Thank you for all your kind words yesterday. They, plus some dry clothes, really helped my mood and I also had a word with myself about Tiddles.
Yesterday, I tried to keep him inside but he was agitated and miserable so I caved and let him out with his friends.
However, “tomorrow is another day”, and this morning I brought Waffle in to keep Tiddles company and decided they were both back on the laminitis treatment regime.
They weren’t very impressed but I tell myself that I want them 100% right, not hobbling around getting by.
From now on, all hay is soaked, which is a killer for my back but I am determined to make it work.
I know Tiddles is miserable inside but he now has a friend and I gave them both a good brush and a nice frilly forelock.
So handsome.
Tiddles is not pleased with me. I hope he will start eating the soaked hay. He did tuck enthusiastically into his afternoon teensy tinsy bucket (literally a spoonful of soaked fibre-beet) and I noticed the haynet, which I gave them this morning, was almost finished so someone’s eaten it.
On Monday, the vet is coming to take blood to test both of them for PPID (Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing’s disease)) and EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome).
That is my plan. I feel better for having a plan.
Oh, yes, where would be without plans & goals because they represent optimism and a concrete plan forward. I notice with the two & four foot members of our family how much we need routines & goals.
One of our labs got Cushings; it never dawned on me before that time how much we of the animal kingdom share many of the same health problems.
Okay, I will admit to a spine that has been a frequent Neuro surgery flyer; I gave up counting on my twelfth revision.( I think that I have been revised enough). I know little about horses & even less about their care & feeding requirements; however, I do know spines & agony from them. I have no idea how soaking hay works, but as a very bright lady think outside the box to save future pain whether that is doing the addition of water in a hose from water butts or using a wheelbarrow. As I said, I have no knowledge other than faith in your ingenuity & your gerryrigging capabilities. Good luck & save those vertebrae!
These little ponies are such a worry but at least you pick up on anything that’s not quite right. I hope they’re both okay.
So hard having to deal with that AND they are unhappy to be kept up! Our old Welsh has a Cushings issue. We found Chasteberry helps him. Just a thought. Hugs and stay dry if you can.
I had a half arab gelding who was treated with pergolide for cushing’s for 6 years. I mixed it with apple sauce in a oral dose syringe – he almost looked forward to it and did very well. I currently have a 15 year old schnoodle type dog who has cushing’s. Unfortunately he didn’t respond the the meds so we’re just going along as best we can with his hair loss and unending appetite.
Sounds like a good plan. I’m a great believer in blood tests when they have the potential to show you exactly what you’re dealing with. Ruddy laminitis though . . .
Your first photo showing the weather coming in – WOW, brilliant picture.