Three 3 years ago we took on a rescue welsh pony. We were told he had had laminitis but was fine now. They said he could have grass just not a lot.
We thought we could handle that as my clyde x can get laminitis in spring and autum but how wrong we were! We set him up in a dry yard with a small amount of grass, hard feed and meadow hay, teeth hadnt been done since he was 4, got his feet done they were shocking took a year to get them right, within 2 weeks he had founded, x-rays, pedal bone rotation and pre damage.
Changed his diet low sugar hay, consulted and equine nutritioniast cahnged hid feed to all natural got rid of the bit of grass. initialy he came right for about 3 weeks, again founded, started soaking his low sugar hay that worked for a time but he always seemed to go backwards. Tested for PPID his numbers were high put him on predesend he got very depressed so we took him off that checked his sugsr it was high put him on Metformin again he got very down so we took him off. All the while hes up and down not putting on weight when he was up he was bright and cheeky but would get sad often.
Our vet whos family breed him make some inquiries and found out he had had glyphosate poisoning through grazing a vineyard was regually left in a yard with no feed for days at a time no one had the time to feed him aprerently. And the kicker he had benn bitten by a snake, and so it became clear as to why he was not thriving. We just carried on with doing what we were doing.
Now about 6 months ago Davie started to gradually lose weight we added fats to his hard feed, added cracked lupins for extra protein he has sunflower seeds for protein as well increased his chaff stopped soacking his low sugar hay all the while he has continued to lose more weight he now has no fat on him at all, he is still bright and demanding seem to be happy most of the time. We have been told by the vets that the end is coming, at 16 yrs old i feel its to soon to give up on him. Would you be able to susgest anything at all
--------------------------------------
An update on little Davie's progress...
The first striking thing that happened apart from him picking up was he shed his hair and is now smooth and shiny!
In all the years I have had him that has been the case - before I could brush him and it was never ending.
Also he had his feet done, he had a good amount of growth, all feet looked good.
I also had the vet out to check him over, she loved the diet and the fact he was smooth and shiny meant he was getting nutrients again.
Bloods were taken to check his liver, kidneys etc all have come back within normal range, amazing! 0 worm count.
Now normally around the 2 to 3 week mark he would regress stop eating and founder but not this time. He is going from strength to strength, he has lots of energy, more than I've ever seen.
He is very excited to see his food theses days, there is nothing left in the bucket.
He is more alert and demanding than ever before😀
Thank you so much you, have saved his life, we are both so grateful to you, Many, Many Blessings to you and your family.
Kind regards
Jan🌞🌞🌞
