What could motive these symptoms?
Our weanling colt has had runny eyes for a few days, but we just chalked this up to dust or meander irritation and cleaned his face off. However, his eyes this morning have started to draw from red around the edges as if they are more irritated, and are still having discharge after several days.
Additionally, I noticed him a couple days wheezing slightly while intake. Not terribly loud or gasping, but enough so I thought it was peculiar. However, he was still eating quite with satisfaction and did not at all wheeze or get short of breath when he was asked to stride and trot around on the lead. However, this also seems to have gotten worse, but still solely while eating, and just slightly.
He has no other symptoms, no disorientation, no nasal discharge, and is perfectly lively to exercise.
We have already contacted the vet about it, however, nowadays is his day off so we will not hear until tomorrow.
So that is not the direction I would like to hear, just want opinions on what it could be.
My boyfriend is concerned he have a cold/flu, as he has not had this shot yet (more info on that below). I thought it would be atypical however, for these to present lacking nasal discharge or lethargy.
He was given his first round of tetanus/west nile/sleeping sickness at the breeder, but she insisted we wait until he be at least 10 months old to get the rhino/flu shot. She stated that otherwise in that could be a conflict between the immunity in the mother's milk and the shot, and those vaccination may never properly cover him. We had been paying for his shots and health safekeeping at this point, so it would not be an issue of her decieving us to save money. So he is now 7 months old, and have been weaned from his mother for somewhat over 3 weeks.
Additional info you may need to make your judgement: he is feed Grow'n'Win, 3 coffee cups worth, twice a day, and has open access to as much grass hay as he wishes, in addition to being allowed to graze on what green grass we own left in Kansas 24/7.
Has as much water as he desires, a salt block, and a large shed to get out of the meander, but is not blanketed (temperatures reach around 25 at night, but he is pretty fuzzy).
What do you think the vet might transmit us?
Until your vet arrives, try putting a fly mask on your boy. The discharge of the eyes and the blush could be an infection in the eyes. He could even have a parasite irritating him there. I don't know specifically what could be wrong, but try the fly cloak to at least potentially stop any dust or other harmful allergens from compounding the problem. I don't know how it could relate to his wheezing as well, however the close location of the eyes and throat could be a sign of a potential infection spreading. It could be something as simple as allergies, so don't verbs too much.
I'm sure your vet will have all the answers when he finally shows up, but contained by the meantime you can try to make your boy as comfortable as possible. I wouldn't panic just on the other hand. :)
Good luck!
He requests to see the vet. He has a respiratory infection, could be the flu, or even strangles.
Answers: Along with trying a fly mask, also try wetting his hay/grain. If there's dust or anything contained by his food, it could cause him to wheeze...he might have mild asthma or allergies to something
It really sounds like rhino, whether it was strangles you would have noticed a lump full of pus by very soon,. Since he has not had his shots he needs antibiotics as soon as possible. Keep his eyes verbs and see what the vet says about some kind of ointment to ease the redness. Make sure he have plenty of water. If he gets chills, blanket him.
Your horse could simply have an allergy to something within the food or dust or something else in his environment. I hope either of the following may help...
This article discusses the more serious conditions relating to the eye:
http://www.thalequine.com/Articles/What%...
Here is bits and pieces from an article at thehorse.com about foal eye problems (http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx... ):
The foal's eyes are fully developed at birth. Disorders of the foal eye might be noted at birth, or they can be inherited or acquire after birth. Low tear film production, a round pupil, reduced corneal sensation, and a temporary withdrawal of some neurologic eye reflexes are found in all newborn foals, but the values become adult-like next to time. These temporary problems can affect healing of the eye if it's injured while they are still present, so it's crucial to understand them. Following are the most common foal eye problems; some occur at birth, and some are a result of disease or injury after birth.
