Forum user idiot!

[Cas202]

Hi, just my intro as a newbie to this forum and also to say I'm tecno idiot so if I don't put things in the right place my apologies in advance! I currently have 3 elderly ponies all with PPID that need lots of TLC. Always enjoy reading threads on this forum when googling for info so I have finally joined!

 

[Birker2020]

Welcome to the forum. I have an elderly horse who has been on box rest for two weeks who also needs lots of TLC.
I have a beagle dog I part share with my partner and I work in construction as a document controller. I enjoy reading, swimming and eating

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Welcome to the forum. We had 2 mares at the same time, with PPID, it was hard work! We have 2 younger mares now.

 

[Baywonder]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

 

[ycbm]

Hi!
.

 

[Rumtytum]

Hello Cas!

 

[Cas202]

Thanks for the replies ...you wouldn't believe how long it took me to work out which bits to press to view them
Oh no, the dreaded box rest Birker2020...hope that goes quickly and smoothly. What's wrong may I ask?
My two old mares have bad arthritis too so box rest is a difficult balance.

Pearlsasinger.....yes, the PPID is difficult.....Prascend is so expensive but has made a big difference to them. I'm not sure yet if I'll go down the road having some lovely younger ones or give up!

 

[Keira 8888]

Hello and welcome! Xxx

 

[tallyho!]

HI Cas I think my old boy has PPID too - it is hard work!

 

[Cas202]

HI Cas I think my old boy has PPID too - it is hard work!

Hi Tallyho, my last horse had it too but not diagnosed till he was 24 and having acute laminitis.In hindsight the signs were there long before. Are you getting yours tested?

 

[tallyho!]

Hi Tallyho, my last horse had it too but not diagnosed till he was 24 and having acute laminitis.In hindsight the signs were there long before. Are you getting yours tested?

Not yet... the vet suspects it after a bad year for him last year (he got anaplasmosis prob from a tick) and was really poorly and skinny, didn;t lose his coat, but as he is 17 this year she also thought his weight was an issue - weight is good this year and not too fat, not as horrible as last year so I am keeping a beady eye. I've also added agnus castus since Feb. What signs did you see - should I be looking out for them at his age?

 

[Cas202]

Not yet... the vet suspects it after a bad year for him last year (he got anaplasmosis prob from a tick) and was really poorly and skinny, didn;t lose his coat, but as he is 17 this year she also thought his weight was an issue - weight is good this year and not too fat, not as horrible as last year so I am keeping a beady eye. I've also added agnus castus since Feb. What signs did you see - should I be looking out for them at his age?

I just had to look anaplasmosis up, sounds dreadful. With the four I've had, 24 yr gelding I'm sure had EMS as well as PPID. For a couple of years before diagnosis, he would get excessively thirsty in the Autumn and oedema around his sheath area. The only coat change I saw was a super thick coat that winter he got lami. The other gelding I mainly noticed dullness and depression and I put him on Vitex agnus castus and noticed a huge improved in his mood so I then got him tested. That was 11 years ago and at 28 he's doing really well and still on 3/4's tab Prascend. My 30yr old mare got diagnosed with it 2 years ago. The hair on her rump had became oddly long and wavy that winter but she had been dull and lethargic for quite a time before that. She got sweetitch at around 17 yrs old and the vet said that could have been a sign of Cushings then as it compromises their immune system. My 27 yr old mare had loads of lami before I took her on so she got tested because of that. Yours is a youngster compared to mine but I think worth finding out sooner if the vet suspects. I wish I'd have known about it earlier with the first one. I've read they can get it as young as 8 although unusual.

 

[brighteyes]

Hi, just my intro as a newbie to this forum and also to say I'm tecno idiot so if I don't put things in the right place my apologies in advance! I currently have 3 elderly ponies all with PPID that need lots of TLC. Always enjoy reading threads on this forum when googling for info so I have finally joined!

Hello - I have 2 oldies and one has obvious PPID and another older one with fewer signs but also positive ACTH. Both on Prascend and both fit and well currently. FB has a great PPID group, if you are on that platform.

 

[Cas202]

Thanks, I just joined Friends of the Laminitis Site today which has a FB group but I have to re-join FB again first....(been putting that off for years).
I have two in their late 20's and another might be 30 now and it's always difficult deciding on all the various problems they throw up and great to chat to others.

 

[Birker2020]

Oh no, the dreaded box rest Birker2020...hope that goes quickly and smoothly. What's wrong may I ask?

Arthramid in both coffin joints and some also into the navicular bursa. She only really needed 48 hours but me and the vet know what an idiot she can be in the field so we wanted to get it to settle before turning the looney out. I've reduced the paddock size somewhat but unfortunately she has a very young head on an old body and tends to over do it, rearing at the fence to her friends and jumping off the ground with all four feet! At least she's still loving life which is good but doesn't help with lameness issues. This was 'last chance saloon' so hoping it works and she can stay paddock sound

She goes out tomorrow night. Thank God for the bit of rain we've had, hoping it may have softened the ground a bit. I hope she settles, last time she wouldn't.

 

[Cas202]

Blimey she sounds a live wire, but yes, lovely to see them enjoying themselves if they don't overdo it! My Welsh D has always been spirited but not quite a looney thank goodness. In her old age she seems to become a youngster again just in the autumn and is full of herself wanting to have fun and no one has ever been able to me explain why. The vets all say she should be better in the summer with her arthritis but that's never been the case. She had x rays taken about 6 years ago showing coffin joint and knee arthritis and something to do with the navicular too. Vet said to keep riding her on a sachet of bute and so I've done so up till now but that's just increased to 1 bute a day and I'm seeing how that goes and maybe try very light work again to keep her mobile. Best of luck with yours going out and I hope she can find her sensible head!

 

[Birker2020]

Vet said to keep riding her on a sachet of bute and so I've done so up till now but that's just increased to 1 bute a day and I'm seeing how that goes and maybe try very light work again to keep her mobile. Best of luck with yours going out and I hope she can find her sensible head!

Thank you.

Yes do keep riding her, it really helps with arthritis. I have it and when I sit for too long at my desk I am hobbling for a few foot before I'm okay, its just stiffness. If you can keep her weight down she will be better for it too.

Mine was on half a sachet of bute for about 6 years and did very well on it - as a big girl of 700kg you wouldn't think half a sachet would work but it did, she must be very intolerant. But then again I can get pi*sed on half a glass of cider!

I then had to increase the bute to 1 and now some months/years later we are on 1.5 and no riding.

 

[Cas202]

The winter before last she got so underweight that I was pleased this winter to have kept some weight on her, so when the vet last week gave her a condition score of 6/9 when her ribs are still clearly visible, it was a bit of a wake up call. Not fat fat but not ideal for her conditions. I had noticed increasing fat pads on her rump, behind shoulders etc but thought that as I could see her ribs she was ok. I'm mainly trying to be more aware of grass sugar levels now, re frosts and sunny days etc. My previous horse got diagnosed with his lameness being arthritis three days before acute laminitis so I'm rather jittery about it now. (That's with them having PPID)
Sorry about your arthritis. I get very stiff myself sitting driving for even half an hour....but not so bad in the saddle