Another.. at my wits end post!!

P

pottamus

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 November 2005
Messages
3,635
Visit site
I genuinely do not know what to do with my boy anymore...I am sick of posting on here about him and going from one nightmare to another.
He is still in his sick bay as he is being treated for laminitis, we seem to have got over the major problems of him constantly going on hunger strike - he has gone from a cuddly round welsh to a hat rack in 2 months because he barely eats. He then started box walking so the vet said to make a pen outside his stable and let him get some fresh air but he soon started pacing and circling in that and has turned the area into a muddy mess. So I have permission to open up another small pen next to it but now he has eaten the blades of grass left in that it is beginning to look a little muddy too!
He started licking his walls in an obscessed manner and last night I got home to find he had started eating the area and has ripped a huge hole in the side of one of the panels. I cant shut him out of the stable as he is meant to be oin there over night at least to rest his feet so I have taken more time off work and put some carpet tiles over the affected area and smothered a load of cribbox stuff on it...we will see!
God I hope and pray it works and he looses interest or I have no idea what to do next.
I had a large arguement with OH over it...well one of many we have had recently because he is sick of me being stressed about it all, I am not sleeping too well either...jesus what a nightmare.
Very sorry for the rant...it is selfish and stupid I know!
Please send some vibes over that he at least leaves the stable licking alone and things can find an even keel again.
 
<<<<<VIBES>>>>> for ponio and (((((HUGS))))) for you.

Sorry I don't have anything more constructive to say.
frown.gif


xx
 
Could you fence him a pen away from the stable buildings? Or turn him out for part of the day with a muzzle on?

I think you need to liaise with your vet, as some sort of solution needs to be found.

Sounds tough though.
 
What a tricky situation. Thing is, from his point of view I really feel for him. Does he normally live out? As he doesn't seem to be coping!

What can he eat, as in is there anything to do to make his forage last longer?
x
 
(((((((((hugs n vibes hunny)))))))

As the owner of a horse who is also crap on box-rest I understand the stress it puts you through...when he's all mended the sense of relief will be amazing.....and you WILL get there
grin.gif


Good idea about the carpet tiles and crib-stop...very ingenious...
laugh.gif


Have you tried the usual stuff...turnips on strings, apples in water buckets....mirrors etc etc....I'm sure you have, I just can't think of anything else right now....
 
Is a companion a possibility? Where are you based - maybe someone on here closeby may be able to help.

Have you tried the high fibre horsehage?

Why does it matter that he is on mud? - I'd have thought that would be ideal ie no grass. Once my laminitic was allowed to move around he had exactly that. A small area just outside his stable that quickly turned to mud so he could go out and stretch his legs and have a change of scenery but still no grass or major exercise.

What is he bedded on - can he have straw so he can nibble and browse on it to keep him occupied.
 
How much longer does he need to stay in? if he is sound could you start taking him fo short walks? thats what i did once my laminitic pony was off the bute and it helped him cope much better with being in.
 
I think you need to discuss your predicament with your vet and perhaps, turnout with a muzzle on isn't such a bad idea.

All that stomping around is going to be far worse for his feet than mooching around a field...
 
Hugs for you and vibes for your boy. He obviously isn't coping very well with being stabled, poor thing, but it's the lesser of two evils really.

As for OH, can you maybe explain that you're having a really hard time and his support would really help you out? I know you probably have already. If he's not horsey he probably just doesn't understand how upsetting it is for you. Hope he figures it out soon and gives you some well-deserved support.

Hope you get everything figured out, sorry I can't offer anything mopre helpful
 
You and your boy have my sympathy! What stable distractions have you tried? Mirror, turnip on string, rollaball, lots of small haynets dotted round the stable, carrots hidden in bed - expect you're tried them all, or a version of them...

When my boy was on box-rest for his tendon he became quite depressed, despite everything I tried - would stand with his head in a corner away from the door and lost so much condition ... after 8 weeks I had to simply turn him out and hope for the best.

It's not easy when your OH doesn't quite understand; I guess the answer is 'try not to engage in an argument' but I know it's easier said than done.
 
I really feel for you, we had a pony in over summer with laminitis, and just when he seemed to be on the mend he started kicking the door and went lame again, so i let him out into the yard with a companion. Ask your vet if you could put some equi boots on him and turn him out with a muzzle at least for a few hours a day, with a pony friend for company, cos this really is'nt working for either of you.
 
How bad was his laminitis attack?
is there anyway you could turn him out in a sectioned off part of the field with a muzzle on?(not large enough to get a run in) beside a companion?
how much food is he getting and how often?
if he is being kept in would u be able to you split up his feeds to regular and often?and use things like a horse version of a kong to feed him?hmm just seen hes on hunger strike so maybe not
is he just being stressy because hes not out with his mates?
sometimes stable mirrors or even cut outs of other horses can help horses being kept in ...
 
Thanks for all your replies I am trying to keep him on a routine of being in at night now and out in his little paddock area during the day. He was more settled today and has not attempted to start licking his stable walls again, since putting on the cribox stuff.
He lives on his own and always has so it is not that he is missing any mates...he just wants to be out grazing really.
I am currently feeding him 4 x 500kg scoops of hi fi lite split in 2 meals and hay...he has more hay than he needs but is currently eating about 3 pads per day total. He has lost another 5kg this week but he will just not eat any more at all and I work all day so cannot give him eatra meals then...I am not on a yard but in a private field I rent.
I guess I just have to take each day as it comes and try to cope and give him turnout in his paddock area during the day. I have the vet coming for a check up on Weds so I am hoping he will be off bute altogether then and we can re-assess the situation then...for my horses benefit.
 
p.s His lami attack was in one front foot only but he has 12% sideways rotation in it...this was diagnosed beginning of Sept time.
 
I used Equine America vitamin B supplement on my pony to increase his appetite. Last winter some nights he wouldn't even eat one mouthful of hay(although he always ate his hard feed) but putting him on this definately increased his appetite. Horses that don't eat enough grass don't always make enough Vitamin B and it's this that gives them an appetite. Hope your boy is soon on the mend!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top