Something’s wrong.
posted in Heza Fast Traveler |About a week ago I noticed Traveler dragging his back legs (both). That in its own wasn’t what freaked me out, but the fact that I had to put his 22yo mother down last year and we’re still not 100% sure what happened. The vet’s diagnosis was Tetanus, as I had been a bad mommy and hadn’t had her booster in a few years, and she ended up with a nail in her foot. Tell-tale signs of tetanus, leaning, 3rd eyelid, circling, etc. However, some of those symptoms fall in line with EPM too, and I suppose it could have been that because she didn’t recover with the tetanus anti-toxin. Perhaps had I known more about EPM then, I would have attempted a round of Marquis. So seeing my boy have similar symptoms (not wanting to move his back legs), I freaked out.
The Vet came out Wed. She drew blood to check for EPM (which BTW she doesn’t think it is due to his very symmetrical symptoms, but she doesn’t want to rule that out) and to check his CBCs for infections or anything else abnormal. The labs on his CBCs just came back as normal, so he doesn’t have any infections (viral or bacterial) and the rest of his ‘insides’ are good to go (no kidney probs, etc.).
She also suggested a disease called Lower Motor Neuron which I guess is like MS in humans and is basically a death sentence. No cure. No real treatments. Just make them comfortable and watch them die.
I also have the Chiro coming out next Tue, which will be his (and my) first time experience working with a Chiro. But he wasn’t sore anywhere along his back, and really wasn’t “ouchy” anywhere at all (pressing on and stuff). So I’m not sure that’s it either. And then Wed. the county extension is going to walk the field and check for toxic plants/trees. I don’t think it’s that tho, because the previous owners of the farm had 25+ head of appys out here that never had a prob, but better err on the side of caution.
I just asked the vet about the EPM treatments. We’re going to go this route too if the blood test comes back pos (which I’m anticipating). I guess there’s also a new test they can do (she’s sending it to KY) which I guess not only tells you if they’ve been exposed (the typical test) but also gives you the degree to what timeframe exposure was in. In other words, the test will tell us if it was a recent exposure, vs. something from over a year ago. (I GUESS – from what I understand – but I’m no vet.) But the fact that my gelding has adverse reactions to anesthesia (major colic), sending him off to Ohio State to have a spinal will prolly cost MORE than the treatments themselves. So we’re gonna take that route if the other stuff doesn’t work.
So it’s either EPM or Lowermotorneuron disease. Or his back is out. Or ?????? Anybody with an opinion feel free to add. I don’t want to miss ANYTHING… I can’t lose this boy. I’ll die along with him. And I need to be here for MY youngin’ so losing him is just not an option.
I got a quick vid of how Traveler moved in the pasture. Excuse the nosy yearling and boss mare (and obnoxious jack russell).