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Post by kizi on Dec 19, 2012 23:21:15 GMT 1
Meant in the nicest way!!!! Pulse 36-40 per min Resp rate 38-40 per min.. Shallow breaths.. Panting without the tongue!! Yawning... Not hungry for hay.. Ravenous for polo mints...! And feed. Not sweating.. 25-28 years old.. Condition.. Not carrying any fat... Impossible to put it on last few months. Teeth-done but not great.. Not bloated.. Gut sounds too loud! No.. Not a colic.. Been going on about 2 weeks... But pony has been prone to gas colic past few years.. Could swear I could see her heart pounding in her chest yesterday but then it stopped again.. Might have just been a muscle spasm.. Behaving her normal cranky self.. When she has colic that's the first indicator-she gets nice ;-) Thoughts??? Would stress elevate pulse and resp like that? Ulcers? Poop is good and normal looking.. Carries tail.. I suspect internal tumours... I have been watching her and to be honest her time was up but she's actually brightened up the last 2 weeks compared to the last few months, but in the last few weeks all her friends have gone  and she has a new friend at the moment.. But she generally doesn't 'like' other ponies.. Tends to keep to herself.. She's had a very hard life.. Thoughts anyone experienced similar? (Don't say vet  already in regular contact, 10 mins ago infact, but as she's not in any obvious distress they advised I check again in a while, if she colics I have meds to give so won't be delaying much, but I don't think it's colic, will get bloods done this week, but why is it always Xmas week!!) Just thought I'd quiz all your experienced minds... |
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Post by shan on Dec 19, 2012 23:23:09 GMT 1
My first thought is dehydration... is that a possibility?
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Post by kizi on Dec 19, 2012 23:28:49 GMT 1
Hmm shouldn't be but actually I never thought of that.. I will when I go back down thanks..
If I can with so much hair hehe she's in a big loose barn with just 1 other pony and a huge bucket of water..
Thanks..
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Post by kizi on Dec 19, 2012 23:45:49 GMT 1
Ok not dehydrated but maybe bloods will indicate something..
I'm still stuck on tumours.. Don't know why..
I feel bad now.. She's not showing any signs of distress or pain by the way, and I had been watching her but being in denial about having to let her go I think my attention to detail slipped.. I kept assuming other things, like she'd been running about or she'd been this or she'd been that.. But I cannot deny my pony is old anymore.. I know she's not that old but the first 15 odd years of her life were very tough full of hunger and neglect and over work and ignored suffering so really she is old..
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Post by shan on Dec 19, 2012 23:52:02 GMT 1
Maybe she's just an old pony with old organs then, old age manifests in all sorts of ways doesn't it? If the vets can't find anything obvious I'd just be inclined to keep an eye on her like you are, would it be worth them checking for tumours or just letting things pan out? It's good that she's got you to care about her after having a bad life, that's always nice to hear |
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Post by kizi on Dec 20, 2012 0:05:07 GMT 1
Last time she had a colic I said 'next time we're checking for tumours' but I also got better at managing her!! So no colic since.. So I didn't want to go interfering unnecessarily then... She has other signs though.. For last few years she's stamped a hind foot like they do with mites but def no mites, osteos/physios etc etc all say its something internal they can't sort.. It's a matter of scanning her.. Till now there was no need.. Only mind her but now I think I need Grr I've only had her 6 years but she was my 'first' pony! I love her moody stroppy ass!!! |
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Post by kizi on Dec 20, 2012 11:08:56 GMT 1
Back to normal still.. I dunno.. I'm taking it as a warning sign I think an hopefully the bloods will give an indication.. Terrified that a scan will upset her inside bits..
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Post by dalesfan on Dec 20, 2012 11:12:58 GMT 1
Hope you get some answers from the bloods kizi x
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Post by mandal on Dec 20, 2012 11:14:28 GMT 1
I think bloods are definitely the way to go. fingers crossed. Have you checked her temperature btw?
