Update on pony with 'cancer'...

[smirnoff_ice]

Re: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...rue#Post2711198

Well after that post, the vets were almost positive it was cancer, but were awaiting biopsy results to confirm. These have just come back negative. So now they're saying it's colitis and he can go home.

Pony went into hospital on friday and weighed 270kg. Yesterday morning he weighed 234kg and today he's 220-something!! (He's a 12.2hh section A who should weigh in the region of 300kg!)
His laminitis is now so bad, he's crippled. He's drugged up to the eyeballs on pain relief, but is still suffering. He's eating much better (was anorexic) and drinking ok, yet he's losing stupid amounts of weight every day and his protein levels are mega low.

How can they want to send him home?? I'm going with his owner to see him tomorrow morning, and will kick off if i need to. Owner has also got the backing of her normal vet.

Does this sound like colitis to you?? Is it possible that it IS cancer, but they biopsied the wrong area?

One minute they're saying there's nothing they can do for him and he should be pts, the next they're saying he's fine and can go home!!

 

[merlinsquest]

Sounds like the poor thing is suffering badly and should not be sent home..... I would want a definate diagnosis and not be fobbed off. Cant imagine his quality of life is very good

 

[equiweb]

No way should this pony be sent home until he's stabalised with his weight and everything.

 

[Stinkbomb]

I dont think the pony should come home if he is suffering and they cant manage his pain. However i have had the unfortunate event where my old pony was very ill and spent over a period of 3 months, 4 weeks in an equine hosiptal. he stopped eating and lost huge amounts of weight. they sent him home as they believed he wasnt eating out of stress from being away from home. Sure enough as soon as he got home he started eating. This may be their train of thought with this pony.

 

[spaniel]

I think maybe this pony has reached the point where enough is enough. If the colitis diagnosis is confirmed then the poor thing will still need a very restricted lifestyle and Im not sure that coping with that, factoring in the laminitis, would really be fair.

Fingers crossed the little mite rallies round.

 

[smirnoff_ice]

Just been to see him now. He was the brightest he's been in a LONG time!

Still stupidly skinny, despite eating loads, but he was very well in himself. He hasnt had any pain relief since yesterday am, so nothing is being masked. He's got frog supports on for the lami, but he's walking and standing much better. However, on his back legs he's losing hair and underneath the skin is bloody and spotty.

The vets are stumped as to what's wrong with him. The owners wanted him pts. Vet wasn't happy with this as he isn't 'suffering' (today). I asked about exploatory surgery, and the vet said she'd offered this, but the owners had declined. I asked her what she'd do if he was her pony - she said "operate".
We discussed this with the owners and said that if it turns out to be treatable (after a post mortem), and they put him to sleep, they'll regret it forever. So he's being operated on on monday morning and if they find something unfixable, they wont wake him up. If not, they'll just take loads of biopsies and reassess after the results.

So we shall see. Fingers crossed for monday.