Any experience re very tiny ponies? Help!

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I've just taken on a tiny rescued shetland gelding. Miniature doesn't even begin to describe him, he is labrador sized - 6hh and rug size 2ft 6in. We think he's about 2yrs old. A nearby county Animal Welfare Officer was driving around and spotted a bundle of rags at the side of the road. Thank god she got out to check. It was a tiny, almost dead pony collapsed in a heap. She scooped him up and put him on the back seat of her car and took him for emergency veterinary treatment. He's been at the yard the Council use for seized and abandoned/neglected horses and ponies since last November. Dunno what care he had there, if any, but he's still desperately thin - condition score about 1 to 1.5 - and hasn't got the normal shetland's waterproof outer guard hairs, only the fluffy undercoat. This may just be a result of his desperate state. He was transferred to my local horse and pony rescue 6 days ago and they urgently wanted 1-to1 care for him so they've trusted me with him.

I've done some early research and it seems very tiny horses and ponies can't be seen as simply small horses because there's a minimum size that all the organs etc will work properly the smaller and smaller the miniaturisation. I understand gut and liver function in particular can be trouble which is why I don't want to feed him oil. He has a bit of a parrot mouth that doesn't stop him grazing but might mean chewing problems, which in turn could be part of the explanation of why he isn't putting weight on. I'm desperate to know how to get more calories in him SAFELY. Vets out Monday for jabs and if they've got a tiny enough gag I'll get them to check his teeth. Even finding him rugs is a nightmare but amazingly he's a little sweetie with people. Bit mouthy like young geldings can be so I think he isn't older than 2. Hope his liking for people is exactly that and not an indication of an underlying problem coz I don't know if he's been deliberately bred that tiny or if he's a genetic accident. Also in vets and NL.

Anyone got any experience at all of ponies this size? Any advice please? Can give e-mail for longer replies or copied documents. Thanks x
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Proud member of the Welshie lover/owner Clique

 

[Cherrygarden]

Don't know what he is eating now but I find soaked to death grass nuts work well for one of ours that just doesn't seem to pick up the oil we try to feed her for putting weight on her. Also try small amounts of micronised linseed as it has high amounts of omega 3 so will have a much more positive anti inflammatory effect than any other type of oil based feed plus you don't need much. A very gentle prebiotic additive might help him more than full on probiotics at this stage and as with all horses however tiny salt in feed in smaller amounts to see how he does and available in a lick plus multivitamins and minerals and also fenugreek seeds are another way of helping them put condition on and are thought to reduce unnecessary mucous throughout the body. Will have to check how oil based they are as hadn't really thought before but ours love them just as hand treats. Other than that maybe a liver tonic could help him so maybe milk thistle or similar and time. It always seems awful to have one look so thin but time is the best thing and adding condition slowly slowly so he can cope with it. I wish I had more answers but good for you anyway for helping him.

 

[SusannaF]

Isn't the parrot mouth a symptom of dwarfism? Some of those wee ones need surgery to help with breathing/eating. Might be worth finding out if there's something more than just the parrot mouth troubling him.

 

[2Conker]

Dont know how you are getting on? I'm sure you've done this but v. important to make sure he's not riddle with worms or it'll hinder his recovery. If you can get hold of MSM powder (the original 'brimstone' in 'brimstone and treacle'), it's a great pick me up and helps the blood, apparently. I've used it on horses in poor health. Will he lick things? You can get very low sugar ones now, full of nutrition, that might be back up to feeds. What a great thing to do, hope you can help the poor little creature.
H

 

[minime]

Box of frogs Please visit:
www.miniaturehorsetalk.com
it is an American site but the members are from all over the world and that is the best place to get all the advice you will need. He sounds like a dwarf so he will have lots of special needs. These small guys need a high protein diet and there are several meds that they MUST never receive.
I look forward to seeing you on the forum, and kudos to you for taking him in.
Renee

 

[2Conker]

I see what you mean, minime. Just been looking through the site; very supportive over the little horses/ponies. Also very interesting to see what happens over there.