Antibiotics/Pro-biotics

[DSDECKERT]

Ok guys, Bianca is on MASSIVE doses of Antibiotics for her mastitis, I'm giving her 5 gm of probios paste daily - is that enough? She doesn't seem to be pooping as much as usual, but she hardly ate a thing (other than a little grazing) yesterday, wouldn't eat grain, hay - nothing but grass.

She's probably pooped 3 x since 6 a.m. - her usual is 4 or 5....should I worry? Should I up the probios?

She's getting 25 cc of Naxcel IM 1 x a day, plus 6 cc of gentomyacin/penicillin mix injected directly into the infected breast (through a tube into the nipple, not a needle).

I think it's just because she wasn't eating yesterday, huh? You know how I love this girl....she's my once in a lifetime horse!

Thanks!

[GeorgeGuns]

If she isn't acting belly-achey and just hasn't had as much to eat, she is probably fine. Pro-bios with antibiotics is always a good idea.

[appyday]

My vet said more importantly give the probiotics AFTER the antibiotics...sounds like a mess sorry you are going threw this ...again

[motorgypsy]

We got the granules and gave them twice a day for several weeks after Sultan went off his antibiotics.

Has the vet considered a mastectomy for her? Or do you plan to breed her in the future??

Has the vet done a culture of the secretions? Perhaps it's a resistant bacteria that just isn't being totally killed off???

[Abejita]

does giving shots of antibiotics affect the gut flora? I have never had a horse get problems unless getting oral antibiotics.

[DSDECKERT]

MG's - talked to the vet about that last year, at UF in Gainesville, and they said it's a horrible procedure and didn't recommend it.

No marble this year - she's been doing great. I may need to look into getting her one once we clear this up. I spray her breasts a couple of tiems a day with "Off - family" and it does a good job keeping them away. Vet thinks part of this is in Bianca's head...she loves babies and wants to have one.

I wasn't sure about the injections, but thought better safe than sorry.