Should I clip? Veterinary-Welfare???

[jakkibag]

I know this is a very odd title for a thread in here, but was wondering if anyone had clipped for welfare reasons?

I have recently acquired two little ponies, who were in a bit of a sorry state,
One in particular has very very heavy matting down his back legs and all along his belly,
it must be uncomfortable but looks as if it has been there for years
Any radical ideas on how to shift it, have toyed with the idea of soaking it with oil, to try and loosen it, or sponge something on, they are still a bit flighty but fine tied up,
I dont want to spend hours and hours doing something that might upset him, He already stood for four hours to get his tail sorted which turned out to be white underneath
My other thought was when he gets gelded next week do i just get hold of some clippers and when he is still sedated just take the lot off,
Is this something that would be frowned on? Anyone dealt with this before, Would clipping shift it? Any help or opinions very much appreciated!

 

[Hoof_Prints]

If the matting is that bad I would clip it off, I actually had to help someone do that with a cat once. I fully clipped a 6 month old , underweight foal covered in lice, or should I say crawling with lice. The poor thing couldn't move as he was so anaemic. He was then bathed with medicated shampoo and covered in rugs
. Obviously completely different to matted coats but it is a case of veterinary welfare !

 

[madlady]

I would clip - there could be old cuts or sores or anything under there.

 

[Burnttoast]

I've just clipped (on vet's advice to her owner) a lami shetland who was continually wet with sweat simply because of the depth of her coat. So I would - as already said above, anything could be going on under there - but I'd get hold of the most heavy-duty clippers I could and have a spare set of blades handy. It probably won't be easy!

 

[jrp204]

If you could clip it off before he is gelded it will help keep the wound clean.

 

[jakkibag]

Thanks everyone, Yep I did wonder about that jrp204, but would probably need him sedated to clip, Its serious matting and he is quite little, would sedating him twice be something I should consider?, I realise its very bad but im afraid of doing too much in one go and knocking him for six I suppose?

 

[_HP_]

I've just clipped (on vet's advice to her owner) a lami shetland who was continually wet with sweat simply because of the depth of her coat. So I would - as already said above, anything could be going on under there - but I'd get hold of the most heavy-duty clippers I could and have a spare set of blades handy. It probably won't be easy!

Burnttoast...have you tested this ppny for PPID (Cushings disease)? Sweating and lami are both signs and it's fairly easily treated...

OP.. I think clipping while sedated for castration is a great idea

 

[jrp204]

Thanks everyone, Yep I did wonder about that jrp204, but would probably need him sedated to clip, Its serious matting and he is quite little, would sedating him twice be something I should consider?, I realise its very bad but im afraid of doing too much in one go and knocking him for six I suppose?

It will obviously be quicker to clip him while sedated, speak to the vet to see if you could do it while he's under for the op, you may need to pay for a bit more of the vets time but you would have to pay anyway to get him out to sedate if you do it before the op.

 

[Burnttoast]

Burnttoast...have you tested this ppny for PPID (Cushings disease)? Sweating and lami are both signs and it's fairly easily treated...

I would, but it's not my business. I have already given this info to the owner (pony is already being treated for EMS) but apparently vet thinks not worth testing for Cushings.

 

[lizness]

I should think that the vet will need area clean. They often do a small clip around the 'area'. Whether you can do it all at once depends on how nervy pony is and whether he is being gelded standing or down? If he gets wound up getting clipped and fights sedation then castration might be difficult. SO might need two seperate sedations?

 

[smellsofhorse]

Sounds best to clip.
It will done quickly ans you can see what's underneath and treat any skin problems and better see his condition.

 

[natmac84]

If you could clip it off before he is gelded it will help keep the wound clean.

ditto xx

 

[dianchi]

I ended up having to clip my foal in her first winter, the doves roosted above her box and she got fleas off them rubbed her self badly so clipped the lot off and bathed to treat her, def would clip at the same time as sedated!

 

[Aru]

clipping on the same day as an operation is a bad idea im afraid.high risk of of hair getting into a newly opened wound which can lead to nasty infections.dirty matted hair clippings flying off the body while clipping tend to go everywhere.id get some sedalin and clip him before the gelding so he would be clean for the op. vets clip before ops to remove hair from the site but the area is always washed down afterwards and all stray hairs removed.

 

[twiggy2]

I would speak to the vet, it would have to be very bad for me to want to clip this time of year.

do you think pony will cope ok if you have to rug him due to the clip?

will he panic if the rug blows up behind? no legs straps straight after a castration?

I would just try and remove a few of the mats each day with some scissors-slow and steady gaining his trust as you go

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I would sedate and clip before the gelding was done do as everything is clean down there. Good luck

 

[hobo]

I would sedate and clip before the gelding was done do as everything is clean down there. Good luck

As above. A tip for when clipping bad matted areas clip from above the matting in the same direction as the hair rather than how we normally clip. That way the clippers cope better with the matting and you don't clip to short as it is only for welfare reasons and does not have to look fantastic. Hope that made sense.

 

[lizness]

Get your hoover out! They are sometimes used in ops after clipping. But horses are under general!

 

[Spot_On]

I'd sedate and clip a few days before op. You may find you will have to clip over a few sessions depending on how badly matted the coat is.

 

[jakkibag]

Thanks everyone, lots of opinions, Currently averaging 10\12 degrees in NE Scotland so the poor pair are standing sweating buckets, however this increased moisture seems to be loosening some of the mats! Twiggy2 it is bad I have managed to cut some of the solid flat ones off with scissors.
Currently they are on turnout in hardstanding turnout pens as they have never been turned out in a field and they cant be turned out together as they fight ( one of many reasons for gelding, proper ripping each others faces off) or on their own as they get upset, So none of its ideal I know, however just getting them gelded and take vets advice on where to go next, vet seems confident we can sort them out, one is far far worse than the other, but in reality its upsetting me far more than him so probably best not to disturb it before the gelding

 

[NeverSayNever]

Thanks everyone, lots of opinions, Currently averaging 10\12 degrees in NE Scotland so the poor pair are standing sweating buckets, however this increased moisture seems to be loosening some of the mats! Twiggy2 it is bad I have managed to cut some of the solid flat ones off with scissors.
Currently they are on turnout in hardstanding turnout pens as they have never been turned out in a field and they cant be turned out together as they fight ( one of many reasons for gelding, proper ripping each others faces off) or on their own as they get upset, So none of its ideal I know, however just getting them gelded and take vets advice on where to go next, vet seems confident we can sort them out, one is far far worse than the other, but in reality its upsetting me far more than him so probably best not to disturb it before the gelding

i clipped Lolly when she came - she was so much better for it

 

[lornaA]

I had to clip my 2 year old a few weeks ago a he had a skin condition and it's the best thing I could of done. He was very hairy and we never could of treated it if we had left him hairy.