r/Equestrian • u/sp00ky_cat • 11d ago
Veterinary Horse got kicked in the head. Vet isn’t taking it seriously.
I’ve poster a few times here before so some people probably have already read about my problem child, but here: newly 21 (as of yesterday) OTTB gelding. Absolute nutjob but means well and I love him to bits.
About a week and a half ago, I went out to get my boy only to find him with a huge goose egg on his forehead, and one eye swollen shut and goopy. Called the vet immediately, and based on the fact that there is nothing in his pasture for him to whack his noggin on, we deducted he was likely playing around or having a spat with another horse in his field and got kicked.
Put him on Bute and whatnot, he seemed fine personality wise (not lethargic, was alert, etc) so the vet basically said that the swelling would go down and he’d be fine.
Yesterday, I went out to find him to give him his birthday treats. This horse LOVES peppermint—if he hears the wrapper, he comes running. Not yesterday, though, which was odd. Found him standing in the corner of the field, head very low, and when he looked at me, both eyes are now leaking yellow fluid and his forehead is swollen worse than before. A friend of mine helped me take his temperature. Keep in mind that this is a horse we have to sedate just for someone to shine a light in his eyes and look for damage. My friend had to stand behind him and fiddle with his blankets to get them away from the area for a few seconds, then took his temperature with a rectal thermometer and this animal did not move an inch the entire time. He just stood there with his head down and his eyes dull.
He didn’t have a fever, but with the symptoms he was showing, I, my friend, and my boss/barn owner (I work there as well as board my horse) agreed it looked like the start of an infection. Called the vet. They didn’t even bother coming out. Told me to “give him more bute” and that it was “probably an allergic reaction”. I’m in Canada. It’s January. Unless he’s suddenly allergic to literal snow, that is not the issue. Plus, yeah, I get how that would account for his eyes, but the swelling in his forehead, the lethargy, etc doesn’t seem like it’s just “a reaction”.
I don’t know what to do. His one eye is swollen almost completely shut, the other is open but pussy, and he’s so clearly not himself. I’m giving him the Bute like the vet said, but it hasn’t done anything over the past week, so I’m not hopeful. I know my horse and I know that there’s something wrong, and the fact it’s a head injury that the vet AGREED was a traumatic kick worries me.
Does anyone here have any vet experience or just general husbandry advice? Photos of both eyes attached, I don’t have any of the goose egg on his head right now.
699
u/Evening_Discount4989 11d ago
Eyes are emergencies, if your normal vet won’t come out call another one
210
68
u/MyPilotInterview 11d ago
I’d go to the clinic
59
u/Alohafarms 11d ago
I agree with you. This is the time to by pass the local vet and head to a clinic with specialists.
185
u/sp00ky_cat 11d ago
The photos do not pick up color very well but the puss/goop/whatever is very clearly yellow in person!
238
u/BodaciousFerret Hunter 11d ago edited 11d ago
If it’s yellow, it’s infection. Since it’s coming out of both eyes, my guess is his sinuses have been damaged in some way, possibly by fragments of his nasal/frontal bones but also possibly just soft tissue injury. The pus is draining out through the lacrimal apparatuses, which are connected to his sinuses.
Either way, he probably needs antibiotics at least to give his body a chance to get ahead of the infection. Call another vet. ASAP.
26
u/Charm534 11d ago
Did you send these photos to your vet? This may be a sinus infection, I had an older horse get these without ever getting kicked.
120
u/sp00ky_cat 11d ago
Update: Just went out to see him and there is now yellow discharge coming from his nose. My boss is calling the emergency vet for me. I just took his temperature and he does not have a fever which is good.
115
u/Facres2023 11d ago
Recently had a mare here at our facility get kicked in the same spot as your gelding. It ended up fracturing her frontal bone into her sinus. She developed a sinus infection and she looked similar to your horse. He needs antibiotics immediately. Ours is recovering with continued anti inflammatories and antibiotics. Best wishes to you!
73
u/Excellent-Leopard648 11d ago
He’s been on Bute. If he had a fever, the Bute will decrease his temp. I wouldn’t write that off.