Microphthalmos
Microphthalmos, a congenitally small sphere (eyeball), is common in foals and can occur contained by one or both eyes (see photo on page 67). This differs from phthisis bulbi, in which a normal-sized globe shrinks from severe injury. Most microphthalmic eyes of foals are blind and can be associated with other optical abnormalities such as cataracts. A small eyelid opening and prominent nictitans (third eyelid) might be see in affected foals. Thoroughbreds appear to be at an increased risk for microphthalmos. There is no therapy for this condition.
Strabismus
Strabismus refers to a misalignment of the eyeball from its commonplace position, resulting in an inability of one eye to attain binocular vision with the other one. In the foal, the position of the pupil and eye are deviated slightly down and toward the midline, beside the eye reaching the normal adult position by one month of age. Congenital strabismus is reported in Appaloosa horses and mules. Surgical correction is needed within some severe cases, and the owner of a horse with severe strabismus is advised to consult a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Blepharitis
Hair loss, skin abrasion, and depigmentation are all associated with fly-bite blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) in foals. To avoid fly bites around the eyes, fly repellants can be applied to the skin or slow-release insecticide strips can be attached to the mane or halter. Bacterial and parasitic infections of the eyelids can also materialize in foals.
Treatment consists of topical and systemic antibiotics in most cases.
Entropion
Rolling inward of the lower or upper eyelids (entropion) can occur surrounded by foals as a primary anatomic condition, or be secondary to microphthalmos, dehydration, malnutrition, prematurity, or scarring following eyelid trauma (see photo on page 67).
The entropion might cause increased tear, eyelid squinting, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva that lines the inner eyelids), or corneal ulcers. The treatment in young foals beside entropion is to roll out or evert the eyelid margin with temporary sutures until the causative moving parts has resolved. Permanent reconstructive entropion surgeries should be reserved for larger, older foals.
Eyelid Trauma
Traumatic eyelid lacerations and brow trauma can occur in foals. Upper eyelid lesions are more serious than lower eyelid injuries, as upper eyelid movement distributes the gash film to wet the eye, preventing exposure keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).
Preservation of the eyelid margins (edges) is critical and removal of eyelid margins following trauma should be avoided. The rich blood supply to the eyelids generally allows for high-speed healing and functional surgical repair of eyelid lacerations.
Nasolacrimal System Malformation
Congenital absence of any portion or adjectives of the nasolacrimal (tear drainage) system must be differentiated from acquired obstruction of the tear drainage system. The clinical signs are a unilateral or bilateral, chronic, mucoid (resembling mucus), and eventually mucopurulent (mucus and pus) optical discharge in a young horse.
As infection develops, there can be meaningful discharge from the eye. Some foals with nasolacrimal system congenital defects aren't identified until the clinical signs of infection become severe at one to two years of age. Surgical creation of a new drainage system is required to right this problem.
Heterochromia Iridis
Heterochromia iridis is a variation in the normal grey brown iris color, and might be a combination of white and blue iris color with brown corpora nigra ("wall eye," see photo on page 67), or white iris color with brown corpora nigra known as a "china eye." This average variation is common in Appaloosas, palominos, chestnut, grays, and spotted and white horses, and is not an indication of disease.
Iris Hypoplasia/Aniridia
Incomplete
I think definitely get a hold of the vet A.S.A.P. at first i thought the eye discharge my be from flys (I know it sounds ridicules) because I know a horse that have a lot of eye discharge in the summer and his eyes start getting red. Try putting a fly mask on him for that. Maybe you should put a really frothy weight blanket on him at night...
either flu or rhino.
flu would spike a temp, rhino...not necessarily.
It solitary happens while eating? eating what? his grain/hay or grass?
Is you hay dusty/moldy at adjectives?
(not saying your hay is crap...but I know ALOT of farmers didn't get the quality they normally have.. its been hard to find nice hay this year which sucks)
ADD: so freshly when his head is down? and no nasal discharge? hmm... i read that allergies dont usually cause runny nose in equines. Is he the only horse with these symptoms?
blocked crack ducts maybe? i might put my money on that
http://www.quarterh.com/health2.htm ..i think if it be rhino he'd have a temp and nasal discharge
