How to get a sick pony to eat??

[Dizzy]

My mother in laws old welsh pony has developed bronchial phnemonia and had a visit from the vet yesterday. As she is a pet, I'm the one who deals with all the yucky stuff, and she has been perscribed a powder to help with fluid on the lungs, penicillin and bute. Problem is she isn;t eating at all. I saw her this morning and am hopefully able to transport her to a stable tomorrow as it will help keep her out of this wind. I made a paste of the powder as she won;t eat it and squirted it down like a wormer, did the penicillin, but how do you get a horse to eat? Just wait and see I guess - like us, we don;t eat when we're ill?

Does anyone have any suggestions? The vet said due to her age and amount of fluid on the lungs, she may not make it, but we are going to try our best. This has not been a good year for us with horses.:-(

[Phoebe]

My pony got a sinus infection shortly after she was diagnosed with Cushings and wasn't keen on food at all for awhile... she didn't really start eating properly until we got on top of the infection which took quite awhile. I guess all you can do is offer her small amounts (so as not to upset her tummy) of whatever she likes best and make sure she has some hay or something available all the time in case she feels like eating again.

[ann]

I had a mare that went down suddenly with pneumonia many years ago, and she also refused to eat for weeks afterwards. I just offered her tiny amounts of her favourite feed (she is a greedy guts) and removed the uneaten feed at each feeding time. She came back to full feeding quite gradually, and is now, 20 years later, in good health.

So, as Phoebe says, offer tiny amounts, increasing the volume as she starts to clean up what she's offered. She'll probably drop a lot of condition as the result of the infection as well as the reduced diet.

[Cavalier]

We recently found out that our pony was terminally ill - most likely liver cancer.

We tried lots of different herbal remedies and in the end did have to get her put down.

BUT while we were trying, we tried pour on appetite stimulants but to no avail, one thing that really worked for her was shots of Vit C and Vit B. This really picked up her appetite (she too wasn't eating at all).

So I would strongly suggest injectable vitamins.

Good luck with her, I hope she makes it.

[Dizzy]

Thanks everyone, she died this morning around 4am. The vet said he thought she was alot older than the 22 years we had her at. I think someone is telling us horses are not for our family - the run of terrible luck this year........... I just hope nothing goes wrong with my little shetland/mini. I've only had him for a month, he's a pet and might be lead-line for my son. I'm getting him aged next week by a dentist when he gets his teeth done. He's lovely natured and fingers crossed not too ancient either. I bought him as an 8 year old, but not sure as I looked at his teeth and they aren't very short, but I have never been able to age by teeth.

I hope "Sago's" passing wasn't too painful for her. Thanks for the replies and advice.

[jodles]

dizzy so sorry to hear about your mare...this winter has been so cold for the older ones

[Cavalier]

Oh Dizzy, i'm so sorry to hear that she has passed away :(

I'm sure she and my little pony are kicking their heels up in heaven together :)

Its so hard to lose them, especially when they're like family.

[Talaki]

I'm so sorry for your loss Dizzy.

We had a similar age thing with my first pony who we bought as a "12 yo", 1 year later she was checked by a dentist who said she was over 18!!!

[Helen...]

Please accept my condolences Dizzy. What a year it has been for you.

Keep positive. I am sure this shetland will be fantastic. Your son will have loads of fun on him.

[Beth]

hey Dizzy i'm really sorry to hear that. i'm sure your shetland will be great for your son! i have a 32 year old palomino part arab gelding and he was bought by my when she was only 15 and he was 16 and a half months old and then he was mine her daughter. dusty only retired from novice dressage 2 years ago. he is the best thing ever and i'm hoping its not until a long time til he passes on. and i think every one is ment to have a horse. so keep your chin high and you'll be fine:)

[ann]

Thanks everyone, she died this morning around 4am.So sorry to hear that, Dizzy. Perhaps it was for the best because of her age and the severity of the illness.

Don't give up on horses. Maybe you just have to look at buying a horse with breed or EFA registration so you can get some history.

[Marisa]

I'm so sorry to hear that Dizzy. My condolences go out to you and your M.I.L. I lost my old pony 2yrs ago to a paddock accident. She was 28(we were the same age) and I'd had her since I was 12. I wasn't there as I live interstate now and my poor mum had to deal with it. She was absolutely devestated. I'm sure your pony is galloping around in horsey heaven with my Candy and Cavaliers pony.