change of character, scared pony

Thanks for update, thinking of you, at least you know where she is till Monday.

As you say all very unusual, you did the right thing to dig out and get her to vets, do hope they find the cause.

I guess Liverpool is another option not too far away, if they do not get sorted locally.
 
What a worry for you. Hope you get to the bottom of it. I have heard of viruses which can give some very worrying neural symptoms like this, just not in horses. Here's hoping it is a virus and your pony returns to their normal happy self :)
 
Thanks everyone, I'm hoping its a virus too. It seems to be what they are thinking though so hard to identify and strange as we haven't been anywhere. Did happen the week of the farrier coming so unless another horse they have been to was carrying it? There are horses in adjoining fields also. My other 3 are fine. I suppose its like us, sometimes we pick up a virus and those around us don't
Heading to see her again tomorrow
 
I have also heard of a strange virus like this, a friends pony & horse had a virus that caused them to lash their heads around, banging them into stable walls. Wouldn't eat/drink all very odd. Hope you get some answers soon.
 
Just wondering how she is doing today. You must be so worried I hope there is better news today. Never heard of anything like this at all.
 
Oh gosh, you must be beside yourselves. I do hope that you get some some positive improvement soon. Thinking of you.
 
so it's over a week since the start of symptoms, I've had the virus blood results back and they are clear as well, so currently no evidence of a virus. they tend to be repeated in 10 days, I think they were sent off last monday so that would mean repeating them mid week this week coming.
treatment s continuing as its working when she's on it.
My initial concern now is what to do if she reamins like this. After another week if she displays symptoms when she comes off the steriods (I think she's mant to be coming off them again in Monday) then how long do I give it? if we can find no cause and after over 2 weeks of treatment we dont get a result?:confused::(
I know I should just cross that bridge if it happens but every time a test comes up clear it's both good and bad news
 
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if that works here she is last summer
 
I too would be asking for a referral. MRI scan? Poor you, it must be such a worry and your poor daughter :(
I really hope things work out for you x
 
It sounds neurological of some sort, whether that's viral related, bacterial related or something more nasty I couldn't say.
I would suggest that if she's not at a vet school type horspital then talk to them about having her transfered (I highly, highly recommend Dick Vets in Edinburgh depending on where you are) as they will have MRI / CT scanners and have her head scanned. This will rule out quite a few of the nasty causes and give you somewhere to go. Scans would also show whether it's an encephalitis type thing which would indicate viral etc
 
just got back from seeing her, she's improved in that she looks better (not dropping weight) and she's eating.
got her out of the stable for a groom and she was ok for less than 2 minutes then the panic and rearing/jumping/trying to spin in fear (at nothing) appeared.
I'm sure if there is no improvement once this next lot of steriods has done its job I may be refered to Leahurst. though I'm not sure they MRI scan heads, just lower limbs. as far as I am aware there is not much they can do to diagnose brain tumors etc? she's had an xray but that wont be soft tissue.
inflamation in the brain can take 2 weeks to subside so it maybe a case of sit and wait for a few more days.
I have a couple of experiences with leahurst, one was great, saved my friends paralysed dog when I had him whilst they were away (long story!)
but with horses never seem to see that any better diagnosis or treatment has happened. In fact for a few friends they have just taken 3 days to give the same diagnosis as the horses went in with and no better recovery?
I'd be really happy for anyone to tell me good stories of when they found something their vet hadnt. The vet practise I use has most of the equipment etc except MRI which as I say is for lower limbs?
so thats also a dilema.
anyone had a horse with a brain issue that was diognosed with scans?
 
Lovescobs said:
just got back from seeing her, she's improved in that she looks better (not dropping weight) and she's eating.
got her out of the stable for a groom and she was ok for less than 2 minutes then the panic and rearing/jumping/trying to spin in fear (at nothing) appeared.
I'm sure if there is no improvement once this next lot of steriods has done its job I may be refered to Leahurst. though I'm not sure they MRI scan heads, just lower limbs. as far as I am aware there is not much they can do to diagnose brain tumors etc? she's had an xray but that wont be soft tissue.
inflamation in the brain can take 2 weeks to subside so it maybe a case of sit and wait for a few more days.
I have a couple of experiences with leahurst, one was great, saved my friends paralysed dog when I had him whilst they were away (long story!)
but with horses never seem to see that any better diagnosis or treatment has happened. In fact for a few friends they have just taken 3 days to give the same diagnosis as the horses went in with and no better recovery?
I'd be really happy for anyone to tell me good stories of when they found something their vet hadnt. The vet practise I use has most of the equipment etc except MRI which as I say is for lower limbs?
so thats also a dilema.
anyone had a horse with a brain issue that was diognosed with scans?
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Our option would have been Newmarket for a brain scan but our horse wasn't stable enough to travel. It would have been dangerous for all concerned. I think you need to ask yourselves if you little mare would be safe to travel anywhere before you go down that route. I hope she gets better for you. She looks a lovely little soul.
 
short trip to leahurst would be ok, any further would probably be too much.
if a virus then it will subside if she was going to beat it (and the virus bloods are so far clear) a brain lesion of some sort I wouldnt treat so would it be right to put her through the travel and scan? I'm not sure what's best.
best to give another week or 2 of treatment and then decide whats best? or get her to leahurst this week coming if no response to this round of treatment?
as hazyxmas said about her pony earlier, she may fight it off and recover in another week or so?
it was quite sad to see her today still terrified of nothing
 
If it was me I would probably sit another week and wait. Like you say, if a brain tumour/lesion was found you wouldn't treat (and nor would I) so by going to leahurst you may get a diagnosis but no different treatment plan. So best to see if she can fight it off over the next few days. I am wondering though, what do they look for in bloods when suspecting viral? I thought virus' were hard to detect? No crit, just curious x
 
Got no ideas, the only horse I've seen with symptoms similar (getting scared of surroundings) was one that was nearly blind. Hope it is just a virus and she's back home with you and your daughter soon x
 
I wonder if there are any parasites which affect the CNS? There are some nasties in other species which affect behaviour. Now is the time for various worn larvae to be migrating through the horse, I wonder if its worth seeing if your vets could seek the advice of a parasite specialist?
 
Thank u for your support and ideas. In terms of virus I'll be honest I can't remember the words the vet used. They look for something that indicates the presence of a virus. But yes u are right I was told the tests can't check for them all just the most common. That's why they may lumbar puncture. That can be used to check for meningitis virus, maybe some others as its spinal
Fluid. That will prob be the next move after Monday. I'll ask about adrenal gland and parasites. They were pramoxed in winter and were due a worm count in a week or so x
 
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