Here we go again, weird thing to add to the list or just a fat pony?

[BBP]

Last weird thing was the hydrocele. Before that it was nuchal ligament flip/neck clunk and hiccups.

Young man is off to hospital next week to see if we can figure out what is going on with him. Ive sent them heaps of video etc

This evening I looked at him and had another ‘that’s weird’ moment. His hind gut area is really distended but super wobbly. I accept he is overweight (as his issues mean I haven’t been able to up his activity), but this feels really fluidly, doesn’t pit, it’s like pressing a waterbed. He loses all definition between his belly and his quarters. This seems to come and go a bit. Today was particularly obvious and probably the first time I have given it a good poke. Previously I assume it to be a bit of gassy distension and didn’t want to prod him. His hydrocele is slightly pronounced as well this evening and he looks to have a little oedema in front of his sheath.
Our out of work mare is a little soft there but not water bed jiggley and our fit mare is firm and toned when pressed there.

Any ideas oh wise folks of HHO? Is this one to add to the list of weird things to mention to the vet?

Not sure if the photos will show it well.

 

[Fjord]

Could he have had a bite from an insect?

 

[nagblagger]

Could he have a hernia?

 

[Equi]

My immediate thought would be a hernia of some sort. Does he have any hind gut issues?

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Agree insect or hernia. I hope you get some answers.

 

[Dave's Mam]

That looks like a hernia or some sort of displacement.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

could it be fluid accumulating from a kick/impact? I'd want a vet regardless

 

[BBP]

It does feel like fluid accumulation, like ascites or something (which Google last night ramped my anxiety right up!). I don’t think hernia or a bite or kick reaction as it is equal on both sides of his body, I feel like it’s more likely to be excess fluid across his whole hind gut area. I wonder if it links to why his gelding scar area also accumulates fluid.

I’ll keep you all posted on what the vet says (I feel like between him and BBP I could start my own educational YouTube channel).

 

[rabatsa]

This was one of many syptoms caused by liver fluke when the RDA ponies were affected a few years back. Only two of the eight had this happen though, so I would mention it to the vet as part of the problem.

 

[BBP]

This was one of many syptoms caused by liver fluke when the RDA ponies were affected a few years back. Only two of the eight had this happen though, so I would mention it to the vet as part of the problem.

Thank you. I’ll mention it to my vet if they don’t raise it. Were the ponies ok in the end? Part of my googling last night mentioned ascites as part of hepatic failure. But i couldnt find any images of the fluid where his is, most photos are of it low in the belly.

His isn’t as bad this morning, there is more tone there. I don’t know if ascites would come and go, I assumed it was progressive.

We have started upping their salt in this warmer weather, and I know that for humans with ascites a low sodium diet is recommended, so maybe there is a link there?

 

[rabatsa]

Sadly we lost two ponies before the vet, who did not believe fluke could possibly be a problem, agreed that we could treat them. He then worked out how much stuff we would need and sold it to the group. We dosed as for cattle and had enough flukicide to treat the ponies monthly for three years had we so wished.

All symptoms came and went, I cannot remember the full list but puffy above the eyes was one that most of the ponies got at some stage. Within days of treatment all symptoms vanished.

 

[SEL]

Have you had bloods done recently?

We had a resistant red worm issue at an old yard and odd swellings / edemas were a sign, although we didn't know it at the time. Everything had been wormed so it wasn't high on the list.

Protein loss picked up by bloods in 3 youngsters raised alarm bells. Two elderly horses were PTS before winter by the hunt who took them away. The hunt yard actually contacted one of the yard staff because as they cut one open (sorry - grim) it was obvious she was riddled. Once that was fed back to the vets lots of odd symptoms fell into place.

FEC didn't pick up anything untoward either.

I hope you get an easy answer. I could probably co-author a YouTube channel on weird & expensive issues with horses

 

[BBP]

Oh I’m sorry to hear that Rabatsa. I watched a pony die of liver failure and it was the most awful thing. My little chap is not adverse to eating ragwort unfortunately so whether he got a taste for it before I bought him I don’t know.

Bloods wise I just did vitamin E and selenium last week, not a full blood panel. Vit E is low, not got selenium back yet. He did arrive with a hefty dose of redworm but FEC clear now. As you said that may not show the full story. I had wondered about redworm damage.