Ask the Vet - Lyme disease in horses

[@beckyfritz7917]

This video was immensely helpful for me! My 16 year old horse was diagnosed with Lyme disease this past summer. The first signs I noticed in my horse as an owner were changes in behavior, sensitivity to touch, and change in his way of going. We treated with 30 days of doxycycline and he improved dramatically for a time. In December, he was diagnosed with arthritis in his hocks, which we treated with hock injections as well as ongoing monthly IM injections. When his hocks started to feel better, he injured a fetlock running around in the field in the mud, and also began showing signs of sensitivity to touch again. Under our vet's direction, we repeated the doxycycline for 3 weeks for what we believed to be a lyme disease flare-up, and also treated with a short course of anti-inflammatories, stall rest for few weeks with poultice and standing bandages, hand walking, followed by gradual reintroduction to turnout and currently a slow re-introduction to riding as he continues to improve. We've had a rough 6 months! This video is what led me to ask my veterinarian about lyme disease this past summer, as well as to be aware that while flare-ups do occur, it's important to not assume that every symptom IS a flare-up and sometimes the horse really is lame! Just wanted to share our story and say thank you!

[@Herbertti3]

After watching this I wonder why standard treatment for humans is 2 weeks of doxycycline no matter how long one has had the infection.

[@trydiy8773]

Cushing's syndrome is something that I heard about but would like to know more about like treatments cause and effects. I really just heard the name and would like to know more about the illness

[@Trapezius8oblique]

Here in Australia the medical profession doesn’t accept at all that we may have Lyme disease here. But I don’t believe that. I’m certain I had a calf with it. He had joint ill from umbilical infection at birth but also had a lot of ticks, one bite of which was very distinctive, it never healed. The vets couldn’t help him.

[@carolv8450]

When I visited Long Island, New York, on a bus tour, the guide said there were so many ticks that ppl were automatically considered to have lyme’s disease. I’m sure pets were too.

[@danareilly3280]

My name is Dana I have a new horse is name is the Jimster and he is the second horse that got Lyme disease what should I do about it..will he get better or wose or will I have to put him down?

[@mayan3612]

Who is checking it to find how to treat themselves, becouse animal treatment is much more strait forward then human!