Brought to you by The Plaidcast
Sepsis is one of the most serious emergencies a horse can face—one that often requires intensive hospital care.
“It’s whenever you have an overwhelming bacterial infection in the body,” explains Dr. Kelly Hobbs, assistant professor at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. But the infection itself is only part of the problem. What follows can be just as dangerous.
What Happens During Sepsis
According to Dr. Hobbs, sepsis begins with a severe bacterial infection. As that infection progresses, horses develop high fevers, elevated respiratory rates, and begin to feel generally unwell. In some cases, the inflammatory response becomes excessive.
“When you’re too inflamed, it actually paralyzes your immune system so that your body can no longer respond,” she explains. That imbalance can lead to organ dysfunction and life-threatening complications.
Where Sepsis Comes From
In adult horses, Dr. Hobbs most commonly sees sepsis develop from two sources.
The first is pneumonia, often secondary to travel. Horses that ship long distances can develop what many owners call “shipping fever,” a pneumonia associated with transportation. The second major source is gastrointestinal disease. Horses with severe diarrhea can develop systemic infection due to damage to the colon.
Foals face a different risk profile. If a foal does not receive adequate colostrum from the mare, a condition known as failure of passive transfer, they are more vulnerable to bacterial infections. These infections can lead to septic joints, organ failure, or death.
The Mortality Reality
Even with intensive treatment, sepsis carries significant mortality rates. “In adult horses, it’s generally around 50%,” Dr. Hobbs says. “Fifty percent leave the hospital. Fifty percent don’t.”
For foals, mortality rates can be even higher — reaching up to 65%. And survival does not always mean a full return to function. Horses that recover may still suffer long-term complications such as kidney injury or laminitis secondary to the inflammatory process.
Managing sepsis requires aggressive supportive care, including intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and constant monitoring in a hospital setting. “It can be 20, 30, 40 thousand dollars in on treatment,” Dr. Hobbs notes.
Despite this level of care, outcomes remain guarded due to the severity of the condition and the potential for secondary organ damage.
Early Warning Signs
Recognizing early signs may help owners seek veterinary care promptly. Dr. Hobbs says one of the most common initial signs is a high fever. Owners may administer flunixin (Banamine), only to find that the fever returns shortly afterward.
Other concerning signs include:
- A horse that appears dull
- Decreased interest in food
- Elevated respiratory rate
- Systemic illness without obvious colic behavior
rebecca-brown-usea-dr-kallie-ho…
While not every fever indicates sepsis, persistent fever combined with depression and inappetence warrants immediate veterinary evaluation.
Sepsis remains one of the most challenging conditions veterinarians manage in equine medicine. Understanding what sepsis is and how quickly it can escalate helps owners recognize when a horse’s symptoms require urgent care.
Want more insight from Dr. Kelly Hobbs? Listen to this episode of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
