Stories abound in the horse community about horse owners going online for medical information instead of contacting their veterinarian when a horse shows symptoms of being "not quite right." Like urban legends, these stories circulate and recirculate, but some horse owners neglect to get the message.
Symptoms in horses - Not always what they seem
The wise horse owner builds an on-going relationship with a vet and contacts the vet whenever unusual symptoms appear for an accurate diagnosis and guidance.
In fact, not only horse owners, but many pet owners are guilty of not calling the vet, but instead beginning medications on their own, often supplied by a friend with an animal that has been treated for a condition with similar symptoms.
In one example, a gelding seemed to have difficulty urinating and would stretch out to urinate, but couldn't produce more than a few drops of urine. After doing a Google search, the owner, using drugs supplied by a friend decided to treat the "colic" with drugs that would stimulate urination.
The horse rallied for a time, but later its condition worsened. Signs of abdominal pain increased, and, in a panic the owner had the horse admitted to an equine hospital. As the veterinarians discovered, the horse had a large colon impaction that threatened its life. The large doses of anti-inflammatories and duretics had worsened the condition rather than improving it.
Stretching to urinate is commonly seen in horses and other animals with abdominal pain and may not be connected with urinary problems.
Variations on this scenario are common throughout the horse world today. Owners are trying to manage problems themselves, and they delay calling a vet to avoid emergency visit costs. They often use the Internet to inform their decision making and horses sometimes suffer as a result.
Your veterinarian is trained in the “art” of diagnosing disease and interpreting test results.
Vets use “differential diagnosis,” which is based on identifying candidate diseases or conditions that might cause a clinical sign. They then eliminate possibilities through diagnostic tests or by judging response to symptomatic treatment. Upon reaching a diagnosis, vets consider treatment choices and select the most appropriate.
Today, horse owners have access to a vast body of information on the Internet. The problem is how to use that content most effectively. Much is written about equine diagnoses of diseases.
The wise horse owner builds an on-going relationship with a veterinarian and contacts the vet whenever unusual symptoms appear. Once the vet provides an accurate diagnosis and some guidance, then the Internet can be used to deepen the horse owners understanding of the horse’s condition.
Here are some suggestions for diagnosing and treating your horse effectively:
- Communicate with your vet early. He or she can guide you as to whether you can treat symptomatically or need to pursue a diagnosis. Together, you can discuss your options and their associated costs.
- Be observant and communicate your observations to your vet effectively. Photos and videos can help your vet quickly determine the best course of action.
- Learn to perform basic treatments so you can provide required follow-up care.
- Once you and your vet have chosen a treatment plan, talk about how to assess its effectiveness and how to monitor and communicate your horse’s progress.
- Ask your vet to recommend resources to help you expand your understanding.
The horse in the anecdote survived, but his vet bills were much higher than if he had been diagnosed and treated promptly and properly. He now has only about 25% of his kidney function, must be maintained on a special diet and strict management, and will always require periodic veterinary monitoring.