What's wrong with our shetland?

Question

The shetland pony on our yard is under the weather. However we all have conflicting ideas as to what is wrong with him. What are your opinions based on his symptoms? (Just to add, he belongs to the yard owner who is away until Sunday night, and he is not in immediate danger or else we would call the vet, we believe this is more long standing condition)

He has lost his coat, except some patchy "cat hairs" which won't shed. His coat is much finer than last summer, he looks clipped out (but hasn't been).

His neck and tail are scabby and sore (he does have mild sweet itch but this is something else)

His skin is rough across his back and 'scurfy'

Tonight when he brought him in, he started to shiver for a few moments, then he stopped and started again a few minutes after.

He is adopting a slightly laminitic-style rocking horse stance when made to stand for more than a few minutes on hard ground, however his digital pulses are not raised and there is no heat in his feet.

More to come...

Answer 1

Hi

He may need to see a vet for more advice.

To what I have understood i think he may have either got extremely sensitive skin and something has gotten onto it or he has something more serious.

I would if it is warm enough give him a gently wash in medicated shampoo for horses. We use it on my mare who has skin problems and works like a treat.

Also dont put a rug on you need to keep as much hair on him and he needs to be encouraged to grow more as if they get cold they will grow more.

Keep him stabled only let him out for a few hours at a time and keep him under constant eye.

Also have a look in his paddock at what he is eating or is it muddy because mud does dry out the skin.

Make sure you give his hoofs a good oil and give him a gentle wash with the medicated shampoo.

If this does not work seek medical advice or I would do it now

Answer 2

It could be nothing or it could be serious. i would contact to owner if posable. I know if i was away i would want to know that something was wrong. It could be some type of fungi if so i would try T-Gel

It could also be some sort of itch maybe he has been rubbing on something that is pulling his hair off. But the best thing you can do would be to call the vet serious or not if you can catch something before it ends up being serious then its worth it

Answer 3

from what you say, im thinking either atopy, cushing's, or something more serious.

get the vet out now. dont just guess! whether it is serious or not, the vet will be able to diagnose or treat it. what if it is something very serious? be safe not sorry!

Answer 4

He has symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is the current terminology for what used to be called Cushings. Does he have a crest forming on his neck?  The laminitic symptoms are worrisome and should be monitored while his feed schedule is reevaluated. If it is metabolic syndrome, he is more prone to laminitis.  I have two horses with insulin resistence (another name for the same syndrome) and have been able to improve their condition drastically with good dietary maintenance and supplements.  Hopefully the owner will be willing to pay for the blood tests needed to diagnose the pony.  He does sound as though he is already in a more advanced stage of the disease though.

Answer 5

Cushings would be a long hairy, curly coat, especially in summer and a great deal of weight loss.  True, there is more incidence of late onset laminitis with a previously sound pony.  I know, we had one for years who did not get laminitis and then got it very badly several years running and had the hairy coat.

The shivering you refer to maybe just a tickle.

He might be just having a lazy day and feeling relaxed.  If he is eating or drinking then there cannot be much wrong with him.

The scurf might just be dry skin, especially if he does have sweetitch elsewhere on his body.

I should think a good grooming with a rubber curry comb and body brush is likely to get rid of the rest of the cat hairs.

Answer 6

It almost sounds like rainrot.

I rescued a horse who had severe rain rot, and it came to the point where even if it was warm out, he'd start to shiver.

Answer 7

keep a eye on him put a rug on him

Answer 8

He may have a mite infestation. Different from lice, these little bu****s burrow into the skin and you can't see them, just scaly scurfy skin. Head & Shoulders is really the best shampoo to use.

If he has them all over it will be driving him NUTS! I would surgest getting the vet out when the owner gets back. He will need some ivermectin (cattle wormer). Probably injection.

Would you say the shivering is like when he is twitching off flys'? That will be the mites.

As for the laminitic stance......hmmmmmm... mites in the feet/feathers can give them the apperance of lamness. Stamping feet can cause sevier brusing (concusion) as well as laminitis.

Answer 9

The pony may have allergies to something in your yard.  You should contact the owner if possible to ask about any allergies, or if symptoms like this are typical of the spring or summer weather.

Answer 10

It could be a condition he has had from the past genetics or plain caught it that the owner didnt tell you about. I would tyr and contact the owner and the nearest vet. You'd rather be safe then sorry so contact a vet would be my first prefference :)