vicm2509
Well-Known Member
My loan pony Sam is currently in Leahurst Vetinary Hospital and has been since yesterday afternoon.
He is suffering from paralysis to right side of his face, large cyst in right eye and swollen left one mainly.
I will start from beginning. Sunday before last we went down first thing and he had left his overnight hay. This wasnt like him but we thought perhaps it was dusty as new hay supplier so we soaked it and gave it him back, also checked his temp which was normal. Next morning it was still uneaten. His owner emptied it and found a dead pigeon. So he was given a fresh net. By wednesday he was still on/off hay but eating hard feed fine. I rode and he was fantastic, left him nibbling his hay. Thursday morning he had left it all. That evening still eaten none, hardly drank and only one poo. I took temp 38.7. Rang emergency vet who sedated him (hes very scared of vets and they cant get near him). They did a rectal and said he had an impactation, put tube up nose to stomach and flushed him. He was then given very small amounts of hay as advised by vet which he ate, still only little poo but he hadnt had much to eat so didnt expect much. Sunday his right eye was swollen but we thought he had just knocked it so bathed it. Popped him out for little grass as advised by vet. He was eating grass fine so left him out for 90mins. Went to get him and he cantered over.
Monday he still wasnt eating, moved away when touched and for first time did not seem his usual self. Called vet again who told us to lead him to grass and see if he ate. He did eat it. He was walking what I can only describe as not normal (he wasnt lame but was just walking a bit 'careful'), he was walking in circles round stable. Trying to pass water but couldnt get it out and same with poo. Vet refued to come and said it was common virus and let it run its course.
Yesterday his whole right side of face had dropped from his nose upwards, his right ear doesnt move. Right eye swollen shut and left eye also swollen but not as bad. He drops half food out mouth when eating too. He is on steroids, antibiotics and drops every hour into eye though tube direct to eye. We are awaiting blood results. Main test is Herpes. He is having spinal fluid tested tomorrow. Vets do not have a clue what is wrong, but said it is very serious and are not holding out much hope of recovery. He is currently stable but not improving at all.
A friends horse had Polyneuritis Equi which sounds very simalar to what Sam has but he is not incontinent.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? We are so worried about him. We love him to bits and just want him to get better but no one knows what is up.
He is an 11yo normally healthy welsh D.
He is suffering from paralysis to right side of his face, large cyst in right eye and swollen left one mainly.
I will start from beginning. Sunday before last we went down first thing and he had left his overnight hay. This wasnt like him but we thought perhaps it was dusty as new hay supplier so we soaked it and gave it him back, also checked his temp which was normal. Next morning it was still uneaten. His owner emptied it and found a dead pigeon. So he was given a fresh net. By wednesday he was still on/off hay but eating hard feed fine. I rode and he was fantastic, left him nibbling his hay. Thursday morning he had left it all. That evening still eaten none, hardly drank and only one poo. I took temp 38.7. Rang emergency vet who sedated him (hes very scared of vets and they cant get near him). They did a rectal and said he had an impactation, put tube up nose to stomach and flushed him. He was then given very small amounts of hay as advised by vet which he ate, still only little poo but he hadnt had much to eat so didnt expect much. Sunday his right eye was swollen but we thought he had just knocked it so bathed it. Popped him out for little grass as advised by vet. He was eating grass fine so left him out for 90mins. Went to get him and he cantered over.
Monday he still wasnt eating, moved away when touched and for first time did not seem his usual self. Called vet again who told us to lead him to grass and see if he ate. He did eat it. He was walking what I can only describe as not normal (he wasnt lame but was just walking a bit 'careful'), he was walking in circles round stable. Trying to pass water but couldnt get it out and same with poo. Vet refued to come and said it was common virus and let it run its course.
Yesterday his whole right side of face had dropped from his nose upwards, his right ear doesnt move. Right eye swollen shut and left eye also swollen but not as bad. He drops half food out mouth when eating too. He is on steroids, antibiotics and drops every hour into eye though tube direct to eye. We are awaiting blood results. Main test is Herpes. He is having spinal fluid tested tomorrow. Vets do not have a clue what is wrong, but said it is very serious and are not holding out much hope of recovery. He is currently stable but not improving at all.
A friends horse had Polyneuritis Equi which sounds very simalar to what Sam has but he is not incontinent.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before? We are so worried about him. We love him to bits and just want him to get better but no one knows what is up.
He is an 11yo normally healthy welsh D.