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Heart Issue - Irregular Heart Beat

7K views 5 replies 2 participants last post by  Bandera 
#1 ·
My gelding (I am leasing him for 2 years but have the option of purchase) is a 10 year old WB. My vet came out to check on a swollen leg and large edema on his stomach (he's paddocked by himself so he wasn't kicked) and anyhoo checked his heart. It was highly irregular, sometimes 4 to 6 to 8 beats. He also has a very visible jugular pulse, which I've been concerned about, but my vet told me to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't travel any higher. My vet took bloods and we'll hear the results tomorrow, ruling out any cardiac diseases.

Anyone have experience with Atrial Fibrillation? What level of competition were you able to achieve safely? I know eventing, polo and racing are out of the question!:lol: He doesn't really like jump anyhoo (other issues).
 
#2 ·
My friends horse might be having the same problem... here is whats happening to him...

Heart reate (bpm) : 120-130 AT REST
Temp; 101.5
Breath per minute: 25
Swollen abdomen filled with fluid
Gut sounds
Capilary refil is fine, color is fine
easily out of breathe
weak
sheath swollen/tendon swollen
no bite marks
laying down
kicking feet
depresses
stopped eating/drinking

Please help! My friends horse became really sick in the past week and the vet has no idea what is going on! The horse is lethargic an they can see the heart beat in his neck! Please help! Thank you!

Read more: http://www.horseforum.com/horse-health/fast-heart-rate-near-death-need-73946/#ixzz191h7XgBD


Same thing?????? let me know what happens!
 
#3 ·
The heart beat in the neck isn't common, but my gelding has it too, it's very visible. As long as it doesn't travel up the neck, above the heart it's an 'okay' thing. My horse is different in that his temperature is extremely low, like 94. But he has a large edema on his stomach behind the girth line. Pathology wise his white and red blood cell counts were very low. We're watching him very closely but think it's lymphoma, which can end in colic. From what I gather lymphoma can effect the heart.

Not sure if it's the same thing with your friend's horse, but could be a possibility??? Did the vet run bloods?
 
#5 ·
An edema is basically when fluid is retained in body tissue and it swells. My gelding's is large about 10 inches round and three inches thick.

Hope the bloods indicate what might be going on. Let me know how it goes with the vet. Horses, like any animal, are mysterious with health issues, or can be.
 
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