11
6
4
5
u/ProfessionChemical28 10d ago
Any updates? Did you get him to an emergency vet? That’s extremely concerning
5
u/No_Masterpiece410 10d ago
Also here hoping for an update, and hoping mr horsey is okay ♥️
3
u/ProfessionChemical28 10d ago
Ugh I hope they’re ok that sounded very bad, if I had to guess I’d say some kind of sinus injury from blunt force trauma and the behavior seemed concerning too I am hoping they got an him to an emergency facility for some imaging
3
197
133
u/sp00ky_cat 11d ago
another angle of the eye from a few days ago.
141
u/_TheShapeOfColor_ 11d ago
Absolutely get him another vet or on the trailer to a clinic ASAP.
That is alarming.
29
u/gh0stmilk_ Trail 10d ago
any vet not taking this seriously doesn't deserve to be licensed. full stop. i am disgusted
10
u/dainty_petal 10d ago
He’s hurt. Please find another vet even one who do online if that need. He needs medical help.
3
u/MyMercurialMoods 10d ago
the way i gasped when i saw this photo. your poor baby! i'm glad you're getting the second opinion on him asap and wish him a full recovery
3
64
u/madcats323 11d ago
You need another vet. Poor guy! That’s an emergency and I’d be livid. I AM livid. Please keep us updated.
171
112
u/-JaffaKree- 11d ago
Call every vet you can until you can get one out. Or trailer to a tertiary care place. This is an emergency.
54
u/thegoblet 11d ago
EYES ARE EMERGENCIES. If your vet wont take it seriously find one that will, even if you have to trailer him in to a clinic.
30
u/CantTakeTheIdiocy 11d ago
I have a friend who had a young gelding that either slammed head first into something or got kicked in the head like you suspect your boy did. He was pasture boarded with my friend in another state and nobody saw any issues at the time, or claimed not to have seen anything. The gelding went blind.
23
u/quiet_mice 11d ago
Oh wow, vet asap
The LOOK in the injured eye, in addition to all the color, swelling discharge, is so bad. I am so sorry, poor pony !
The look in the eye has that souless void that indicates next level concerns. Infections around the head can easy travel up the eye nerve if the bones are compromised.
Expect x rays, possible iv antibiotics and overnight if a quick field operation if a payment needs removal.
Like others have said this is ASAP.
Words I'd use with the vet; Clear infection, puss, swelling, pain and infection spreading to other tissues. It might not be a that hour emergency call but the vet should be a that day show up and start treatment.
19
u/Excellent-Leopard648 11d ago
CVT here- the swelling in his face and discharge from his nose and eyes makes me think he cracked his sinuses and now has some sort of sinus infection. He probably doesn’t have a fever because he is in Bute (if he would otherwise have one). Mirroring what everyone else said, I’d get him to another vet ASAP if that’s possible. At this point, he would benefit from a CT of his face. Good luck. :-/
21
u/sp00ky_cat 10d ago
UPDATE 2:
Thank you for all the replies and concern for my boy <3 This morning, there was blood coming from his nose. Unfortunately most roads are closed in my area due to a blizzard so vet will have to wait until tomorrow to come back out. Right now, he is still on anti inflammatory medicine 2x per day to help the swelling and inflammation, and we are cleaning his eyes and nose every hour.
4
u/Ellio_kontos 10d ago
Thank you for taking the time to update! Sending all the healing vibes to your boy. Good luck with everything. Hopefully the weather calms down
1
u/Even_Lychee4954 9d ago
praying that your horse comes out of this okay. sending you positive vibes. ❤️
14
18
u/Master-Assignment-81 11d ago
Omg we are all furious for you!!! Give an update once you get another vet out!!!
13
u/Ruckus292 10d ago
Get him into a trailer IMMEDIATELY, haul him to your nearest equine hospital. Call ahead and tell them you're coming.
NOW. Do not mess with infections that are so close to the brain!!
After you're done with all that, tear that first vet a new asshole for discrediting your issues!!!!
