Prince707
New User
Hi all,
Can anyone offer some advice/tips for managing a pony with suspected EMS? Is it all doom and gloom, or is there light at the end of the tunnel?
He's a 7yr old connie who's been intermittently lame on his near front for the past 6 ish months. Everytime I call the vet for a lameness work up he comes sound before the appointment (doesn't help that the appointments are around a week and a half from when I call to book). It only seems to show up when hes on the lunge on the left rein. He was also extremely foot sore a few weeks ago after he had been trimmed by the farrier (not shod) and he had severe bruising on all 4 feet (pic attached). I put him on box rest immediately and the vet came out within a few days. The vet was sure it wasnt laminitus and the farrier agreed - they advised that if it was lami, the bruising would be consistent with the pedal bone below the point of the frog. The vet concluded he had been trimmed too short and he could go back to full turn out. He came right within a week or so but the pony is due to be trimmed again next week, so I'm dreading it. It's also worth noting that within a few days of him coming sound, he went lame on his near front again which lasted about 5 days (vet advised I keep him in full work to keep his lameness visable ready for a work up, but to no avail).
He's holding on to every ounce of weight and I'm really struggling to get him down to a manageable size. He's on a sprinkle of hi-fi light morning and night with a small soaked net of an evening. He's turned out from 7ish til midday but there is no hope of keeping a muzzle on him or keeping him an electric fenced paddock. He's worked 5 out of 7 days but I admit the work could be harder. I've also just ordered a weight tape so I can keep track.
There's not a great deal on the internet about it so any advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm extremely confused and not sure what to do next?
Can anyone offer some advice/tips for managing a pony with suspected EMS? Is it all doom and gloom, or is there light at the end of the tunnel?
He's a 7yr old connie who's been intermittently lame on his near front for the past 6 ish months. Everytime I call the vet for a lameness work up he comes sound before the appointment (doesn't help that the appointments are around a week and a half from when I call to book). It only seems to show up when hes on the lunge on the left rein. He was also extremely foot sore a few weeks ago after he had been trimmed by the farrier (not shod) and he had severe bruising on all 4 feet (pic attached). I put him on box rest immediately and the vet came out within a few days. The vet was sure it wasnt laminitus and the farrier agreed - they advised that if it was lami, the bruising would be consistent with the pedal bone below the point of the frog. The vet concluded he had been trimmed too short and he could go back to full turn out. He came right within a week or so but the pony is due to be trimmed again next week, so I'm dreading it. It's also worth noting that within a few days of him coming sound, he went lame on his near front again which lasted about 5 days (vet advised I keep him in full work to keep his lameness visable ready for a work up, but to no avail).
He's holding on to every ounce of weight and I'm really struggling to get him down to a manageable size. He's on a sprinkle of hi-fi light morning and night with a small soaked net of an evening. He's turned out from 7ish til midday but there is no hope of keeping a muzzle on him or keeping him an electric fenced paddock. He's worked 5 out of 7 days but I admit the work could be harder. I've also just ordered a weight tape so I can keep track.
There's not a great deal on the internet about it so any advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm extremely confused and not sure what to do next?