[Blistering Winds]

Over here, the vets, books, etc all say that Kidney infections are rare. Could be the soil contents or hay differences too.

[Doc]

Must learn to read through what I have written before posting. I hope you realised I meant shivers and not shakers. lol

Yeah, I don't know about the States. I've no idea what's common and what's not. Totally different climate, atmosphere and as you say, hay and soil content.

Anyway, hope the horse is sorted out soon.

[Open_the_Gait]

im pretty sure its not a kidney problem now. i cant have a vet check her tho because shes not mine.
but i dont know why her back would go bad again cuz nobody has ridden her. unless she just reinjured it runnin around the pasture...
i would do the 'fingers along her back' test, but i would be kicked before i even got close! (which is not out of character)
i wish they would just sell the horse. it needs to be taken care of better.
what are the shivers?

<small>[ January 04, 2004, 01:26 PM: Message edited by: Open_the_Gait ]</small>

[Doc]

Shivers affects the horses muscular system, neurological system, spinal cord or all three.

It more commonly affects draft horses but other breeds do develop it.

It affects the hind legs! The horse will flex the hind leg/s and you may be able to see tremors in the large muscles of the upper leg. The horse refuses to or kicks out when one or both hind legs are picked up because Shivers causes them to lose their balance.

Back pain is also common as Shivers can be caused by an injury to the back which causes pressure on the spinal cord.

[Dawn]

Does anyone know if we call it something different over here? I've never heard of that, but the description sounds familiar.

[Doc]

There's other diseases/conditions that are similar. Wobblers, Stringhalt and Lathyrism

[playgirls-marie]

my horse got a kidney infection at 3 and she didnt get int to anything poisonus and we gave her shots of penacillin and it was gone. you can tell it you run your hand done the horse spine like pinching it and when you get to the kidney take to fingers and press fimly and if the horse dosent get mad i.e kick try to bite or at discomfertable its proboly the horse spine then i recommend horsey chropracter or a massage from an experinced horse massus.

[Open_the_Gait]

update!!!

i found out the horse i was talking about has an abcess, not a sore back or kidney infection. i hope she can get better. dont know much about abcesses. what is it exactly? how do they affect the horse?

[Blistering Winds]

Abcesses are a pocket of infection.

Can be caused by a variety of irritants. Piece of dirt, local bacteria colony, insect bites, etc.

Depending on where they are at, many vets will lance them open to prevent them from popping internally, which can lead to a systemic infection that is REALLY bad.

Some vets will put the horse on antibiotics, some won't, depending on how bad the abcess is. Epsom Salt soaks are excellent to help draw the abcess gunk out, and a good flush out is standard at the practices I've worked at. Keeping it clean and dry is also good.

As for affecting the horse, it depends on where the abcess is. Feet and leg abcesses are not fun. usually the standard response you'll find with vets is just rest them and keep them clean. No Mud rolling, riding, etc until the abcessed area has closed up. Then depending on where it was, will depend on when to start working them again.

My friend's horse was on his butt. She still rode him because it didn't hurt him after it was lanced open.

I'd get with your vet on the course of action he/she wants to take

[spyro1]

A 15 min. soak in hot water and epsom salts, then let the hoof dry completly (on very clean ground concrete is best). Apply some Icthamol (drawing salve) on the abcess area, then cover with gauze pads, then vet wrap. When using vet wrap, be very careful not to cover up the bulb of the heel, not good, this area must be able to breath. Remember, though, this must be done daily. Also, how did you come to the fact that it was an abcess?? And where on teh hoof is it??