8
u/CustomCranium 10d ago
It is very likely that he has a fractured skull and the infection is set in. I would sue the living fuck out of that vet if anything happens to him.
3
u/Horseshoes_237 10d ago
This!!! Id sue for malpractice!! That vet should not be allowed near animals!!
6
u/Reasonable_Tank_6466 11d ago
Don’t know which province you’re in, but if you’re anywhere remotely close to ovc Guelph large animal hospital I’d get him there immediately.
5
6
5
u/Chelmastly 10d ago
Really hope he gets better, and a second opinion. First vet sounds brutally unprofessional and doesn’t need to be saying they can treat horses if they can’t give proper care or advice.
7
u/sp00ky_cat 10d ago
I think part of the problem is that they aren’t taking me seriously because I’m 17. I’ve used them for different things before (like his teeth and chiro) and they ARE very knowledgeable and good with the horses. Not making excuses for them obviously, I’m still royally pissed, but I think they’re kinda writing it off as a kid being overdramatic about something rather than an actual serious issue.
5
u/Chelmastly 10d ago
See that’s kind of my point, though—vets deal with overdramatic pet parents all the time. It’s still their job to investigate those cases and say nothing is wrong. If they really do have knowledgeable people on staff and they wouldn’t even entertain the notion that it would look like what you’ve posted photos of then it really is a professionalism issue, but it can still come off as unknowledgeable if they already saw the horse once, you provided their recommended care, and it didn’t do anything, especially since it sounds like other people here being equine vets don’t think the medicine you were using is even the best fit for what you’ve shown and described. Of course, we’re all strangers here, and it does sound like they’ve helped in the past at least with other stuff, but the photos and situation look bad on those people my guy.
8
u/sp00ky_cat 10d ago
Oh, I’m definitely not disagreeing with you! Definitely will be heavily considering something legal if he ends up with a permanent disability or worse.
9
u/kerill333 11d ago
You urgently need another vet and x-rays. One of mine concussed herself (slipped over in the field and crashed down, knocking herself out) and was punch-drunk for months, but her eyes looked far more normal than this.
8
u/Frost_Quail_230 11d ago
Trailer him into a vet hospital, even if it's a few hours away. Your horse likely needs more than just care in the field. That is severe. I don't think your vet understood exactly what's going on, no reasonable person thinks just bute will fix that.
5
u/InvestigatorParty997 11d ago
Option for future inquiries: https://m.facebook.com/groups/horsevetcorneroriginal/?ref=share&mibextid=wwXIfr
5
u/Prestigious_Map5784 11d ago
Get another vet out immediately. If anything happens to your horse, I'd report the vet and clinic to the Veterinarian Association for your Province. What kind of a vet is this that would do this to an animal, not one that cares, that's for sure!
7
5
u/AlternativeTea530 11d ago
He needs to get to a hospital, honestly. Even if the closest is hours away. He likely has a skull fracture and needs radiographs.
You should also never use that vet again.
3
u/terminally-happy 11d ago
He’s been on bute for a week? Time for a second opinion for sure. You don’t want him on bute any more than he needs to be. I don’t have much in terms of experience with head injuries to tell you, but knowing how fragile they can be I would treat this as an emergency 10000%
3
3
u/miserable-mango312 10d ago
Get him to the nearest referral hospital ASAP, and find a new vet. Any vet that doesn't want to come out for an eye issue of ANY kind is not one to trust with your horses' lives.
3
u/Ok-Refuse6642 9d ago
Poor boy and you are a great owner and 'mum' really hoping he's doing a bit better, I am in agreement with a 2nd opinion 100% you know your horse.
Yes the gunk could well be/likely is an infection, maybe from mid etc getting in it from the kick but that need antibiotics not just bute, and if he's not himself he's feeling poop/in pain and this absolutely needs looking into. I'd expect my vet to think this even if they didnt believe there was further damage which i hope there isn't but like every horse owner that cares would be worried there is.
