change of character, scared pony

just had an update from vets;
she has drastically improved overnight, she's had steriods, an anti inflamitory drug (something stronger than bute) and antibiotics. they seem to have taken effect and she has eaten most of a haynet over night. As of 11pm-ish last night she stopped jumping at every noise, the tension in her neck went, she stopped shaking in fear and she seems more relaxed.
no answers as to why yet, though the best guess is maybe viral, along the lines of encephalitis. but we havent been anywhere and they are at home so no new horses here, only other contact they have had is farrier was here on the Monday. bloods are beeing checked for as many viruses as they can test for and magnesium level results etc should be back today or tomorrow.
The main thing is she's on the mend and if it is viral then she will make a full recovery:)
my other 3 have no symptoms at all.
 
Thankyou for the update.

Was looking for the thread as the symptoms you described were so unusual.

Glad to hear she is on the mend, sending you best wishes for it to continue.
 
poiuytrewq said:
Sadly we had a very similar incident with my daughters pony and it was sight related
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can I ask how it was diagnosed? she's not bumping into things. vet has looked into her eyes with a light etc, so at the minute this has been ruled out and the virus/encephalitis side is being looked at.
sorry to hear about your pony, I'm hoping to have some more answers tomorrow
 
hmmmmm this mornings update is not so good.
although she's back eating and looks better in condition etc, the observations are not good.
she has had a few episodes of behaviour that are more than questionable.
every few hours she becomes obsessive about scratching her nose, it lasts for over 5 minutes and is very intense.
she's calm in the stable (at vets) but very tense and hyper outside it (not like her she can go anywhere)
she has also started headshaking, involuntary and quite obvious.
Bloods not back until later today, but we're now looking at head x rays and a scope to see the nerve and if theres any growth pushing it.
It's not looking good. I wont risk my daughter ever riding her if its something that is 'managable' but not cured and we already have a companion pony that was my daughers 1st pony who was retired at the age of 8 last year due to ligament injury in the field. we cant have 2 and my daughter may have lost 2 horses (in the ridden sense) in 2 years!
lets hope it's nothing that cant be sorted. I usually look at positives and never consider the negative until I have no choice, but I have a very bad feeling about this situation :(
 
Lovescobs said:
hmmmmm this mornings update is not so good.
although she's back eating and looks better in condition etc, the observations are not good.
she has had a few episodes of behaviour that are more than questionable.
every few hours she becomes obsessive about scratching her nose, it lasts for over 5 minutes and is very intense.
she's calm in the stable (at vets) but very tense and hyper outside it (not like her she can go anywhere)
she has also started headshaking, involuntary and quite obvious.
Bloods not back until later today, but we're now looking at head x rays and a scope to see the nerve and if theres any growth pushing it.
It's not looking good. I wont risk my daughter ever riding her if its something that is 'managable' but not cured and we already have a companion pony that was my daughers 1st pony who was retired at the age of 8 last year due to ligament injury in the field. we cant have 2 and my daughter may have lost 2 horses (in the ridden sense) in 2 years!
lets hope it's nothing that cant be sorted. I usually look at positives and never consider the negative until I have no choice, but I have a very bad feeling about this situation :(
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With the recent headshaking I would be inclined to say its something nerological, I would say the head xrays will be a good idea. Good luck.
 
So sorry that she appears to be relapsing. This happened to ours as well. Hope that the vets can sort it out for you. Everything crossed here.
 
Head X-ray was ok as was the scope. So just waiting for the bloods screening for a virus and other bloods. Lets hope it's that. If things don't improve this week then a lumbar puncture is the next step, but it's not a nice thing to do so a last resort. She looks better on terms of eating and drinking so some I'd the treatment has made her feel better even if it's not yet resolved it. Thank you for your support everyone x
 
God what an awful situation :-( poor daughter and poor pony- if only they could talk!! what's a lumbar puncture if u don't mind me asking?
 
Really sorry to read this.

We did have something similar with my daughter's old pony. I honestly thought that we would have to PTS. We didn't ever get to the bottom of it but he did make a full recovery over a period of a couple of weeks. It happened two & a half years ago & hasn't ever happened again.

I really hope that there is a happy outcome for your mare.

Very best wishes x
 
todays update;
no better no worse really. the electrolite blood results came back (for sodium and magnesium etc) and they are all fine. still waiting for the virus results.
vets have said the steriods will be coming out of her system today and over night so if she gets worse or doesnt get better then tomorrow they may do the lumbar puncture. the cushings results were ok for now as well.
to add to it all (not in a bad way just in a legistic way) I'm changing my car tomorrow which means I wont have a tow bar until tuesday! if she's ready to come home before then I'll have to sort transport out:eek:
so tomorrwo morning I'll have a better picture or more tests will be done.
she is still eating and drinking so the steriods have helped her feel better which is good:)
 
Lovescobs said:
todays update;
no better no worse really. the electrolite blood results came back (for sodium and magnesium etc) and they are all fine. still waiting for the virus results.
vets have said the steriods will be coming out of her system today and over night so if she gets worse or doesnt get better then tomorrow they may do the lumbar puncture. the cushings results were ok for now as well.
to add to it all (not in a bad way just in a legistic way) I'm changing my car tomorrow which means I wont have a tow bar until tuesday! if she's ready to come home before then I'll have to sort transport out:eek:
so tomorrwo morning I'll have a better picture or more tests will be done.
she is still eating and drinking so the steriods have helped her feel better which is good:)
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Lets hope "sod's law" kicks in and she is raring to go home all better and you can't take her straight away.:)


All the best and fingers crossed for you.
 
Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
Lets hope "sod's law" kicks in and she is raring to go home all better and you can't take her straight away.:)


All the best and fingers crossed for you.
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yes I hope so! I had to dig the trailer out of a snow drift to get her there. the roads were clear but my drive was under about 3' of snow! I replaced the calories used digging it out later than night by having some rum:eek:;)
 
this morning's update, just spoke to vets

as she comes off the steriods sympoms start to increase again. but they change, so the head shaking has stopped for now, but her foot action is very high and has signifiacantly changed. her fear issues start to increase again as well.
so they have resumed the steriods as when they do they see a dramatic difference in her. no lumbar puncture yet needed. bloods not yet back for viruses, hopefully this afternoon. she'll be on the steroids until monday and then assessed from there.
they are so flumuxed at the change in her and the different symptoms that come and go so dramatically, they've been having meetings and consultations!
well at least I wasnt going mad when I first called them and said something is just not right :o
 
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