Stange illness? Any ideas?

3OldPonies

3OldPonies

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 March 2013
Messages
1,721
Location
Berkshire
Visit site
Sorry this is a bit of a long one.

My 25 yr old pony keeps having occasion bouts of I don't know what. We change nothing in his regime, but about every 7 - 8 weeks for some reason, and always at a weekend) he goes off his food for at least one meal and becomes really quiet and subdued. I've been suspicious that someone is feeding him something they shouldn't be over the fence and causing him a very mild flatulent colic. As well as not eating he also slows down in the amount he poos, and when he does get back to normal there is usually a large soft poo before things get back to normal. He also does a kind of groaning burp now and again when he first goes off his feed. Each episode lasts around 18 hours or so. I walk or lunge him periodically while symptoms are displaying which seems to shift some gas and get things going again. The classic looking round, sweating, pawing, trying to roll, high temperature and increased breathing colic symptoms are all missing.

Anyone got any ideas? Either on what it is, or what else I can do to help him? He never seems to get bad enough to need a vet. Do you think I could be right in my assumption that he is getting extra 'treats' from passers by?
 
I'd be very suspicious of Cushings tbh. Would probably check for that first. I think there are still free vouchers available online if you Google it. Worth testing for at his age anyway, even if it's unrelated. Home you get to the bottom of it, but that's all i can think of x
 
It probably is worth testing for Cushings, but that doesn't fit any of the symptoms that I know of. If you suspect he could have slightly raised ACTH levels but don't want to invest in a blood test, you could try some chasteberry (Vitex) to see whether it helps. TBH I would get him a decent probiotic like yeassac just in case his gut bacteria are compromised by something.
 
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I've having him tested for Cushings next week as his topline and laminitic history are looking suspiciously like that could be a problem for him. I'd not really thought that it could also be upsetting him in other ways.

I think I have a lot of learning to do about Cushings. So any help anyone can give in helping me get head around it would be much appreciated.

There is also a chance that lawn mowings could be a problem. The local residents aren't too fussy about where they chuck them. I'll have to have another word with them - just in case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top