Stallion recovers from potentially fatal bacterial infection at Veterinary Teaching Hospital

A 19-year-old Akhal-Tekes stallion faced a potentially fatal bacterial infection, but with around-the-clock treatment at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, is now home and getting his energy back.

Kiergen, owned by the Akhal-Teke Foundation in Lexington, was lethargic and his neck was stiff and swollen.

An emergency vet referred the nonprofit to the teaching hospital at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment.

Kiergen was diagnosed with clostridial myositis, a painful bacterial infection that without treatment, can quickly turn fatal.

The rare stallion received antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, fluids and pain relievers intravenously to battle the infection and reduce the pain.

“The constant monitoring during those first 48 hours was crucial to make sure the swelling wasn’t cutting off his airway,” said Emilee Lacey, a large animal internal medicine resident who worked with Kiergen. “He really is a fighter. He’s defied the odds and responded well to the high doses of antibiotics and the really good support from our staff, too.

“My favorite part of my job is taking care of these older horses,” Lacey said. “They have given us so much of their life, and to be able to help them in their time of need — and help their owners, too, in their time of need — really means a lot.”

After nine days, Kiergen was discharged and returned home to the Akhal-Teke Foundation, where he’s gradually getting his appetite and energy back.

The nonprofit that owns Kiergen is run by Patricia Johnston and Kevin Matthews.

Approximately 10 Akhal-Teke foals are born each year in North America. It is estimated that there are less than 300 Akhal-Tekes in North America, and that number is slowly declining, Matthews said.

“We launched the Akhal-Teke Center with Kiergen as one of our flagship stallions. We’ve been breeding him this year as part of the conservation breeding program to increase the numbers,” said Matthews.

“Kiergen has a ton of personality, and he’s a great representative of the breed. He’s a really sweet friend who we really treasure in our horse family.”