For those who have dealt with malnourished mates

[Queenbee]

Hi, as most of may know ebony is poorly and has considerable muscle wastage at the moment and we are trying to find the cause, today I lifted her tail and her vulva is hanging, no crease or pucker to it, it's literally gaping now I'm assuming this is a by product of the muscle wastage and not a symptom of whatever is wrong especially since the vet has taken her temp and seen 'back there' and not commented, but I just thought I'd check as there are those on here that are used to dealing with welfare issues and would know if this happens with muscle wastage in a mare. I would post pics but I'm on my phone, just imagine mate about to drop foal 'relaxed' but not puffy and no discharge.

Thank you
Em

 

[Queenbee]

Sodding phone!!!!! Mares not mates!!!!!!!

 

[be positive]

From the photos of her she is very weak over her pelvic and loin area and this will relax the vulva just as it would when a mare is preparing to foal, I would not worry about it although you are obviously worried about her in general.

Any more news on the tests?

 

[Queenbee]

Lol, yeah thats what I thought although I'm double checking everything at the moment, don't want to make one false assumption or overlook anything that may cost her a diagnosis.
News wise no weight gain but appetite is back, she's eating a bag of fast fibre a week, blood tonic has perked her up too so she is a lot brighter and she's out now on grass. Nothing in bloods, liver function normal, protein electropherisis showed one raised level indicating inflammation, heart and resps still good and temp has gone. Unfortunately couldn't do ACTH as the labs my vet use don't do this, so we have done the surpression test (second bloods taken today) do expect results for cushings later next week. Started gastroguard yesterday and was not as tucked up today but obviously will be a while before we knows if it's actually ulcers. Very positive that we have stabilised weight and that her appetite is back along with her bright eyes, perky ears and whinny just crossing everything hoping we are close to a diagnosis. X thank you x