A PSSM symptom?

scats

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I've had performance issues with little cob since I got her, but it didn't really becme majorly apparent until about a year later when I realised she should be a lot fitter than she was and something wasn't right.

Her issue is that as soon as you start basic low level trot work, she puffs like she's just done a gallop on the beach. She doesn't cough, she has no nasal discharge and no sign of noisy breathing at rest. She just appears to get very, very knackered within about 15 seconds of trotting.

Once I have had a trot and go back to walk, she takes ages to get her breath back.

It was put down to PSSM2, which we found out she had last year, although she gets very tight in herself, she has never actually typed up.

The usual PSSM diets did absolutely nothing to help if I'm honest, but I landed on a feed and basic routine that seemed to give us the best results.
But the breathing and being exhausted issue has never fully gone away, and tonight she seemed to massively struggle. We had trotted half of the school and she was really heavily breathing and seemed puffed.

Im now thinking that there really may be something else going on and that perhaps this isn't a PSSM symptom at all? It's having a massive impact on her performance levels.

Possibility of a breathing issue without any other signs?
Must add that it's not a roar or a wheeze, just like a very puffed pony.
 
The diaphragm can be affected by PSSM unfortunately. As she's type 2 she may do better on a high protein diet and they are usually more able to tolerate sugar (in forage).
 
What did the vet say? My PSSM type 1 can heavy breath in work. Last summer was her first summer of proper work and I put it down to allergies (surrounded by rape fields), but I've noticed it over winter a bit as well.

She runs on adrenaline around the vet annoyingly, so tends to look perfectly sound and well whenever they come for a check up!
 
What did the vet say? My PSSM type 1 can heavy breath in work. Last summer was her first summer of proper work and I put it down to allergies (surrounded by rape fields), but I've noticed it over winter a bit as well.

She runs on adrenaline around the vet annoyingly, so tends to look perfectly sound and well whenever they come for a check up!

The vet is going to come back next week and we will do a work up again. We don't think it's respiratory related as there are no other signs- no cough, no nasal discharge, no noise at any other time, but we may well check that area out to rule it out.
It's likely a PSSM symptom after all, but I just feel that I need to rule out some other things first.
 
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