Mare...
was foaled in 1997
was donated to a university fall of '97
current owner purchased her Feb of '03
was very underweight (all ribs showing w/ ridgy spine) and not on
meds.
Mare bred spring of '03 (foal due April 4, '04).
no attacks or signs for first several months, diet of oats and free
choice coastal. I thought I'd bought a possible non-symptomatic. By
this time (summer of '03) I was convinced of it.
as weight increased (6 ribs showing), breathy sounds started so
giving 500 mgs of aceta, once a day.
as weight increased (no ribs showing) so did the number of attacks
(labored breathing, clenched jaw, drooling, hindered ability to
swallow , full body muscle jerking). Karo stopped these symptoms in
20 to 30 minutes. Increased aceta dosage to 750 mgs/twice a day. The
vet prescribed to start with 1250 mgs/day but to adjust higher if
needed. Added beet pulp to diet.
One month prior to foaling, on advice, started adding white salt to
feedings and increased aceta dosage to 1000mgs twice per day (bid).
Was also advised that hypp positive mares are more likely to have
hypp trouble closer to term.
Uneventful foaling.
Day one post foaling, impacted foal so mare and foal spent two days
at the vet's with much stress. No hypp signs.
Five days post foaling, morning feed, mare is found having a first
(known to this owner) major hypp attack (stiffened, tense body and
leg muscles, inability to rise; some breath sounds). Mare's legs were
straight out, stiff, no bend. Mare's head, neck and tail appeared
much less affected. Foal obviously hungry, foal's attempts (pawing,
walking on her) to get the mare up resulted in her thrashing and
injurious attempts to rise. Mare was given a pint of Karo then water
along with 1000 mgs of aceta . Mare was beginning to be dehydrated.
No colic signs (heave line). After 30 minutes, the Karo allowed the
mare to rise to her sternum once but then went prostrate again.
Vet was swamped so sent a techie. Vet tech was continually in mobile
phone contact with the vet. Mare kept thrashing so a tranq was given
then an IV of meds (given slowly over 20 minutes time). Vet was
concerned about the dehydration so pharmacies were contacted, looking
for solution (name?). None to be found. Mare got up after 20 or more
minutes, was hand walked and eventually drank much water. This
allowed her milk to come so foal was able to get full and less
anxious. Mare had a scraped ankle, bruised and scraped eye brows, a
massive swelling (bruise?) between her front legs and a hind leg
coronary injury. There didn't appear to be muscle stiffness or pain
once the attack was over except from the injuries acquired from her
failed attempts to get up.
One or two weeks after this, mare exhibited a milder attack (muscle
jerking, labored breath sounds). Karo stopped the symptoms after 30
to 40 minutes.
Only hypp sign since then has been an occasional different sound to
her feed time greeting. Mare's diet is oats, beet pulp, free choice
coastal (she always eats very little of the coastal). She gets 1000
mgs of aceta twice per day.
Mare is left unbred
