change of character, scared pony

Just had this mornings update;
Vet (different vet as its the holidays, but I know her as well and she has been involved in the case) says she has been better this morning and is less tense and spooky. Though that's not what I saw yesterday.
They are stopping the antibiotics today but carrying on the steroids.
She's going out in the paddock for a short while. I'm guessing they will see if she reverts quite quickly.
I'm going to go back tomorrow, I'll see then if she is truly improving.
I asked about the virus bloods and she did confirm that they cannot screen for them all and so it may yet still be a virus causing the neurological problems
 
i'm guessing one of the first they will have checked for is EHV1 but it may be worth asking. the nuero strain can have some strange effects and ehv does seem to be doing the rounds at the moment.x
 
The things that crossed my mind were EHV, a reaction to a snake/spider bite or (and I have no idea if horses can even get this) but it almost sounds like a rabies reaction in terms of the neurological symptoms. Otherwise a tumour in the brain or similar? Also if you remember Atypical Myopathy - the condition that made a lot of news in 2011 but seems to have died down now - it shares a lot of your horse's symptoms:
http://www.horseandcountry.tv/news/...fter-several-atypical-myopathy-cases-reported
 
im presuming that they would all be on the list of those that could be checked on bloods? what she isnt showing is lack of coordination. something they have been checking on daily. she trots up well and turns in tight circles etc. I looked up EHV and grass sickness as soon as she was acting strangely and the symptoms didnt seem to match (though if ehv1 is neuroligical it could show diffent type symptoms) I think the vets wouldnt have let me take her to them if they were at all suspicious. we also havent been anywhere all winter. so no horse in or out.
maybe I'll send a message to farrier to check he's not been to any that have been since ill? he's the only one who came on the monday before it started (weds/thurs)
 
Natch said:
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?
Click to expand...

Oh that's a good idea, I know there's one which sheep can get from dog poop and it affects their brains... Not saying pony has the same thing but something similar
 
Hi, nothing new yesterday, other than she was ok enough to go on the little paddock they have. I asked about parasites and vet said it has been part of their discussion. I'm waiting for my main vet to come back in which I think is today.shes now off all treatment to see if she worsens again so I'll update later today x
 
Gingerwitch said:
Hope you get some good news soon !

GW
x
Click to expand...

Me too x As GW said, adrenal gland seems to be an obvious one, but it sounds like all your vets are working together to cover all possibilities.

Will keep looking on here for updates and wishing you all the best and your mare, a speedy and full recovery.
 
been back to see her today after her steroids and all other drugs have worn off. vets are saying she is back to a normal pony. but she isn't to me yet. rearing when tied up, screaming to other horses like mad and very jumpy still.
all other symptoms have settled and gone, no headshaking, high stepping, etc and she's eating and drinking.
so the plan is to bring her home Friday as long as she doesn't go down hill tomorrow. then give her a week of normal routine, then if ok begin to lung/long rein for 2 weeks, if ok get me eldest 17yr old daughter on for a couple of weeks (she's only about 8 stone and her legs will nearly reach the floor :D)
at any point I can continue steroid treatment for a month.
chatting to vet she said the main 3 things are virus, brain lesion/tumour of some sort or parasite (very rare), in term of what to do, rare types of parasites I'm told are diagnosed on post mortem! tumour I wouldn't treat and something should have shown up on the xrays (though not always), virus can take another month to treat and recover.
so she'll be home to give it that month, if we don't get our pony back in character then I wont deem her safe to ride ever :(
they will take bloods again on Friday morning as virus bloods are always repeated about 10 days after.
 
Good to hear she is coming home and there has been improvement.:)

The behaviour that you are noticing is because of where she is I would think. At home she will settle down I'm sure.

It must be so confusing for her. Not only is she somewhere strange, but judging by what you described at the time you took her in, she must be completely confused how she ended up there.

A bit like somebody waking up from a coma and you can't explain to them how/why they are in hospital.

And it may take a longer time to get over the shock and so she will be jumpier but nothing to do with what was wrong with her.
 
Good to hear of the improvement. Hopefully she'll be glad to get home and settle down. Sounding more like a virus now? Time is a great healer and...... sunshine is on the way :) that makes everything better!
 
Good to hear that she is improving. I do hope this continues for you. Good luck and keep us posted please. Fingers firmly crossed for you all.
 
Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
Good to hear she is coming home and there has been improvement.:)

The behaviour that you are noticing is because of where she is I would think. At home she will settle down I'm sure.

It must be so confusing for her. Not only is she somewhere strange, but judging by what you described at the time you took her in, she must be completely confused how she ended up there.

A bit like somebody waking up from a coma and you can't explain to them how/why they are in hospital.

And it may take a longer time to get over the shock and so she will be jumpier but nothing to do with what was wrong with her.
Click to expand...

I can echo the remaining difference in her behaviour could be down to being at the horspital - my mare was in for a week with pneumonia. When she was ready to come home she was still very quiet compared to normal for her and it took her a good 3 weeks or so to come back to reasonably normal.
 
Hi, she's settled back with the other 3 fine and seems happy, eating well etc, I'm giving her a week before I assess how she is on character. She's easily wound up by my others which she never was before and isn't catching to come in well (which has never been an issue) But nothing major, lets hope she's just recovering after whatever she has been through. I'll keep you updated over the next couple of weeks and see if we have out pony back totally or not xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top