This is really just a lesson learned from a sad story.
My best friend recently sold her mare to a friend. About 6 weeks ago the mare came down with a virus, the vet tested for strangles, which came back negative. The mare was basically left to rest & recover, no particular diagnosis other than 'virus' was given. My friend went to see the mare last week & was shocked to see how lethargic she was, althought she had weight on her, she was lifeless & just stood at the back of her stable. She was also suprised to hear the girl was still riding the horse.
In the 6 weeks of her being unwell, the vet had only been out twice & the girl had not made much effort to get them out. She simply believed the mare would just get better, presumably on the vets advice!
Sadly the day after my friend visited the mare, she had a call to say that she had been rushed to liverpool with impaction colic for surgery - the prognosis was not good. That evening we found out the mare had to be euthanased on the operating table - it wasn't colic, it was another form of strangles which hadn't shown up on the tests (i didnt realise there were other forms of strangles). She had developed a massive strangles tumour in her intestines, way too big to be operated on.
What I am trying to say is that when we buy a horse it is our responsibility to care for them & ensure they are getting the best possible treatment (I know most of us would do this automatically!). If you are not convinced enough is being done, put your foot down & make sure it is. The sad reality of this case was, that if she had been examined again sooner, she may have had the opportunity to recover & would not have suffered so extensively.
Please please please, if your horse is not right - get him checked out, as leaving it a little bit longer can sometimes be just too late.
RIP Dionne.
My best friend recently sold her mare to a friend. About 6 weeks ago the mare came down with a virus, the vet tested for strangles, which came back negative. The mare was basically left to rest & recover, no particular diagnosis other than 'virus' was given. My friend went to see the mare last week & was shocked to see how lethargic she was, althought she had weight on her, she was lifeless & just stood at the back of her stable. She was also suprised to hear the girl was still riding the horse.
In the 6 weeks of her being unwell, the vet had only been out twice & the girl had not made much effort to get them out. She simply believed the mare would just get better, presumably on the vets advice!
Sadly the day after my friend visited the mare, she had a call to say that she had been rushed to liverpool with impaction colic for surgery - the prognosis was not good. That evening we found out the mare had to be euthanased on the operating table - it wasn't colic, it was another form of strangles which hadn't shown up on the tests (i didnt realise there were other forms of strangles). She had developed a massive strangles tumour in her intestines, way too big to be operated on.
What I am trying to say is that when we buy a horse it is our responsibility to care for them & ensure they are getting the best possible treatment (I know most of us would do this automatically!). If you are not convinced enough is being done, put your foot down & make sure it is. The sad reality of this case was, that if she had been examined again sooner, she may have had the opportunity to recover & would not have suffered so extensively.
Please please please, if your horse is not right - get him checked out, as leaving it a little bit longer can sometimes be just too late.
RIP Dionne.