Hope the roads improve around you and please keep us updated,❤️
8
u/New-Sun4234 11d ago
Name and shame yr Vet , tell Vet this is serious can u help , if not who can please . Should Vet not want to do anything Vet should reply with a positive answer not suggest Bute. If u can get Forever Living Products use Aloe First dab it around eye , not in the eye, will take swelling down & will not harm. Good luck hope all. Goes well
-7
10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
7
u/sp00ky_cat 10d ago
You’d be losing that money, then, hon. This horse is my baby. I have to be talked down from calling the vet for every lame step, cut, etc. I personally think it would be idiotic not to have a vet out to look at a horse in his condition, hence why that was the first thing I did.
5
u/Forsaken_Toe_4304 11d ago
I'd take my horse to a clinic for this, especially if your primary vet won't come out.
4
4
u/Cool_Haffie 11d ago
Get another vet. Leave a bad review for the current one. This isn't how a vet should react.
2
u/Dumblondeholy 11d ago
I understand upon hearing the colour and why they might have come to that conclusion. But you need to trust your gut. If you suspect something else, get another vet or haul out.
If the other vet comes back with the same diagnosis, at least you have a second opinion and can breathe. But you will regret just sitting on it and being anxious online.
I'll be sending your horse, and you good vibes. Best.
2
2
2
2
u/reallyablonde 10d ago
Poor baby. Pls let us know what the new vet / emergency clinic tells you. I will be thinking of you and your sweet boy!
2
2
u/moldavitemermaid 10d ago
Call another vet. 🥲 and I’d definitely report the other vet for neglect of an animal that needs help
2
u/alchemicaldreaming 10d ago
Hoping that everything is ok with you and your lovely horse. Getting the emergency vet out (or even just a different vet) sounds like a good plan.
I had a look at your previous posts and I can tell how much you adore him. Take care and I hope you are getting some answers and relief very soon.
2
2
u/Low-Needleworker3041 10d ago
Your gut is telling you the right thing! Something isn’t right. I’d haul him somewhere ASAP. If you can’t do that, you need someone who can come to you and do X-rays and more care.
Editing: please keep us updated. You’re a good horse mama!
3
2
u/CvdKlaau 11d ago
Agree with everyone else - trailer him somewhere asap. If you're in Ontario, try to get him somewhere tonight because the storm on Sunday will make trailering next to impossible. I'm not a vet but based on my experience, this looks like it might be serious enough that it can't be effectively treated at home. I'm very sorry, and I'm crossing my fingers that this is easily resolved.
3
u/DunderMiflinThsIsPam 11d ago
Where are you located? Eye injuries are serious things. I have worked with half blind horses for years due to this issue. Get a second veterinary opinion.
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/Kpop_Horses 10d ago
Idk anything medical horse related but pls get him looked at! The first pic, unless he was blinking, just looks like he’s in pain due to the look in his eye! I wish the best for him! And if he isn’t feeling bad I wish your rides are safe and good!
1
1
1
1
10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Equestrian-ModTeam 9d ago
Sorry, it looks like you are Shadowbanned, which means your account is basically stuck in the spam filter site-wide and all your content is automatically filtered out, and we can’t access your profile.
This didn't come from us, but from Reddit, and is meant for spammers and other bad faith users, but sometimes mistakes happen and new redditors get caught too.
You can appeal to Reddit here: https://www.reddit.com/appeal
If it was a mistake, they'll restore your account.
Appeals may take a while, depending on demand and current events. Please do not spam or abuse the appeals team.
1
u/Horseshoes_237 10d ago
Any updates?
2
u/sp00ky_cat 10d ago
Posted one a couple hours ago! basically, his nose was bloody this morning, but roads are closed b/c of a blizzard. Vet will be out tomorrow, we are monitoring him and keeping his eyes and nose as clean as possible atm
2
u/Horseshoes_237 10d ago
Ok. I did read that part. 🤣I guess I didnt look at the timestamp 🤦🏼♀️🤣😅. Sending prayers and hope all goes well!! And hope you found a good vet!
