Endotoxemia in horses is a life-threatening condition caused by toxins in the blood, leading to severe inflammation and illness.

Endotoxemia

This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.

The presence of endotoxins in the blood is referred to as endotoxemia. These toxins are generally due to the presence of certain types of bacteria in the horse’s gut that have breached the gut wall and entered the blood stream. If not treated promptly, endotoxemia can lead to shock, laminitis, and death.

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Prolonged capillary refill
  • 3-4 sec. capillary refill
  • Red gums
  • Dry / tacky gums
  • Grayish / blueish white
  • Pale gums
  • Sunken eyes
  • Prolapse of third eyelid
  • Lethargic
  • Sensitivity
  • Kicking / biting stomach
  • Recumbency (Laying often)
  • Repeated stretching
  • Difficulty standing
  • Reluctant to move
  • Dog-sitting
  • Infrequent urination
  • No passing urine
  • Dark urine
  • Excessive sweating
  • Hightened pulse
  • Low heart rate
  • High heart rate
  • Depression
  • Rolling
  • Pawing
  • Cold legs
  • High respiration
  • Infrequent gut sounds
  • No gut sounds

Treatment

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, are key in treating endotoxemia. Intravenous fluids will likely be administered to your horse to help with his treatment.
In addition, your veterinarian will try to control the primary disease that your horse is experiencing in order to treat endotoxemia.
Efforts to neutralize endotoxins may include the use of hyperimmune serum or plasma given intravenously. Another option to neutralize endotoxin is to give your horse Polymyxin B, a cationic polypeptide antibiotic. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) may also be helpful and it is often given for its anti-inflammatory effects.

Prevention

Since most cases of endotoxemia in horses result from other illnesses, especially disruptions in the gut, it is important to be able to recognize a sick horse and contact a vet for a prompt diagnosis and treatment. Other ways to avoid the release of bacterial endotoxins include making gradual feed changes (hay as well as grain), feeding grain in multiple small meals rather than one large meal, ensuring the horse receives plenty of roughage by feeding 1.5-2% of the horse’s body weight in hay.

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