Tapeworms

[Jenny]

I wouldn't give her any more wormer till you get the sample back. It sounds like Moodswings says that her gut is stripped of its flora. We use Probiotics from Herbs for Horses which they sell all over. Greenhawk, feedstores etc. But I would start her on grain, very little at a time. I feel pelleted would be the best. I would soak beet pulp if you were to feed that. Where are you in Ontario? I am in Niagara Region.

[Rubytuesday]

I am not in Ontario but in Quebec. I am very close to Ontario and have access to Greenhawk so I will check out that product.
I was also told to give her a yeast supplement, would this help?

[Jenny]

Ruby. i believe that the herbs for horses probiotic already has yeast in it. Just read the label at greenhawk when you get there. Good luck and keep us all posted. have you put electrolytes in her water aswell to give her a boost? At least make sure she has access to a salt lick.

[Mood Swings]

Hey Jenny and Rubytuesday,

I agree 100% with Jenny that you should not deworm your filly again until 50-60 days after her last deworming. I also agree with feeding a pelleted feed (Purina's Juvenile is a great choice). The filly is young and growing so not feeding her will do more than good especially if your hay is not of the highest quality.

I mentioned a few probiotics in my previous posts that should also be available to you in Quebec. Yeast is an excellent start as you will be able to use it as a top dress on her grain and it will help feed the "good bacteria". Good luck

[Rubytuesday]

Bought the Probiotic today and gave it to her this evening with a little grain.
Also gave her the emergency 911 paste.

This morning I noticed slime on the ground where she had been standing and tonight I saw her pee and needless to say I found out where the slime came from, There was slime at first and then a little pee (more slime that pee) but I guess with all the dirt that has been at that end from the diarreha she can't help but get a urinairy tract infection.

Any suggestions without having to put her on antibiotics and screw her digestive system up more?

I wonder if it is possible that this infection could be keeping the diarreha around.

[LKR]

Giving her the jello is great. However, you need to give her the manure cocktail to get the good microbes going. This is imperative. You see babies eating their mothers' manure and this is what it does. Their digestive systems are immature so they need the added goodies from mom. Same principle here. Probiotics are good but the cocktail is the kicker. Been there, done it, it works. You are trying to slow things up with the jello water and hay is roughage to help keep things from passing through as quickly. If you want to give her some electrolytes orally and maybe some oral-x B or something to boost her vitamin/minerals that should work too. I would back off of the grain for a bit until she gets the consistency you want in her manure. JMHO. I speak from experience.

[Jenny]

Hi Ruby, I would call your vet about the bladder infection for sure, and need be if she needs antibiotics you will have to give her them. Poor thing she did not need this on top of all she has. I would try the manure cocktail, what can it hurt? I had a gelding with a bladder infection once. it took forever to heal and a hell of a lot of needling with PenV to get it cleared up. I hope there is an alternative course of treatment out there since I had to deal with it.

[Jenny]

You have not posted in a few days how is your yearling?

I forgot to mention when i had my yearling that had irritable bowl syndrome, my vet put her on metronidazole 3x daily 8 tablets each time and the keopectate, when she would have a bout. and you would never know why it would happen. I just would.

[Rubytuesday]

I am waiting to hear back from the vet. Monday we pulled blood, urine and another fecal. and the vet checked to see if she was dehydrated, which she is not.

I have been finding out little things about her initial treatment from when she was diagnosed with Lawsonia last november. She was treated with "chicken feed" that was supposed to have erythamiacin (spelling) in it but it may not have been the correct amount, just enough to help the Lawsonia but not enough to completely cure it.

I don't know as I have never seen the stuff before but is it a powder for in the feed or is it an injectable solution?

I started her yesterday on the "road apple cocktail" which she just LOVES so much So here is hoping I find out good news from the vet and that she may be normal one day in the future.

I will post when I find out

[Rubytuesday]

results came in today for the blood, urine and fecal.

Everything is normal!!!!

CDC is fine, no parasites, and urine is good.
One test showed that she is a little dehydrated but that is not surprising considering how long she has had the runs for.

Her white blood cells are a little high but nothing to worry about.

So back to square one.

I bought a mineral block for her paddock, she licks it but nothing abnormal. I have started her on 14% and 6% fat pelleted feed along with the probiotics.

I have also been giving her the road apple cocktail. 120cc 2X/day.
Yesterday I noticed her manure had started to firm up somewhat. With actual defined plops but still a little soft, retained its shape when it hit the ground.

This morning she was even better but then another time she was squirting out liquid.
She is not putting out as much manure now and each new pile I see it seems to be more firmer than what I had been used to seeing.

(yep I need to find something else to do with my spare time than following my yearling around looking for stool piles)

I think the cocktail is working but how long do I need to give this to her before things get normal? How often should I change the cocktail for fresh stuff?

Urine is also much better, I saw her pee like a normal yearling should.

Any more suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for every bit of advice you have given me so far.

[LKR]

You should get a fresh road apple every day and mix it up. Are you doing the large package of jello in 1 cup of water 2x a day? That will help speed things along. I would do the cocktail for 2 or 3 days after the manure is firmed up. I know the feeling when you are on poop patrol.

[LKR]

I would give her some electrolytes for a couple of days too. Couldn't hurt. It is hard to think of all these things when you are under duress.

[kezeli]

I just thought of giarida, hard to find in the stool as it does'nt show up always with the usual fecasol test that mostly is used. The metridazol clears this, so would also be used for "irritable bowel", most vets perscribe it for that because it does work on the giarida and your symptoms also fit that.

[zinn21]

Been following this thread for quite a while and I gotta tell you-I've never wanted horse shit to firm up so bad in my life..

[LKR]

ROTFLMAO.....