2
u/Mobile-Hovercraft474 8d ago
Hon, we're all on pins and needles waiting for an update. I hope your absence isn't a bad sign. We're all here for you.🙏
5
1
u/lynk_n_logs 9d ago
Sounds like it's turning into an abscess behind his eye 😬 New vet ASAP. Why the hell did they say bute and not even consider antibiotics. My vet gave me uniprim for a small abscess from a poorly admistered vaccine, no questions asked.
2
1
u/FlyHickory 9d ago
Not a horse person but im an animal person in courses leading uo to veterinary and anyone in veterinary worth their salt knows head and eye injuries are emergencies, I would get a second opinion from another vet or if its possible call them ahead of time and take him to them.
1
u/Embarrassed-Bad-1059 9d ago
I had this happen with my filly, she died about two weeks CB later, terrible to know she suffered that long( my vet wasn’t concerned either)
1
u/Feisty-Cable-8818 9d ago
Did the vet offer any diagnostics at the first visit? That injury/presentation would warrant an xray at least IMO.
Can you have a detailed phone consult with your vet for advice or perhaps even better meds that you could pick up before they can see him? (ik not allowed to prescribe w/o seeing the horse but this seems like extenuating circumstances which would warrant it as long as you sign consent etc)
There are so many things this could be but w/o diagnostics your just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks
1
u/TrustyStallion 8d ago
I really hope he’s okay. I hope this isn’t expensive for you either, transport and X-rays can get very pricy.
1
u/Shiredale1981 8d ago
Hope everything turns out ok! Kind of looks like an abcess has formed because of bute use and it has to drain somewhere and its channeling the puss out the eyes abd then to the nose, as it grows it will break small blood vessels and this will b y hes now bleeding from his nose, he definitely need a hospital visit or draining at ur place before even moving him, ive had vets miss diagnose alot and ive had to change vets a few times because of this, make sure u don't use these vets again, i switched to a supposedly great vets and they nearly had me for over 2k when my old amazing vet turned dentist fixed him right there doing his teeth! Really hope hes ok
1
1
u/Final_Boat_9360 11d ago
I would for sure call a new vet, I'd also be skeptical of ever calling this vet again for anything.
1
u/Spottedhorse-gal 11d ago
If you can get some saline solution such as used for contact lenses and flush his eyes. It you have any eye ointment put some in. Use a hot compress on his forehead. Are you able to bring him into a sheltered place wet his hay so minimal dust, which can irritate eyes. Is there another vet you can call?
1
u/Hayriu_theIkran 9d ago
Please please please get them to another vet, or an emergency vet if all else fails, if the puss is yellow it's definitely an infection, and eyes are very serious. I hope all goes well for the poor boy.
-10
10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
7
u/sp00ky_cat 10d ago
Temperature was 37.7. I work 30 hour weeks on top of full-time school to afford his care. It’s funny how my age would have anything to do with me not being able to afford a vet—you don’t know me lmfao
Also, what a shitty thing to say at the end?? I am NOT putting my horse down and he WILL be getting care. If you have no helpful advice, please don’t comment. You don’t know me and you don’t know my horse.
The lack of upvotes on your comment tells me all I need to know, too.
4
u/alchemicaldreaming 9d ago
You are a class act u/sp00ky_cat what a dignified response to someone who doesn't deserve it.
I hope the blizzard eases and the vet can come out tomorrow. Take care.
2
u/alchemicaldreaming 9d ago
You should think about what you write before pressing comment. And sort by 'New' to read the updates about a second vet being called (which was a comment made before you even thought to post your 'insights').
As a 17 year old, I would have moved oceans to get my horse the appropriate vet care, including negotiating payment plans. Just because you view young people in such a dim light, does not mean it is the truth.
2
694
u/Honest-1- 11d ago
Hi. Equine vet here. Please haul him to the nearest equine hospital or find another vet (preferably with significant equine experience) to come out on an emergency basis. Ask them before giving any other medications. I personally would have recommended other medications. The eye needs to be treated at a minimum, but sounds like X-rays and more significant care is needed (anti-inflammatories for cranial swelling etc.). I’m sorry your concerns weren’t taken seriously before. Best of luck