Moldy sweetclover poisoning in a horse.

The study discusses the case of a six-year-old Percheron mare diagnosed with moldy sweetclover poisoning, which was efficiently treated through one whole blood transfusion and subsequent four daily intravenous injections of vitamin K(3).

Case Presentation and Diagnosis

• The research focuses on a case of a six-year-old Percheron mare who was presented with a history of spontaneous unilateral epistaxis, which is a condition characterized by unexpected nosebleeds that had been lasting for 24 hours at the time.
• The horse exhibited extended one stage prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times. Prothrombin time is a blood test that measures how long it takes blood to clot, while partial thromboplastin time measures the time it takes for a clot to form in a blood sample.
• Based on the horse’s history, clinical symptoms, and lab test results, the mare was diagnosed with moldy sweetclover poisoning. Sweetclover, when it becomes moldy, can produce a substance called dicoumarol which inhibits the body’s ability to form blood clots, leading to bleeding disorders.

Treatment and Outcome

• The treatment for this Percheron mare involved a whole blood transfusion and a series of vitamin K(3) injections. The blood transfusion would help replace the lost blood volume and provide clotting factors, while the Vitamin K injections are administered to counter the anticoagulant effects of dicoumarol from moldy sweetclover, thus facilitating normal blood clotting.
• A single whole blood transfusion was performed initially, followed by four daily intravenous Vitamin K(3) injections.
• This treatment regime was found to be successful, indicating this approach could be effective in curing horses affected by moldy sweetclover poisoning.