Francis at 2 months old

Viktoria

Francis tragically died on September 4 the day after he was to have shipped to his new owner. He died of liver disease which was caused by a Fort Dodge tetnus vaccine given to him to prepare him for shipping. When he first collapsed our vet Wes Violet spent four hours pumping warm liquids IV into him until we could get him to stand. Then we rushed Francis to to Oregon State University Vet school where they fought for two days to save his life. But it was to no avail.

A complete autopsy was done and he had no physical damage except for the liver damage (which was NOT genetic). A toxicollogy panal was done to determine if he had been poisened but that also came back clean. The tetnus vaccine was deemed the culprit. Either it was faulty or he had a reaction to it. We will no longer be giving any tetnus shots to any of our horses. They will receive homeopathic no sodes.

Francis was the sweetest foal. He loved his sister Ki Ki dearly and was always gentle with her. May his death prevent other deaths.