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Post by kizi on Dec 30, 2012 1:03:07 GMT 1
Hmm only saw last comment now... Didn't take bloods yet either Xmas week and vets on 2 weeks 'emergency only' calls so rather than pay double I started her on a tonic and just kept a close eye on her.. She's been totally normal since... Until tonight! I think I have figured out her problem.. Well.. One of them! Old pony isn't very good at regulating her temp! Tonight it's a little cooler out, not below freezing though.. She's cold to touch yet slightly sweaty, breathing slow and hard to see and pulse incredibly slow and weak... Standing in the back of her stable... Rolling... Sulking... I thought she was colicing tho lots of poops there.. Hay eaten.. Watched her.. Good gut sounds etc... Decided she was cold what ever the reason for odd behaviour.. She usually hates rugs.. But I found a light stable rug that was a little loose... No reaction to rug appearing do I put it on.. 15 mins later she turned around and started eating her hay... She has a very very thick winter coat.. But still not much fat covering.. She can't regulate her temp, the other ponies in tonight with her were totally fine with finer coats, one is rugged but used to that and fine, one unrugged and fine.. So maybe that's what's causing panting/fast heart/slow heart/slow little breaths etc etc... Gonna be great fun with a pony that hates rugs!!!! She has ad-lib Haylege so will have to up number of feeds and add oil... Will check her in half hour again just incase.. But thought I'd update incase anyone ever searches for similar case!! (I will be doing bloods once vets back to normal.. Or sooner if she decides to be deemed an emergency-hopefully not!) |
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 30, 2012 2:06:11 GMT 1
Just out of interest (sorry if you've already said!) does she have cushings? Also what do you feed her? My boy was a bit like this in his later years and was just as you described only it was colic due to the feeds he was getting. I changed his feed and didn't have the same problem again.
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Post by kizi on Dec 30, 2012 2:28:38 GMT 1
She's a complicated pony! Many many years of neglect have left her with a lot of problems... And very difficult to manage.. Over the last 2 years I have managed her well by avoiding all sugar and grass. Only bare paddocks, if she gets a full gut she colics. If she gets sugary feed she colics...
At the moment she gets speedy beet balancer chaff and some conditioning nuts with water to make it nice and soft. She also gets salt and apple cider vinegar.. And at the moment is on a pretty strong vitamin tonic.. Oh and oil. In 2 feeds a day but now I think I need to add another feed as she's not gaining weight.. But I know the more I up her quantity the closer I will get to colic..
Need to try get senior feed but need nuts not mix... She's always been a good doer needing strict management.. I've never ever had trouble keeping weight on her... Never had these weird problems with her...
She has other issues too.. I am going to give her bute tomorrow to see if anything changes to see if she's in pain..
I don't know if she has cushings..
She does have arthritic problems so is less active, been retired from work several years for several reasons.. So being unfit may be another reason it's hard for her to regulate her temp.. But cant really get her fit either.. shes approx 22-24 but physically shes 28-30.. years of neglect caused big worm damage, malnutrition, weak bones, crumbly teeth, internal problems, and a generally cranky face pulling mare!!! whom i love dearly! the crosser the face she pulls the better shes feeling!!! sick.. no face pulling!!!
Need a new thermometer though! Discovered tonight it's broken!
Anyway..
I think I answered your short question with my essay.. Sorry about that!!
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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 30, 2012 15:57:06 GMT 1
She is so lucky to be in your care. I do hope you are looking after yourself as well - couldn't help noticing your last post was at 2.28 A.M....
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 30, 2012 17:20:44 GMT 1
I fed my boy top spec cool and condition and the senior balancer, I soaked it (well, add water and let it stand for 10 mins and it is mush) then added chop and supplements and oil to it. I ended up splitting it into 2-3 feeds a day and it stopped him getting uncomfy/colicky. I only had problems keeping weight in him for the last 12 months, before then I don't think I felt a rib for about 6 years, even on restricted grazing! But feeding him kept his ribs well covered and he did enjoy getting fed more than once a day  He was a grumpy old sod too... When he was poorly he would snuggle up and be the sweetest most lovely pony, when he was well he was a cranky and the most affection you would get was a knicker and a nudge for treats/food...wouldn't have had him any other way though |
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Post by kizi on Dec 30, 2012 18:13:17 GMT 1
Hehe he sounds just like this lady!
Spoke to the vet who will see her tomorrow if I want obviously but all I've read and he seems to be also thinking that her heart could be a problem.. Said it sounds like heart murmur /start of heart failure. So instead of him coming out to take bloods I'll probably take her up in case they decide to do ECG...
I know tho that I won't be putting her through any strenuous exercise tests or difficult treatments or box rest...
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and she has a new friend at the moment.. But she generally doesn't 'like' other ponies.. Tends to keep to herself.. She's had a very hard life.. 
already in regular contact, 10 mins ago infact, but as she's not in any obvious distress they advised I check again in a while, if she colics I have meds to give so won't be delaying much, but I don't think it's colic, will get bloods done this week, but why is it always Xmas week!!) 
