Lurker needs help...

[loriaz]

Okay all, I'll try to make this short and sweet. I've lurked for a few years, now time to ask for help. I've told Heather I'm amazed at the community that has been created here and very much feel a part of it whether I participate in conversations or not. I have laughed and cried almost daily reading these posts!! Anyway, here is my question...

To those of you with experience, how do you feel with giving foals plasma in their first few weeks...months? We lost a filly to a fast moving virus last year at 2 1/2 months, she was healthy until then. The breeding/foaling facility we had her at last year is giving every baby IV plasma as soon as they're born this year. We did move the mare out of that facility this year since there are so many horses in and out and we are not rebreeding her this year. We are in Arizona and there isn't much of a freeze and once the heat hits then it seems like the viruses come with it. The lady that runs this facility told us she has talked with other big breeders and they said they are giving IV plasma as soon as the baby is born as well as at 1 month old now to make sure they don't catch some crazy virus. We had our foal last Friday and when we had his IGg test done at around 18 hours they said he was well over 800. Is this overkill giving the plasma, or can it really give them a boost. It's pricey doing the IV plasma, but as many know, it's better than having a big vet bill and not being able to bring your horse home!! I don't have the money to burn, but after you've come this far, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Sorry, this has gotten long, just thought I would check with those that might have had experience with giving plasma.

Thanks so much, I really enjoy the community that is here!! I hope to have cameras online next year to be able to share my experience as well!!

Lori

[ftp]www.geocities/murrayduley[/ftp]

[Golden Girl]

Hi Lori, it is interesting that you asked this question. I had my Vet out just yesterday to test my new foal. His dam didn't get any milk in. He tested 800 also. Which according to the scale is 'on the line' 800 & above, no plasma transfusion needed. Then my Vet ask me what I thought, I responded "better safe than sorry?" He said "No, you can over load too much, and that is not good either!" So, no transfusion.

Fire Fly is feeling much better after receiving IV fluids & Calcium, and being supplemented with Foal Lac Milk Replacer every 2 hrs. He is 2 days old today, and got to go outside for a few hours with his mama, Cookie. You can see the pics on this MB ;D

Good Luck!

[Marion]

I have never had that problem, so I can't advise you one way or another. However, I can wish you good luck with your foal. I hope you enjoy the forum for it is a good place to be.

[loriaz]

Laura, that is interesting!! I appreciate the opinion from your vet, I usually try to research as much as possible before I just take someones word on things. I have called a couple of vet clinics around here, but have not heard from them yet. I wondered if it was something you could over do, or if as long as you had enough it wouldn't make any difference. I'm like you, better safe than sorry, but it's not cheap!!
Thank you Marion, I've enjoyed the board and learned alot!! Feel free to check out our website and see our guy. If you click on Zippermint Te, you can find him on her page. We are really proud of him!!
Thanks again!
Lori

[ftp]www.geocities.com/murrayduley[/ftp]

[Golden Girl]

Your are welcome. I did read everything I could in my Veterinary Guides and on the INTERNET! By the time Dr. Zieger came, I pretty much knew about everything he did to my mare & colt

Now, he still was hesitant about not giving the tranfusion also. Even when he called back later he questioned his decision. BUT this was on a foal the possibly did not get the antibodies at all. This decision was mine as well as his. I have used Dr. Zieger for several of my more serious horse related issues, and respect his skill & knowledge. He did after all go collage and studied. I on the other had have 40 years practical experience and also go by my 'gut' feeling.

My question to you Loni is: What is the 'fast' moving virus that you are concerned about? That greatly interests me, and have wondered how this 'breeding/foaling' facility let it get so out of hand!

Also if you foal was well over 800, and your mare has never been affected by this virus, why worry? BUT again, we all worry about our foal babies don't we

All my love to you and your foal

[loriaz]

We do not know what the virus was. Last year my filly was 2 1/2 months when we lost her and had been very healthy until then. She was fine on Thursday, got a bit of a runny nose on Friday, the gal at the 'breeding/foaling' facility started giving her antibiotics on Friday, and then finally contacted us on Sunday telling us the filly was sick and not wanting to nurse. I live about an hour from the facility so unfortunately I don't get up there as often as I'd like. This lady has done this for over 20 years and as a general rule I trust her, but I felt like it was our right to know before Sunday when the filly was really bad. We hauled her to the vet clinic, they put her on IV antibiotics and she lived for almost 24 hours. She never really improved there, but she didn't really go downhill either. It was Memorial Day so they only had an ICU staff there checking about every 2 hours, one check she was ok, the next check she was gone. They did xrays when we took her in and it looked like she had cotton balls lining her lungs. We were so devastated when it happened we didn't even think to ask if they were doing an autopsy, we just assumed they would, but they didn't!! The vet at the 'breeding/foaling' facility was upset because they would have liked to know what hit. At the facility they had one foal die the week before ours of some type of virus and then another got sick a few days after ours and they just doused her with plasma and iv antibiotics and she made it.

Our colt this year seems healthy, but an issue like the one last year certainly makes you paranoid!! It seemed to hit fast and hard, and again he is not in my backyard so I can keep an eye on him. We want to be proactive with him, but don't want to be throwing away money!!

Thanks again for your help and concern!!

[AZLynn]

Does the vet check for valley fever? I know it's been bad here this year. So much new construction, it's just in the air.

What part of AZ are you in?

[loriaz]

Hi Lynn!
They didn't check the filly for that last year, but it is definately a thought!! Have you found there has been Valley Fever in horses? I know in people and dogs it has gotten fairly common, I hadn't heard of it in the horses yet! I am in Mesa, my babies are boarded in Phoenix, where are you?
Lori

[ftp]www.geocities.com/murrayduley[/ftp]

[AZLynn]

Hey Lori!

I'm in Tucson!

I know valley fever has risen sharply this year in humans and dogs. I haven't heard any reports about horses but my thought is that they probably can get it! After all they're out in dust all the time. We've had a lot of windy days down here this spring, you've probably had wind there too, seems at least a few times a year a dust storm rolls through the Phoenix area around I-10.

I think it would be worth mentioning to the vet. I thought of it because you said something about an x-ray showing what looked like cotton balls lining the lungs. I think I'm going to google valley fever in horses and see what I find! Good luck with everything!