Gas gangrene in a horse
Owen, J.; Bevins, G.A.
Veterinary Record 142(20): 555-556
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 9637391 Document Number: 489363
A 9-year old gelding Thoroughbred point-to-pointer was depressed, unwilling to move, had eaten nothing for 24 h and drunk very little. The skin over the left gluteal region was inflated like a balloon and its temperature was 39.3 degrees C. The owner (a nurse) had injected the horse with ivermectin 3 days earlier for worms. Gas gangrene was diagnosed and 4 g oxytetracycline hydrochloride was given i.v. The following morning the inflated area had extended forwards over the left lumbar region. 6 gauge needles were inserted through the skin, releasing gas followed by serosanguineous fluid. Through each needle, 5 ml hydrogen peroxide 20 volume (6%) diluted by 15 ml of water was injected. This was painful for the horse. The horse was also give 1 g ceftiofur sodium i.v. and 500 mg flunixin meglumine i.m. The following morning, the horse was slightly better, having eaten and drunk a little. The infusion and antibiotic treatments were repeated for another 5 days to a complete recovery, apart from an abscess in the gluteal area which had burst under the skin. A swab revealed the presence of Clostridium septicum.