Sick horsey
Archie has a fever. I noticed yesterday that one of the boys seemed to be having the runs, at least in relative terms. Since they share a yard, I couldn't say which, they both seemed to be acting normal. But last night Archie didn't eat his hay or drink any water. This morning he took treats and grain but still no hay. Gary called the vet today. She came out to check on him and says it's fever, unsure from what since he's vaccinated against all the common problems, probably a virus of some sort.
So we have to watch him, take his temperature twice a day, and give him medication if it's over 102 F. And try not to spread it to Tess in the other barn. So far Asher seems fine, which is a little odd since he's the one usually more prone to respiratory problems. Hopefully it's no more serious than that and will be gone in a day or two. All our horses are vaccinated against strangles, and it's way past the time for insect born things like West Nile or encephalitis.
Snowing hard, wet and heavy right now. The drive home was bearish. Keep your paws or hoofies or whatever crossed for Archie, please.
10 PM update: His temperature went down slightly, from 102.4 to 102.2. He has eaten, and drunk some water, so that's promising. Per instruction, we gave him another tiny dose of Bute and will check again at dawn. He's alert and friendly as usual, and didn't object to having the temperature taken, so maybe it isn't so serious.
8 AM Saturday: Much better it seems. Temperature 99 (about normal) and he is eating and drinking. No idea what it was, but we will keep him in for the morning to make sure he is passing normal stuff and then let him back outside.
11 AM Saturday: Normal poop. Yay! And he ate all the hay we gave him this morning. Both boys are now outside hunting down and eating the leftover hay from yesterday when Archie wasn't eating.
5 PM Saturday: Normal temperature, 99.4 F. Eating and drinking. So we stand down the watch. I didn't know horses got 24 hour bugs, but there it is. I think he's over it, but won't be running out there to serve him champagne at midnight. ;)
So we have to watch him, take his temperature twice a day, and give him medication if it's over 102 F. And try not to spread it to Tess in the other barn. So far Asher seems fine, which is a little odd since he's the one usually more prone to respiratory problems. Hopefully it's no more serious than that and will be gone in a day or two. All our horses are vaccinated against strangles, and it's way past the time for insect born things like West Nile or encephalitis.
Snowing hard, wet and heavy right now. The drive home was bearish. Keep your paws or hoofies or whatever crossed for Archie, please.
10 PM update: His temperature went down slightly, from 102.4 to 102.2. He has eaten, and drunk some water, so that's promising. Per instruction, we gave him another tiny dose of Bute and will check again at dawn. He's alert and friendly as usual, and didn't object to having the temperature taken, so maybe it isn't so serious.
8 AM Saturday: Much better it seems. Temperature 99 (about normal) and he is eating and drinking. No idea what it was, but we will keep him in for the morning to make sure he is passing normal stuff and then let him back outside.
11 AM Saturday: Normal poop. Yay! And he ate all the hay we gave him this morning. Both boys are now outside hunting down and eating the leftover hay from yesterday when Archie wasn't eating.
5 PM Saturday: Normal temperature, 99.4 F. Eating and drinking. So we stand down the watch. I didn't know horses got 24 hour bugs, but there it is. I think he's over it, but won't be running out there to serve him champagne at midnight. ;)