Suzie had a gorgeous little colt

[AnnaC]

Thank you for the update Jenny. I'm still worried about what could have caused it - was Suzie in her stable at the time (Cassie says something about walking to the garage and then Suzie walking out the stables??) Could she have rolled and given herself a bang on the head causing a temporary problem? Would she have got bitten by something if she was actually in her stable?

Hope we will hear from Cassie soon, but still think she should have her vet come give Suzie a check over, just in case.

 

[Lindi-loo]

I really hope Suzie is ok..Im no vet but sounds to me like low blood sugar or milk fever..did she recover very quickly when shed eaten her food??..I think its alot more more common than we realise in pregnant and lactating ponies regularly fed on processed foods..some show less obvious symtoms maybe just colic or sweating..please keep us informed and watch her like a hawk but Im sure you are already..sending {{{hugs}}}

Just read your post again and you did say she was ok after she had eaten so that deff points towards low blood sugar..not sure if you have seen the vet yet but I would split her feed into possibly 4 times a day so she doesnt go so long between feeds and maybe try add some naked oats to add more energy without the sugar

 

[AnnaC]

I was thinking about this too Lindy and trying to remember how long since Suzie had Finn, because it is something that often strikes suddenly soon after a mare foals. But I also believe that - was it Sue or Karina - who lost their mare to this problem earlier this year, and I think that was 4 weeks after they foaled.

Certainly something for Cassie's vet to check on.

Cassie the symptoms are very similar to staggers in cows/lack of magnesium/lack of calcium/milk fever/etc. etc.

Hoping to hear some news soon.

 

[cassie]

Hi guys thanks for the support! haven't been able to get hold of the vets all day! and when I finally got through they were closed

Suzie looking a lot better tonight but I am still going to ring the vets first thing in the morning!!!

it was just TOO scary!

thanks for the advice lindi, I will check that possibilty out with the vet...for the last week Suzie has been absoloulty CRAVING the food! like tipping over feed buckets to get to food pushin things over... luckily I have most things tightly closed!

Anna she was in her stable last night, I have put them back in again tonight (they still go in each night) I put some nice fresh shavings down lots of it, so she can lie down if she wants to... was going to put the camera on them tonight but the power isn't working to my stables for some reason grrr!!

when I got home I checked on her, her gums are a little more pink again and she will lift up all four legs for me which she wasn't this morning phew! Anna thats very intersting bout her hitting her head... there is nothing in the stable unless she hit it against the wall... there is always the chance a spider or something could have gotten in... but I think if she was bitten by a spider or snake she would be getting worse not better... (WDIK)

I'm not sure but I'm not going to let it go!!

Suzie is worth to much to me to let anything happen to her! will let you know how I go with the vet, and how she is looking in the morning

Thankyou all for being here for me! your all the best!

 

[cassie]

could milk fever happen though 6 weeks after the foal is born? Finn will be 6 weeks on Sunday! normally when our cows get milk fever they get it a few days up to a week after calving... will definitley check all possibilites with the vet in the morning any questions for the vet?

 

[Lindi-loo]

I had it with my mare and her last foal when he was around 4 months old..she had the classic symtoms looking tired.. no energy.. sweating.. twitching ..staggering.. uncooridinated became very thin very quickly too over a period of 3 weeks..I believe its due to the lack of muscle mass so theyr less able to hold glucose in their system as easily and of course the obvious calorie intake!!..fortunately I was able to control it with diet on my vets advice..Iv had 2 episodes with her recently now Dinky is 4 months and the grass isnt quite so feely available so have upped her food and shes now on a working mix with naked oaks..4 times daily.. same amount just spread out so her blood sugar doesnt drop as easily..obviously any food changes should be made slowly but the oats really do make a diff to her..I also try to give her an apple or a few carrots throughout the day just as a top up..Its very worrying when you see them close to collapsing and important to not let it get to that stage..but it can be controlled with diet..my mare isnt on any medicine but knowing now its "normal" for her when she has a nursing foal this will be her last..she did have an episode in early pregnancty too which again I was able to catch quickly and fortunately didnt cause her too much stress..but caused me loads

..theyr such a worry

 

[Lindi-loo]

could milk fever happen though 6 weeks after the foal is born? Finn will be 6 weeks on Sunday! normally when our cows get milk fever they get it a few days up to a week after calving... will definitley check all possibilites with the vet in the morning any questions for the vet?

Id be thinking its more Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) than milk

fever but thats only my oppinion best seek your vets diagnosis..good luck

xxx

 

iv added the symtoms for you too take a look

Early signs

The early warning signs of mild hypoglycaemia may include:

• feeling hungry
• trembling or shakiness
• sweating
• anxiety or irritability
• going pale
• fast pulse or palpitations
• tingling of the lips

More severe

Signs of a more severe hypo include:

• difficulty concentrating
• confusion
• disorderly or irrational behaviour, which may be mistaken for drunkenness
  

 

[Eagle]

Lindi thanks for posting the symptoms, Cassie please call thd vet first thing tomorrow. From what you mentioned about how Suzie kept calling for you it sounds like she was confussed which is not a good sign.

I would suggest that you check her around 1.00am and perhaps give her some carrots

 

[Riverrose28]

Mares milk production peaks at 6 to 8 weeks and it can drain the mare of minerals, most of the time calcuim. Cassy, do you have any electrolites that contain calcium, if you do give her a scoop full in a small bucket of water, if she needs the added minerals she will drink it, otherwise she won't. Mini mares are prone to hypocalcemia more then the larger mares and that sounds like the symptoms you are describing. If she developes thumps, like hiccups, you will need the vet to examine as sometimes treatment is needed, once it progresses to that stage.

