Stiffness, lip curling ...

MissTyc

MissTyc

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Firstly, this is NOT MY HORSE!

Owner has been told horse needs a vet, but is reluctant as not convinced anything is actually wrong with horse.

2yo filly, Cob x thoroughbred, very chunky, approx 14.2hh to make 15.2hh.
Vaccinations, teeth, etc, up to date.
Fed on chaff + speedibeet only (+ unrestricted hay for 8 hours a day, turned out on ok grazing the rest of the time).

Two weeks ago, yard girl notified me + owner that mare had come in stiff. I thought right hock looked swollen. Am not an expert, however, and advised vet if no improvement.

Over the next 10 days, I thought horse getting worse (i.e. stiffness more generalised and possibly bilateral/higher up). Owner thought it was getting better. I almost accepted I was probably paranoid when the lip curling started. Mare stands at her hay and curls lip non-stop for 10-15 minute chunks of time. In this time, she doesn't eat hay or chaff. In my opinion she strains when she poos, but poo consistency and quantity is normal.

No temperature, respiration normal, heart rate 32bpm, gut sounds all round (normal ime, but again, I am no expert!).

I don't think she looks "right", I don't think her behaviour is "right", but it's gut feeling rather than something I can pinpoint. Called to chat with the vet but they were non-committal and said they would need to speak to the owner (understandably! Wasn't calling them out, just calling for some advise as I am worried about the little mare).

Am I paranoid or should I talk this owner into a callout? I'm in a difficult position. Owner does not have some disposable income and if I insist on vet and it turns out there is nothing wrong, this is not the type of owner to take kindly to the "just in case" approach :( ...
 
Not related to the swollen hock but possibly why she is slightly off/ stiff, one of mine was a little quiet, straining to pass normal droppings but otherwise ok until he came in slightly colicky, I phoned the vet but while I was waiting to speak to him the pony peed, it was very dark, we decided he was slightly dehydrated and got loads of fluids down him. Once he started to drink he got through 2 buckets in about 4 hours it was as if he had forgotten to drink, he has wet hay and feed so probably does not need a lot of extra water.
It may be worth trying to get some very wet feed into her and see if she will take on some more fluids, it is something that can build up over time without really having much impact until they become really uncomfortable.
If you are the yard owner you can insist on a vet being called if you are concerned, I have a good relationship with my vets and can often resolve problems with a phone call and no need for an expensive visit.
 
Thanks for commenting.

Dehydration did cross my mind, funnily. That could coincide with the colder weather, perhaps this particular horse is struggling/not drinking enough early in the night before big freeze, etc ...

I think I will ask owner to at least CALL the vet, in front of me. That sounds nosy, but it's for the mare. I am worried about her, enough to post here! Might link thread to owner and then she will perhaps understand my concern as I have written it black on white.
 
The problem you have when they are just not quite right is that often the owner does not see that to get help now will save them in the long run, if she is dehydrated a serious colic could be the next stage, better to act early and nip a problem in the bud than to wait until the horse is really unwell.
Good luck:)
 
Yeah I totally agree and I think you've voiced my fears. Thanks, needed to clear it in my own mind

It is a DIY yard, but we do have some staff for "assisted" and I am always on site as staff + for my own horses and sometimes I think I know SOME of the big expensive pets better than their owners.

Am going to insist on that phone call tomorrow for better or for worse :)
 
Lip curling can also be a sign of pain, not just a new or interesting smell. i found this out when my last horse had a fatal bout of colic as he was doing this alot of the time.
 
As callmelucky says, lip curling when there's no other obvious reason, is a clear sign of pain. If it was my horse I'd have had the vet out days ago. There's a real possibility that your friend's horse could deteriorate quickly not least because of the pain. Horses as prey animals are very very good at hiding serious damage until it's too late.
 
As others have said, I'd suspect colic.

We have a filly who gets mild colic spasms if she eats too fast or her feed hasn't been soaked enough, and the first clue to the onset of an attack is her lip curling.
 
My Shetland has the odd gassy episode... Can usually walk it off, but his first sign is lip curling.
We always wheel him out for a walk about and fart which touch wood usually resolves things.
Funnily enough I usually get the phonecall saying he's not poo'd and is lip curling.
 
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