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Post by greydales on Sept 7, 2011 20:16:41 GMT -1
Today as I was poopicking I suddenly noticed Dan walking (or trying to walk) across the field. He was moving as if he just couldn't co-ordinate his legs - the first thing that crossed my mind was whether he'd had a stroke, it was as if he couldn't control where he put his legs and was taking really big steps with his hinds (his n/s hind worse than the o/s) and his fronts were doddery too  . He walked like this for a bit then stopped and stood for a while. Then whenever he moved he did the same thing. After a while the movements got slightly less extreme but it started to rain and I brought him in. He didn't seem distressed and happily ate the feed I gave him, but was wobbly when moving/turning. I'll see how he is tomorrow and call the vet, has anyone had experience of horses/ponies having strokes?? I also wondered if it was anything to do with him eating the hedgerow (they are all eating lots of the hedge as the grass gets sparser) but it's mainly hawthorn and blackthorn which I didn't think could harm them. All the others are okay. |
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Post by zeldalithgow on Sept 7, 2011 20:58:29 GMT -1
Oh poor boy, hawthorn and blackthorn are ok to eat. It does sound like he has had something like a stroke, hope it's not and he is better in the morning  |
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Post by valerie n scout on Sept 7, 2011 21:00:48 GMT -1
oh poor Dan, I hope all is well in the morning too XXX |
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Post by harveydales on Sept 8, 2011 4:23:42 GMT -1
Oh no, poor Dan. What a worry for you. I've never experienced this and can only think what has already been suggested. Hope the vet can get to the bottom of it. |
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Post by dalesponyrider on Sept 8, 2011 5:48:20 GMT -1
Oh poor Dan! So glad he doesn't seem distressed by whatever it is. What a worry for you. Hope he is either better today or that the vet can disgnose something simple. Big hugs! X
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Post by SuzieP on Sept 8, 2011 6:11:16 GMT -1
Dear old Dan. Sending love and hugs to both of you. xxx
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Post by jap on Sept 8, 2011 6:19:07 GMT -1
horses are unable to have strokes due to the arrangement of their brains.We found this out when Finn had a seizure and we thought it was a stroke.
I hope he is better this morning.
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Post by cadeby on Sept 8, 2011 6:20:24 GMT -1
Do you have lots of sloes Gill? This sounds very similar to my Percheron mare Cadeby after she stuffed herself on hundreds of sloe berries. She was taking huge steps with her hind legs but barely moving her fronts so ended up crabbing sideways across the field. When she tried to change direction she would stagger sideways. Basically it looked as if she was drunk! I thought she'd had a brain haemorhage and was convinced she was about to die. It took us about half an hour to get her into the barn 100 yards away. Once there she promptly started to eat her hay, just like Dan! The vet came and was concerned that she would colic. She didn't and was totally back to normal 2 days later. Hope Dan gets well soon |
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Post by harleydales on Sept 8, 2011 7:55:42 GMT -1
That's amazing Helen! Fingers crossed this is all that's wrong with Dan.
Hope he's better today Gill.
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Post by harveydales on Sept 8, 2011 8:19:05 GMT -1
Gosh that's amazing, Helen. We have a huge sloe crop this year. I wonder if that is what has happened to Dan. I'm going to worry now about my lot stuffing themselves on Sloes.
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Post by cadeby on Sept 8, 2011 8:33:10 GMT -1
I have googled "horses eating sloes" since Cadeby's episode (8 years ago in the UK) and have never come across anything that says sloes can be a problem. I've read about cyanide poisoning from eating plum-stones and apple pips in dogs, and have always wondered if it was the stones of the sloes that caused Cadeby's problem, as opposed to a fermentation effect, but that it's less serious a problem to a large-bodied animal like a horse???
I felt guilty because I had seen Cadeby buried in the hedgerow for the entire day but just left her to it as I wrongly assumed she was just browsing. When we checked, HUNDREDS of sloes that we had ear-marked for picking to make sloe gin had disappeared. Fortunately, the vet had seen a similar reaction before and was convinced the sloes were to blame.
I hope this is Dan's problem (as opposed to anything more sinister) and that he also makes a speedy and full recovery as Cadeby did x
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Post by zeldalithgow on Sept 8, 2011 9:14:44 GMT -1
Hope Dan is better this morning Gill
Well I never, this board is great for learning things - thanks Helen.
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Post by greydales on Sept 8, 2011 11:07:33 GMT -1
That's really interesting Helen - my prefix is not 'Sloefields' for nothing!!  I have LOADS. I saw Dancer eating the blackthorn this morning, he seemed to be eating the leaves but could just as well have been eating the berries. It did occur to me whether it might be the sloes, and it was a kind of drunk effect, but didn't think horses would find them palatable. Dan does have a liking for acorns so he might just have developed a taste for sloes - although I've not seen him browsing the hedge, like the others. He's still walking a bit funny today - rather like when horses have travel boots put on them, although not as extreme. Vet is coming at 2pm and I will ask about the sloes! |
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Post by harveydales on Sept 8, 2011 12:00:39 GMT -1
I know when mine have eaten sloes because the stones can be seen in the poos.
Hope the vet has some ideas.
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Post by Debbie on Sept 8, 2011 12:20:11 GMT -1
I sure hope the vet can shed some light on Dan's condition. Sending bucketloads of positive vibes that it might be something as simple as him getting into the sloes. |
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I have LOADS. I saw Dancer eating the blackthorn this morning, he seemed to be eating the leaves but could just as well have been eating the berries. It did occur to me whether it might be the sloes, and it was a kind of drunk effect, but didn't think horses would find them palatable.