No energy - panting like dog?

O

Oddysmum

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Hi,

Have had a niggling concern through the summer as Oddy didn't seem to have the energy he normally has, but put it down to the fact that he was living out (doesn't normally) and grass kept horses can lack a bit of spark sometimes. I also think that he doesn't really like living out as he is much more cuddly and interested in what is going on when living in. Brought him in the autumn (about a month ago now) and apart from seeming happy to be in, seems to be worse energy wise. He is really perky in himself - bright eyed, pricked ears, wanting to know what you are doing all the time (he has a ponies brain in a horses body!) and get in on the act, but lacking energy. Took him hunting last week and normally once he hears the hounds he grows another six foot and is ready to be off! All he did on Saturday was prick his ears forward. Last winter he hunted all day, on Saturday we lasted 3 hours and every time we stopped he was panting and sweating! Gave him most of last week off apart from the 2 days my sharer had a lesson on him. Thought I would hack him out on Sat, just to see what was going on. he was knackered and panting half way through the hack. Have just spoken to the Vet - they want to check for Lymes disease as well as the obvious checks. Coming out Friday.
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Poor boy, sounds like he's struggling. I would ask the vet to do a full blood profile, bring him in for a period of time each day and dont work (or hunt) him in this state. It may well be worth having him scoped too, but see what the vets say. Im interested to know why you have been working him when you knew he wasnt right?
 
Do you think he could be suffering from some sort of dust allergy from hay or bedding if he has started panting since he has been coming in?
 
How old is he hun? My ned was listless and not himself a few weeks ago. Long story short - he was endoscoped to look at his airways and he had a horrendous amount of thick sticky mucus clogging his airways so he physically couldn't get enough oxygen in for his body to use. Sunny is 23 and oldies' immune systems tend to be not as efficient as a younger horse, so I wonder if your ned (if an oldie) has heart problems or a virus or an allergy that would cause his lungs to get clogged and mucky? As others have said, probably time to get the vet out to check him out x
 
I think your horse could possibly have an electrolyte imbalance. I have tried to google electrolyte imbalance in horse but only got human symptoms come up, but I know the common effects are weakness or twitching of the muscles, numbness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat and blood pressure changes. In my friends horse it caused sweating and panting. It was remedied by giving the horse electrolytes. He also had thumps which is a common side effect of electrolyte imbalance and is hiccups.
 
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Im interested to know why you have been working him when you knew he wasnt right?

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Because as I said I needed to check on what was going on! As he seems so perky and bright in himself and there is nothing outwardly wrong, the only way to get a picture of what is wrong is to work him. Why did I take him hunting perhaps? Simple. He absolutely loves it and I wanted to find out if that would make any difference (perhaps he was bored and fed up? because he does get that way). It was a meet close to home so that I could pull up and go home if and when I decided enough was enough. In fact it was his lack of reaction to hunting that finally made me realise that something was most definitely wrong!

The vet will be doing a full blood on Friday as well as giving him a thorough check over.
 
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Do you think he could be suffering from some sort of dust allergy from hay or bedding if he has started panting since he has been coming in?

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To be honest that is the first thing that we thought of and I have been steaming his haylage, I have been giving him a supplement by equine America called Airways (the smell is enough to knock you out!), and the bedding he is on (wood pellets) creates no dust at ll as long as it is kep damped down - which I do.

The vet said she will check his lungs, but the thing that concerns me is there is no mucus and no cough!
 
Box of Frogs - It is one of the things that I am wondering. Although as I have pointed about above - no cough and he is only 14!

applecart14 - Never even thought of that and he does sweat at the drop of a hat! I don't give him electrolytes, but I do always make sure he has a salt lick.
 
It's the panting that worries me Om. It would seem to be that he's struggling to get enough oxygen into his body and if that's the case, the $64,000 question is why? Halfway through his summer allergy/chest infection Sunny had an episode where I was riding him up the slope towards the school. The vets had said do things that make him breathe deeply so I was doing a regular 20 mins in walk in the school. Anyway, halfway up the slope he suddenly stopped and started gasping for air (through his nose but still gasping). It was terrifying - I thought he was going to have a heart attack and drop dead under me. That's what lack of oxygen does, so I wondered if maybe your lad had a virus or something that would prevent his body being able to absorb the extra oxygen needed for exercise. Having said that, if he's himself in all other ways, it probably isn't a virus - they make you feel awful don't they. I wonder if he's anaemic? That would produce the same symptoms. Hope you can get to the bottom of it - he sounds a great character x
 
I remember reading that a horse cannot compensate adequately from an electrolyte imbalance through a salt lick. It may not know it is inbalanced and therefore would not lick the salt, and it would need a home made electrolyte or shop bought electrolyte. Also the new licks with electrolytes don't make any difference, a horse would have to eat (or lick) about ten to make a scrap of difference!
 
Box of Frogs. I know, it's the panting and gasping for air that really worries me. The trouble is he now seems a bit flat and depressed because he isn't being worked! I have always said that I would never be able to retire him! You just can't seem to win. I wish Friday would hurry up so that I can perhaps start to get some answers!

How is Sunny? How long did it take?

Thanks for that applecart14. It is something to be considered.
 
Box of Frogs. I know, it's the panting and gasping for air that really worries me. The trouble is he now seems a bit flat and depressed because he isn't being worked! I have always said that I would never be able to retire him! You just can't seem to win. I wish Friday would hurry up so that I can perhaps start to get some answers!

How is Sunny? How long did it take?

Thanks for that applecart14. It is certainly something to be considered and remembered for the future.
 
Sunny's ok now thanks Om, pretty much as I knew he would be as soon as the weather changed. Working diagnosis of Summer Pasture Allergy, ie allergic asthmatic-type reaction to pollen and dust. When he got a virus on top of that it knocked him for six. He was put on antibx (secondary infection from coughing so much), ventipulmin (to relax his airways) and Sputilosin (to break up the sticky mucus that was choking him) for about 4 weeks in all. But although all those drugs helped the SYMPTOMS they didn't address the underlying problem. The weather changing did that and he'll (hopefully) be right as ninepence til about May or June next year when it will all start again {{sigh}}.

Even though not working is depressing your ned, I'd still not work him. If it is severe anaemia or a lung problem and he was worked hard, he could have a heart attack underneath you through lack of oxygen! Could you just walk him in hand for grass up and down a lane somewhere? Then a humungus grooming session and massages and carrot stretches - just spend time with him til Friday so he knows you still love him. Fingers crossed that it will turn out to be something really simple and he'll be himself in no time. Do let us know what the vets say xxx
 
Have you taken his temperature??? That would be the first thing I would do. One of our hunters was just a bit "flat" and when returning from a hack stood and puffed and blowed and his sides were really heaving. Took his temp which was 103. Vet came, a jab some anitbiotics then as right as rain.
 
Sorry haven't got back sooner. Seems to be a virus. Vet listened to his lungs and said that they sounded inflamed. took blood which has shown that he has a larger count than normal of whiteblood cells. Has prescrbed him some Noradine granules and a blood tonic. Said not tro be worked this week and to stay in as long as it is wet and windy.

He has been on meds since Sat and if attitude is anything to go by, then the Oddmeister is feeling much better! had forgotten how much like a naughty school boy he is, wasn't a thing he wasn't touching, nosing or investigating in anyway last night. Must have taken me 20 minutes to clear up after him after having tied him up outside stable so could muck out! As much as I nag and moan at him for doing things he shouldn't-loving having the boy back!

Vet coming out again on Friday to take more check him over and take blood again to see how he is progressing.
 
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