HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
My mare, Belle, was seen by a vet today but essentially we and the vet are not sure of the problem so I am just looking to gather any thoughts please. Apologies for the length.
17 yr old ISH mare, retired (as was a bit bonkers) and lives out 24/7 in small family herd. Our grass is very poor but they do OK off it and we give a little hay twice a day to ensure sufficient forage. Belle has looked a bit slow of late to me but nothing obvious and I have often thought she is getting stiff - she often rests a hind leg and I did notice when we had the exceptionally hot weather that her hind legs filled somewhat and I assume it's because they weren't moving! She has very rarely been unwell in 10 years of ownership. Does have several melanomas under tail (she's grey). Vet confirmed that she is in good condition - not overweight but not slim either.
I went outside at lunch today and could see she didn't look happy, face looked as though she was uncomfortable. The other horses walked off and she took a few odd, reluctant steps and stopped again. I kept watching and after several minutes she walked off as if to follow and took maybe 10 very bizarre steps, really exaggerating the lifting of her hinds - I have never seen a horse walk like that. Then stopped again and respiratory rate up. I did try leading her and she would then walk more normally but very slowly and didn't really want to budge. I called for the vet who came about an hour and 20 mins or so later, by which time Belle was already looking better, although she was still not keen to move. I stayed with her in between and at times she would be breathing heavily, nostrils flaring, and obviously in pain and then at other times breathing more normally. She would stand and sometimes lift a hind, occasionally look at her belly, then seem frustrated like she wanted to walk but didn't dare. She felt trembly when I touched her neck.
By the time the vet was able to come she said horse was fine clinically with normal heart rate, good gut sounds. She took some bloods which have come back already and are normal. I was away for two weeks recently and my Mum said today that Belle did have an episode a bit like that whilst I was away but then began behaving normally again and was not seen by a vet that time.
This evening she seemed normal, although unsound in front (but the ground is really hard at the moment). She is eating and drinking and has no obvious injuries, marks, lumps or bumps. The only thing I can think is mild colic which cleared itself, although if she had another similar episode recently then it begs the question why it's happening - would that explain the very odd hind-leg action?
Any thoughts gratefully received. Thank you.
17 yr old ISH mare, retired (as was a bit bonkers) and lives out 24/7 in small family herd. Our grass is very poor but they do OK off it and we give a little hay twice a day to ensure sufficient forage. Belle has looked a bit slow of late to me but nothing obvious and I have often thought she is getting stiff - she often rests a hind leg and I did notice when we had the exceptionally hot weather that her hind legs filled somewhat and I assume it's because they weren't moving! She has very rarely been unwell in 10 years of ownership. Does have several melanomas under tail (she's grey). Vet confirmed that she is in good condition - not overweight but not slim either.
I went outside at lunch today and could see she didn't look happy, face looked as though she was uncomfortable. The other horses walked off and she took a few odd, reluctant steps and stopped again. I kept watching and after several minutes she walked off as if to follow and took maybe 10 very bizarre steps, really exaggerating the lifting of her hinds - I have never seen a horse walk like that. Then stopped again and respiratory rate up. I did try leading her and she would then walk more normally but very slowly and didn't really want to budge. I called for the vet who came about an hour and 20 mins or so later, by which time Belle was already looking better, although she was still not keen to move. I stayed with her in between and at times she would be breathing heavily, nostrils flaring, and obviously in pain and then at other times breathing more normally. She would stand and sometimes lift a hind, occasionally look at her belly, then seem frustrated like she wanted to walk but didn't dare. She felt trembly when I touched her neck.
By the time the vet was able to come she said horse was fine clinically with normal heart rate, good gut sounds. She took some bloods which have come back already and are normal. I was away for two weeks recently and my Mum said today that Belle did have an episode a bit like that whilst I was away but then began behaving normally again and was not seen by a vet that time.
This evening she seemed normal, although unsound in front (but the ground is really hard at the moment). She is eating and drinking and has no obvious injuries, marks, lumps or bumps. The only thing I can think is mild colic which cleared itself, although if she had another similar episode recently then it begs the question why it's happening - would that explain the very odd hind-leg action?
Any thoughts gratefully received. Thank you.
