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polly
Platinum Member
2183 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Aug 2008 : 10:00:15 PM
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My sons little pony has been diagnosed with COPD....she has a hacking cough, ( and farts voilently when coughing !) When stabled , possibly 4xyear, she has no bedding (on Rubber Vet Bed) and a grill instead of a door, and soaked hay. She is at the moment out with one other pony and an old retired crabbet gelding, who have limited grazing ( as pony gets laminitis!!!) and ad lib large bale hay, not at all dusty.
so...when in she gets depresed ......and coughs
and...when out...she eats dry hay ....and coughs
ANY ideas welcome
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Photos1and2EricGJones
pollywells@.live.co.uk |
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Joto
Gold Member
855 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2008 : 10:09:17 PM
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| can you make a yard area?, possibly outside the stable door, as large as possible, it could be covered with rubber mats,or wood chip. the pony could then walk out on there and you could put the soaked hay around in very small piles and a couple of decahedrons with hi-fibre cubes in to give her something to do as well.the stable door could then be left open for her to wonder in and out. a stable mirror would also create interest. |
Edited by - Joto on 25 Aug 2008 10:10:56 PM |
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polly
Platinum Member
2183 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2008 : 11:02:57 PM
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| after talking to OH tonight ,we have decided she can live out in a smaller field with the sheep as she will have a huge open field shelter and soaked hay ( sheep hate wet hay) she is yelling for her mates but hopefully she will settle down soon. I hate separating her from them but I feel justified now....whats more important....being with your mates or being able to breath! |
Photos1and2EricGJones
pollywells@.live.co.uk |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 07:47:33 AM
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| Something I'm going to try over the winter when my boy has to be stabled at night (he's a big wuss and will freeze otherwise) is the New Era tissue salts for sinus and catarrhs, homepathic remedies. You give 5 twice a day, it will take a month to build up inside their bodies but will then help support their respiratory system. They should preferrably be given directly into their mouths, mine takes them as a treat, but you can also put them in feed. Not expensive (about a fiver for 450 tablets) so maybe worth a try? |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 11:15:10 AM
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| Why don't you put her back with her mates and give them all soaked hay instead of dry? I know it is a bit extra work, but surely worth it for her to have company. It would also be better for the laminitic pony to have soaked hay anyway. |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 11:20:19 AM
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| I was going to suggest what Zan has suggested. |
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polly
Platinum Member
2183 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 6:56:08 PM
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| Zan...I cannot lift soaked hay at the best of times and they are in a barn with Large round bales.....so soaking for all of them is not possible. The stress is from being alone ...either in the yard ( cannot see the paddocks as stables are in square yard by the house) and or in the field she is in with the sheep , and this will not support another equine.So after talking to vet today, she has advised to stick with this regeime for 4 weeks !!! to see a difference. We will be taking her for walks in hand to keep her spirits up..... |
Photos1and2EricGJones
pollywells@.live.co.uk |
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Pixie
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
6586 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2008 : 7:05:57 PM
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Sorry Polly I didn't read your original post properly. Soaking hay is a nightmare. I know I do it. It weighs a ton and I only have to carry it a few feet. Let along make serveral piles in the field "yards and yards" away. You only get one back. Try not to break it.
My friends horse is always worse this time of year even though she lives out. The moment the combines starts her COPD gets worse.
Wishing the pony well. |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 08:39:40 AM
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Like Gossy, I would employ lateral thinking rather than leave her isolated without friends. Besides, I would also worry about the laminitic pony getting ad lib dry hay.
A friend of mine fractured vertebrae and has terrible trouble with her back---she has a powered wheel barrow which makes it very easy for her to cart soaked hay about
Or you could maybe get a long hose so that you can soak it close to the site.
Where there is a will there is a way  |
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Shantu Sequel
Junior Member
England
42 Posts |
Posted - 27 Aug 2008 : 5:17:02 PM
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| Hi Polly, I have the same trouble with my shetland who has been diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Disease and COPD and has recently had laminitis! (he was on loan) He is out in half acre on over grazed grass and I pick him nettles and dry them he also gets a small amount of hay each day and Formula 4 feet at night. He seems to be doing really well and is perfect weight now according to the vet! I weigh him each week and as long as he has nettles and can pick at the grass he's fine. I'd keep the pony out all year and not stable. Wish you luck X |
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