elderly, underweight cushings pony who has had laminitis - help!

Synod William

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Just got my old pony back who is now 27. He was suspected as perhaps having cushings for a couple of years managed with low sugar and starch diet before coming down with laminitis last October,blood tested and found acth levels high, started pergolide and he picked up quickly and moved away.

Trouble is he's been at other yards since and lost lots of weight.

I got him back and noticed he's quidding on hay, hage and chaff so just giving him fast fibre.

He's out for 10 hours in a fenced off area in my unfertilized, long stemmed, old grazing which is sparse and full of weeds and thistles with my other pony. I do have a bald, eaten down paddock which is what he was in all day at other yards but I think all his teeth hurt and he struggles to nibble at it. Plus I'm worried about him getting sand colic or similar.

Vet coming next week to check him out and his teeth are due to be done as its been 12 months.

Is he better on the older longer grass or the bald one? He is condition score 1-2, quite poor,hips jutting, all ribs pronounced, spine visible.

He's in at night and having 1.5 scoops of fast fibre, he's 13.2, that's half what the bag recommends as a total hay replacer.

He can't eat in a muzzle at all. oh and he's back on Topspec antilam at half the recommended dose, he was on that before he left after he got lami and he looked good then.

I'm so worried about him,he's perked up tho, trots out in mornings, has little sleeps with my other one during the day,seems so happy to be back home.
 
If its working and he's not in pain, he should be fine out on the longer rougher grass :) I would add some oil ( do this gradually ) into his fast fibre and up the quantitiy.

Sounds like you are doing well with him.
 
If its working and he's not in pain, he should be fine out on the longer rougher grass :) I would add some oil ( do this gradually ) into his fast fibre and up the quantitiy.

Sounds like you are doing well with him.

I would use a raw form of the omega fatty acids - such ad micronsied linseed - and has added health benefits which can be lost in making oil.

Longer grass is lower sugar than shorter generally as it is less stressed. Plus sugar is stored nearer the roots, which he is less likely to pull up if its longer :)
 
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