my pony has IR any advice really scared

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paulapup

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Hi, in march my pony had blood tests for lameness, the cushings test came back negative but his insulin was over 200, he was put on metformin and I thought he was improving but the next test came back over 300, the vet came out to look at him again and said that he did have cushings, he could tell by looking at him, so he took him off the metformin he said it wasnt doing anything for him and put him on half a prascend tablet a day, he really seemed to pick up and was going back out on field for a couple of hours with a grazing muzzle on, he recently became lame again had more bloods done the insulin results came back over 900 I am devastated, he is 20 years old not over weight, but also not in work though he was out on a very large field, he was only 7 months when I got him he means the world to me, he wont eat the metformin my vet crushes the tablets for us, he is on 15 (850mg) twice a day but he still wont eat it having to put some mollasses in with his equibeet which I dont think will be great for him really, I have tried adding mint, any advice on what to feed, management ect I would be grateful please try not to baffle me has I have tried to gather some info but it can be quite scientific. Thankyou
 
My boy is borderline IR and I have him in a track grazing system. Put a fence around the perimeter of the field about 10 meters in with a wider area for resting, with water at one end and soaked hay at the other. IR horses need to keep moving. Even just one side of the field is better than a large field where the horse just stands and eats round himself!
I wouldn't feed molasses or anything sweet 'cos as you say it wont do him any good.
TopSpec lite balancer is especially for EMS/lammi ponies and is very palatable so maybe try that with the speedibeet? Costs about £25 for 20kgs. Can't think of anything else to get him to eat his pills, sorry.
If you google "insulin resistant horses" there is a lot of advice. Would post a link but don't know how!!!
I wish you all the best with your boy, I know how worrying it all is.


Oh, and welcome to the forum!
 
I put the metaformin in a coffee grinder and made it into a very fine powder. My fussy eater then ate it without any problem. I would suggest you tried increasing the prascend dose. My horse is on 2 a day now.
 
Read www.ecirhorse.com then join the ecir yahoo group for some very good practical advice.

And stop using molasses or other sugary treats to get the drugs in - you need to keep every mouthful your IR equine has at 10% sugar/starch combined or less.
 
you tried jam sandwich ??
marmite
mix apple juice in feed
cor and apple and put them in
try apple puree
eucalyptus is strong smelling
mine loves horlicks
 
Thankyou everyone for your advice, will try the marmite sarni, and will try the feed, I knew molasses was a bad option but at my wits end he just turns his nose up at everything else, vet back on tue will ask about pracend, very grateful to you all :)
 
Sov-n-Dom said:
My boy is borderline IR and I have him in a track grazing system. Put a fence around the perimeter of the field about 10 meters in with a wider area for resting, with water at one end and soaked hay at the other. IR horses need to keep moving. Even just one side of the field is better than a large field where the horse just stands and eats round himself!
I wouldn't feed molasses or anything sweet 'cos as you say it wont do him any good.
TopSpec lite balancer is especially for EMS/lammi ponies and is very palatable so maybe try that with the speedibeet? Costs about £25 for 20kgs. Can't think of anything else to get him to eat his pills, sorry.
If you google "insulin resistant horses" there is a lot of advice. Would post a link but don't know how!!!
I wish you all the best with your boy, I know how worrying it all is.


Oh, and welcome to the forum!
Click to expand...

thanks so much:)
 
Paulapup

sorry to hear about your pony. It is all scary at first but eventually you learn to face the problem and fight it. My 11.2 mare was diagnosed 5 years ago and it has been a juggling act to get her sound and keep her that way. The last 7 months have been a nightmare and whatever regime I followed didn't work. she was in pain, lame and even soaked hay sent her blood sugars up the creek so to speak. I was on the verge of having her PTS.

Then I searched and searched the internet for answers and came across these two sites:

http://www.gotcha.com.au/articles/laminitis_obesity.php
and
http://www.hoofrehab.com/HORP-061200-LAMINITIS.pdf

I then changed the diet again ! and included; magnesium, chromium, salt, calcium and fenugreek (used by some diabetics to control glucose levels in the blood) in a small amount of unmolassed sugar beet. This was the last resort. She is barefoot and the farrier worked hard on the feet. A few days later I was stunned, speechless and amazed. My beloved pony gradually became sound before my very eyes. The first time in ages. She has to have a muzzle on when out with her field buddies. But I have been able to take her out for walks and she trots and runs around and bucks with sheer exuberance it is amazing.

Don't give up, definitely keep away from anything with molasses or Lucerne/Alfalfa in it. no apples, carrots etc. Once sound try gentle exercise. The paddock paradise is also brilliant - they have to keep moving.

all the best

PS. marmite sandwiches are briliant
 
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Thanks texel good to hear from someone who is managing with the condition, and good to see your pony having a run around with friends, I think the quality of life is important and yours was having a good time, will look into the vits and mins do you buy them all separate or can you buy a combination, very grateful;)
 
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