Conference noted::equitation

    I would be more worried it the mare were not drinking.  Is she?
    Dehydradation is more serious.  If the mare is drinking ask the
    vet if you can put electrolites in her water (not too much because
    she might shy away from the strange taste.  What kind of illness
    does the mare have or had.  Does the vet know that she is not eating?
    Is the mare in much pain, can you lead her slowly for short periods
    to get grass, or does she have to stay in her stall.  
    
    Horeses have a low tolerance for pain.  If they become depressed
    at all, than you will all most always lose them.  Nursing care is
    probably more important than anything the vet can do after treatment.
    Time spent with mare talking, grooming, touching are all very critical
    to the recovery.  Just walking or being able to look outside is
    especially helpful.
    
    Fluids though are essential.  The body can survive without food
    longer than it can without water.  Tissue damage can become danagerous
    as the body draws upon its own water supply to maintain survival.
    
    good luck,
    stephanie 

    Well, since I got kicked off trying to write the last reply, I'll
    try again.  Since I entered the note last week, the horse proceeded
    to get really sick and depressed over the weekend.  She does drink
    water, usually about 3/4 bucket a day, which is good.  The other
    problem is that she is retaining a lot of fluid through her chest
    and legs.  Yesterday I thought it was over for her, so I called
    the vet, and he gave her 2 IV's of ringers and different vitamins
    and electrolytes.  He also changed her anitbiotic to Liquimican,
    50 cc per day which should get rid of anything that is still growing.
    The horse suffered some type of blood poisining, most likely from
    a dirty needle given where she used to live.  I stopped by this morning
    to see her, and she looked like a different animal, she was bright
    and alert.  I put her outside in the paddock with her hay and grain,
    and am going to let her walk it off herself.  She is so weak that
    I'm afraid I may use all her calories by making her walk the fluid
    out.  
    

    NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ILLNESS IS.  IS IT DISTEMPER?  SOUNDS
    LIKE IT COULD BE.  
    
    IT MAY BE THAT THE HORSE IS IN PAIN AND TRYING TO REACH INTO THE
    GRAIN DISH OR WATER BUCKET IS DIFFICULT.  IF THAT'S THE CASE PUT
    THE BUCKETS ON THE FLOOR.  HORSE MAY BE HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING
    ALSO WHICH WOULD MAKE IT RELUCTANT TO REACH INTO SOMETHING LIKE
    THAT.  
    
    SINCE THE VET HAS BEEN THERE REGULARLY YOU MAY PERHAPS WANT TO ASK
    HIM.  IF IT'S OK WITH HIM, PERHAPS A GOOD HOT BRAN MASH WOULD BE
    HELPFUL.  ONE TASTY IDEA WITH A BRAN MASH MY HORSES LOVE -  GET
    SOME CANDY CANES OR SIMILAR PEPPERMINT CANDIES, MELT THEM IN BOILING
    WATER, COOL DOWN AND ALL TO THE HOT BRAN MASH FOR A TASTY TREAT.
    MAKE SURE THAT HOT BRAN MASH ISN'T TOO HOT, THOUGH.
    
    GOOD LUCK!
    

    Unfortunatly, this horse didn't make it.  Whatever type of
    blood poisioning she had couldn't be fought, and she died
    on tuesday evening about 20 minutes after I arrived at the
    barn.  The only good thing I can see coming out of this is
    that the poor little mare is no longer suffering, and even
    if she lived, she would have never been the same.
    
    

    I'm sorry to hear the the mare didn't make it, but sometimes as
    you pointed out, its better at least if the pain stops if the verdict
    will be terminal anyway.  Just as an aside, I had a Morgan trainer
    once that told me that if you can't get a horse to eat, and it isn't
    because of a serious illness, you can sometimes intice them with
    a little red wine mixed in with the feed.  I've tried it with some
    success.  You only want to add enough for them to smell it, not
    to get them smashed.
    
    Bob
    

    I've heard that about red wine also Bob.  I know people who give
    it to their horses before a race, and for some unknown reason,
    they do really well!!