 

[AnnaC]

Yes Lindy - that was the word I was looking for - hypo watsit! I was just suggesting milk fever etc with the cows to give Cassie some idea of the similar symptoms and how one needed to act fast!

That is very interesting about your mare, I didn't realise that they could get this so long after foaling! Why do you think that my mares have never suffered from it when they are normally just back out at grass once the foals are a month or so old? Could it be that our grass is full of all the natural whatnots and that has helped? But I am now worried about the two mares who foaled late this year (July). They are now out with the main herd grazing the 25 acres that are well grazed down, almost to my 'starvation' level as everyone is so fat! Think I had better get those two and their foals moved to better ground as I wouldn't want any problems to arise from them feeding foals and lacking food themselves. About 10 days ago I moved the two old girls and a yearling over to one of my 'good' fields to keep them well 'boosted' as winter approaches, and am intending to add more over the next few weeks, so maybe I will shift those two mares as well in a day or two?

If you can understand this ramble, I would be grateful for your opinion. Never tried having foals born late Summer (July) before as it is a new experiment to try to work foalings between the early and late shows, instead of foaling April and May, which means Cathy is too tired to do all the conditioning work and the shows until foaling is over.

 

[Eagle]

I personally think that your girls are total spoilt brats Anna,

They have what is as close to the best a horse can get

Most problems come to us "messing" with their environment and changing what is their natural diet. Yours girls live almost always outside and on grass. (I mean serious grass like has anyone seen any horses around here)

My girls have a nice big field but nothing like the size of yours. I think your girls will be just fine but I guess it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on them.

Hugs

 

[Riverrose28]

Hypocalcemia, (eclampsia)

Calcuim plays a vital role in muscle funtion, including cardiac muscle. When blood levels are low, the horse will demonstrate muscle stiffness, stilted gait, muscle twitches, weakness, anxiety, sweating, increased heart rate, and irregualr heart rhythms. If not treated horse developes the classic sign of calcuim defiency diaphragmatic flutter, also called thumps, it resembles hiccups. I would give her some electrolites and call out the vet to examine.

 

[Lindi-loo]

Im sure your mares will be just fine Anna

no need for anyone to have special treatment or anything you dont usually do..Im sure the reason you dont have this problem is because you do have plenty of that lush welsh grass

and dont use a great deal of processed foods.. its possible my mare came to me with problems she had developed previously or maybe its just a pregnant lactating thing with her?? I dont know and my vet didnt have the answers.. as I say she occasionally shows early signs of "hypo" Iv also noticed it tends to be as we are switching seasons (early winter) no idea why but at a guess id say its as the grass production drops and with her producing milk she still needs extra calories to keep her and her baby going strong..shes never shown signs when not in foal or feeding though so Im guessing its related to the extra energy needed..but again im not claiming to be an expert and every pony is different..Iv learned to watch for early sypmtoms so I can boost her energy quickly(with food) and shes usually fine within 15 mins..I also spread her food as evenly as i can throught the day so she doesnt drop..I hope its been of some help to someone else that might read this thread and maybe find theyr pony in fact any animal or human acting unusually or showing symptoms of "hypo"..food at this point is very important to raise glucose levels in the body before its too late

 

[Eagle]

Thanks lindi, you explained it wonderfully.

 

[Lindi-loo]

Yay glad you knew what I was on about..lets hope its just a simple low blood sugar episode with Suzie as shes using all her energy supplies keep lil Finn looking as fit n healthy as he does

oh and her lovely self i might add as she is looking very good

 

[Riverrose28]

Cassie, Just a suggestion, maybe you could post Susies symptoms on the mini forum and Dr. Taylor can offer some treatment if you can't get the vet out soon. It's worth a try.

 

[AnnaC]

Actually this whole thing is so very interesting anyway so maybe it would be a good idea for it to get posted/asked on the main forum, just to give everyone a reminder of the dangers, plus a few tips on treatments/prevention???

I do thank you for your kind views on the way my girls live their lives, and I'm sure it is the good natural Welsh grass that keeps them all so fit and well - maybe I should say fat and well LOL!! (to be honest, even the fattest of them still join in with the mad looney sessions they have most days, although I know most mini folk would cringe at the weight they are carrying around!) But in spite of all their freedom and their grass, they do miss out on all the personal daily grooming/fuss/attention etc etc that other minis receive from their owners. I know for a fact that if I had a huge barn with enough nice big stables for each of them, then they would be clammering at the gate every day to be let in - just for a bowl of food mind you, plus a chance to have a nice comfy snooze in a big straw bed before being let back out again. LOL!! They wouldn't be too interested in the grooming aspect, not very keen on having their snooze time interferred with, but they would love the cuddles/scratches/fuss and human company, and having it individually instead of having to have it shared out when I visit them in the field. Still I think they are pretty happy with life as it is for now - the big barn can be a dream for the future!

 

[Eagle]

Your set up is what every horse dreams about Anna. Non of mine choose to come in unless there is food and they will stand patiently whilst I groom them but they make it quite clear that it must be quick. Odette even starts sighing when she has had enough

. I ran my hands over them tonight whilst they were out in the field just to check they were o.k and Britt fidgeted and swished her tail, if she could talk I swear she would have said " for god sake woman get off and leave me to eat my hay in peace"

Odette had her head in my coat pocket as usual and was saying " only 2 biscuits tonight, hmmm maybe there are more in her hands"

Boys are different and love going to bed, the only peace Eagle gets from Dipinto is in the stable at night and he starts charging around the field as soon as he hears my car pull up.

 

[Eagle]

Wake up Cassie! How is Suzie this morning?

 

[AnnaC]

Any news yet??

Sorry but it's 11pm here and I'm off to my bed.

Please call the vet Cassie.