leg was totally filled.  To the point all her joints were invisible.  Oddly enough the hock was the most swollen with the only visible feature the point of her hock, which was a round hillock as if she had a capped hock.

I called the vet before office hours and left a message.  While waiting to hear back,  I walked her  out for about 20 minutes.  Some of the filling was reduced which was a relief.  Also her temperature was normal.

When the vet called back, he said to come into the office because he wanted to add dexamethasone to her meds.  When I got there, 2 shots of lasix were waiting beside the dex.  So Tessie is getting enrofloxacin, banamine, lasix, dexamethasone.  I am always uncomfortable with so many drugs.  So many that they can't be spread out as I prefer to do.

On the upside, she is eating well.

[countrymom22]

Sorry that poor Tessie is having such problems. You have both been through so much already! I'll keep you both in my prayers.

[aoconnor]

Did your vet mention doing a pressure wrap on her leg to help reduce the fluid? If not, ask him/her if that would help.

I have a mare with a cronically swollen right hind leg due to poor circulation in that limb from multiple injuries to the leg. When it gets really full, I put a sweat on her and then a pressure wrap over that for 12 hours. I use Furazone and DMSO together to create a sweat, then cover it with rolled cotton, then a thin cotton batting, then vet wrap, and finally vet tape over it. Works really well.

[shellymay]

here to stay,  Gosh so sorry to hear this, I feel your concerns on the meds..... I am at a loss as to what to say, I sure hope this works with the new meds so she can heal and can get off of them soon....

[mzgarden]

Oh my, this truly has been a difficult up-hill climb. Praying you've reached the top and things will begin to improve again.

[Woodpecker]

Prayers for Tessie and you, her friend.

[here to stay]

aoconnor , I suggested a standing wrap to him. He said it might not be a bad idea. I was a wrapping fool in my youth. It was my curall for everything.

But I think a walk a couple of times a day will help too. Yesterday the weather was too awful but from today through the next 4 days it's supposed to be drier.

I need to get a feed/med schedule posted.  There are too many meds needed for me to be sure to get it right.   

[here to stay]

Ha on the little creep. Her leg is still really swollen but she's feeling well enough to play 'catch me if you can' when I went to take her for her second walk. The dex I suppose.

I hope her bandages are still on tomorrow morning.

[aoconnor]

Ugh, I hate when they play that game!! Especially when wrapped!

So, I have been thinking about getting a pressure sock, the type used for diabetics and those who retain fluid in their legs for other reasons. I will go tomorrow and buy a couple try them on my mare. I am hoping it will relieve her swelling, and if it does I will let you know.

[countrymom22]

Good thinking aoconnor! I'll be interested in the results.

[here to stay]

Improvement. The swelling went right down with the dex. Tomorrow is her first day skipping a dose. If she stays good, we start tapering off. Tomorrow is her last antibiotic too.

Holding my breath.

[mzgarden]

here to stay, how's Tessie doing? Was thinking about her yesterday.

[here to stay]

mzgarden, thanks for asking. She's doing great. All problems seem to have disappeared.

But- and there's always a but these days- the vet's office has called several time on their own to ask after her so I finally asked why such attention? They asked the vet and he called back. Seems he thinks Tess likely has an autoimmune problem!?! That her cascading problems started with an overreaction to a small infection and lead to an auto immune vasculitis issue. And such things tend to reoccur as soon as the dex wears off. He could have warned me. Darn it.

And here I was relaxing about it. I haven't yet digested this idea yet. So it's back to checking her daily. Although exactly what I'm to check is unclear. I still have most of the giant bottle of Dex that I thought was over kill from the vet. We'll see I guess.

[aoconnor]

Dec 12, 2017 16:42:03 GMT here to stay said:

mzgarden, thanks for asking. She's doing great. All problems seem to have disappeared.

But- and there's always a but these days- the vet's office has called several time on their own to ask after her so I finally asked why such attention? They asked the vet and he called back. Seems he thinks Tess likely has an autoimmune problem!?! That her cascading problems started with an overreaction to a small infection and lead to an auto immune vasculitis issue. And such things tend to reoccur as soon as the dex wears off. He could have warned me. Darn it.

And here I was relaxing about it. I haven't yet digested this idea yet. So it's back to checking her daily. Although exactly what I'm to check is unclear. I still have most of the giant bottle of Dex that I thought was over kill from the vet. We'll see I guess.

Relax about it. She has improved drastically, just keep an eye on her.

You can give a vitamin supplement to help her immune system. There are many out there that could help her. Research well, then choose one! I have several of mine on vitamin/mineral supplements to help their immune systems function better. Seems to help my guys quite a bit.

[here to stay]

aoconnor, she gets Replamin Gel three times a week. The goats get it too.

[aoconnor]

How is Tessie doing?

[here to stay]

She's doing fine. Has reasserted her boss mare status despite no teeth to back it up. It's funny to see her snake back her head and see my other horse back off immediately when I know it's a pretty empty threat. Years of habit I suppose and Hollie is a pretty non competitive doul.

The only thing that bothers me is that she has very occasional pussy looking discharge from one eye. I come out in the morning and there is big wad of white mucus at the corner of her eye. The first time it happened was the day she got back from Davis. I called and the vet said not related. It has happen just two more times since she got back and it's always just the once. But I don't like it.

Thank you for asking.

[aoconnor]

I can say that in all of the sinus infection cases I've dealt with in my herd, I have not had one who gets anything eye rated to the sinus infection. It is usually allergy related in my case.

Glad she is doing well and feeling like her old self!