Shetland pony walking stiffly

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debbie ann

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I have a 9 year old miniature shetland who is walking like a 90 year old
Feet have been checked by farrier
Been examined by vet
He's been on bute for 5 days with no improvement
He'll allow his feet to be picked up without protesting
His appetite is fine but he is very unhappy
He's having a muscular skeletal massage on Thursday
Any other thoughts
 
My mini has only had faint pulse in one pastern when she had a bad laminitis attack early last year but went to hobbling overnight. 4 weeks of box rest put her right and I've micro managed ever since, so much so that she was put on box rest while I was away last week for 4 nights, to save anyone worrying about her tipping over the edge again.
To add, no reaction to hoof testers at all, but very much in pain and unhappy.
It's high laminitis times at present.
 
Presume farrier and vet would have ruled out laminitis before anything else tbh

Has he slipped in field maybe if ground is wet?
 
Tihama said:
Presume farrier and vet would have ruled out laminitis before anything else tbh

Has he slipped in field maybe if ground is wet?
Click to expand...

I should have said in my post - I'm sure the vet & farrier will have checked for lami but I would still take the mentioned precautions just in case. Ours doesn't react to hoof testers and rarely has a raised pulse when he has an attack so he has previously been misdiagnosed.
 
A stiff mini shet in summer, i would also immediately assume laminitis. Deep bed them and soak all hay for at least a few hours (and a few water changes, no point the hay sitting in saturated sugar water!) then aim to get a muzzle or have them on a dry plot feeding hay instead.

Just to add though, my little mare was taken to the vet as not quite right and they immediately said lami without any checks because of her breed/size. Farrier disagreed vehemently so i got a second opinion and it turned out she actually had a stifle issue which a chiropractor sorted out.
 
My informed opinion ( vet nurse).
1. Lami 2. PSSM ( fantastic FB page, Raising Awareness of PSSM). 3. Has managed to eat something toxic 4. Tetanus 5. Severe dehydration

Treatments very different depending upon results of vet tests, but urgent blood tests definitely needed. Hasn't had a proper 'vet check' without blood tests with these symptoms. Hope it's one of the 'lesser' evils
 
Leah3horses said:
My informed opinion ( vet nurse).
1. Lami 2. PSSM ( fantastic FB page, Raising Awareness of PSSM). 3. Has managed to eat something toxic 4. Tetanus 5. Severe dehydration

Treatments very different depending upon results of vet tests, but urgent blood tests definitely needed. Hasn't had a proper 'vet check' without blood tests with these symptoms. Hope it's one of the 'lesser' evils
Click to expand...
So third vet visit decided it is the dreaded laminitis, she's coming back next week to test for EMS , any idea what the test will cost?
 
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