Advice/Views please on my little gelding - Poor confirmation/possibly dwarf

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Calekio

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I got Splash when he was 18 months old, i had no intention of getting him.. took one look at him and just remember the money, time and heart ache of my first two rescued minis... but after i had time to think about it i took pity on him and he came home with me!

He was very poorly, crawling in lice, riddled with worms, very under weight and was pretty much a shell of a pony. We didn't think he'd survive, he had problems with snotty nose, cold, cough, various lots of antibiotics, he was scoped, had his head xray'd and finished with injectable antibiotics.

He did pick up and started to improve. He is now 7yrs old but he definatly isn't like my other minis. His comfortable is very bad, i know that! Past few years the medical problems have croped up, suffered from laminitis (founders) once or twice, prone to repeat episodes after visits from the farrier, suffered from uveitis in the past and now his eyes are weak, prone to conjuntivitis, he doesn't appear to have a great deal of temperature control, suffers from the heat in the summer and from the cold in the winter, he's stabled in winter at night and very well rugged. This year he also has suffered with his joints, really struggled to get down on the floor and after a chat with vet who on first appearances couldn't really find much of a reason why, he was put on pain relief to keep him comfortable which helped him but he proberly is a bit arthritic. He also has missing teeth that vet thinks are still in his jaw but just never came through.

Past couple of months though he really does seem to be getting worse, its almost like he's getting old and even a friend who hadn't seem him since august said he is suddenly looking old! And he's been having a lot of muscle tightness, he's seen regularally by a back specialist but past couple of months thats got bad as well, normally he loves his treatments but now he doesn't even want her to touch him.

In the past people have commented that he looks like a dwarf.. i'm in the UK and not a lot is known about them where i am.. medically my vet can't really find much wrong with him, he's not lame, done a few blood tests nothing really shown up...

Any ideas?

These are the most recent photos of him taken this summer.. He seems to have gone more high withered over the past 12-18months as well..

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But there are lots more here In his photo album
 
Well I don't see that he is a dwarf, I'm not very much help as I'm still learning more about conformation myself. I know the others will help you out better then me. He's a cutie though!
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The uveitis, as you may already know, is probably linked to his color. Appaloosas are prone to uveitis. The pink skin around his eyes contributes to the conjunctivitis.

I don't see 'dwarf' either, but I'm no expert on them. I do see some conformation faults that are probably causing the early arthritis. Being in poor condition as a youngster may have also caused some long term problems in the joints.

It seems that once they founder, they are much more likely to do it again.

It sounds like he has a good home with you.
 
He doesn't look like a dwarf at all to me.

I will say some of what you are seeing can be laminitis. The worst thing you can do is put a horse with a history of it on green grass. It would be best if he was off that grass completely.

Many people confuse a mild case of laminitis for other things. But the way you describe muscle soreness etc sounds like laminitis to me.

They will get to where they just cannot move and will just stand frozen which makes people think they are tied up when actually its the hooves.

Some think a small amount of grass is okay but it really isnt in my opinion. Even a tiny amount can set them off. Your pasture in the pic is ate down but hes still getting more than you think he is.

Best wishes!

Kay
 
Oh, he's a colorful boy. He doesn't have ideal conformation, however, I see NO signs of dwarfism whatsoever.

I'd encourage you to make sure his teeth are floated routinely (which you may already be on top of), and to consider a high fat / low starch pellet for him. These pellets can be fed with hay (I would recommend so) and are formulated to be easily digested and good for horses prone to founder.

Best of luck with him!
 
I got Splash when he was 18 months old, i had no intention of getting him.. took one look at him and just remember the money, time and heart ache of my first two rescued minis... but after i had time to think about it i took pity on him and he came home with me!

He was very poorly, crawling in lice, riddled with worms, very under weight and was pretty much a shell of a pony. We didn't think he'd survive, he had problems with snotty nose, cold, cough, various lots of antibiotics, he was scoped, had his head xray'd and finished with injectable antibiotics.
You are lucky in that you got your rescue guy when he was 18 months old, mine came to me at 9-10 years old with a host of medical problems from lack of care previous, I'm sure he wasn't dewormed before I got him and he has issues from it. He has poor digestion, prone to external parasites, minor teeth issues (he sees the equine dentist once a year), poor immune system; luckily, one thing he doesn't have a problem with are his hooves, they are sound.

If I keep on top of things he does quite well and can be relatively healthy and happy; vet prescribed daily probiotic, daily ulcer meds, montly sand clear protocol (not usually a necessity in my area), monthly insecticidal dusting (he is host to a number of external parasites, if I don't) and more feed than the other minis in my care. I found out the hard way, that he can not be taken off any of his supplements and parasite controls or he'll go down fast (he was chubby this spring, and a new vet recommended a diet; and he was doing so good I took him off his supplements; well, I won't be doing that again, diet maybe, but never off those supplements again).
 
First of all, kudos to you for taking him in!! I do not see dwarf at all, and wonder how many of his health issues are due to the condition he was in when you got him? I am glad Chandab posted her experience because I don't have first hand experience with rescues but would not be surprised that there might be long term effects.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things in terms of vet and farrier care. The only thing I might suggest is to try a joint supplement that might help with the joint issues. The other thing you might consider about the inability to regulate temperature: does he sweat? We just learned this year that our 7 year old mare has anhydrosis - the inability to sweat. There is an inexpensive supplement called One AC (places like Dover have it) that has helped her tremendously. She had absolutely no energy in the heat before I started her on it and the difference after a few days was amazing. Actually that was how it was diagnosed - it was not something my vet thought of.

Good luck with him!
 
The pictures are not great but I do, after having had two live here over the years, see that he may possibly Achondroplasia...and mind this may just be due to the angle of the pictures but hind quarters look lower than forequarters, looks cowhocked and length of leg bones not quite right?? Anyway I could be seeing something that is not there because the photo angles are off a bit...these dwarfs usually also have short ears.

Could also be his body was damaged too much before you got him with lack of nutrition and so many parasites.
 
I clicked to the end so apologies if this has been said.

I see a minimally afflicted, Achondroplasic, dwarf.

I also wonder if your Vet has tested to see if his immune system is compromised?

I think the reason most Americans will not see dwarfism in this boy is that they are used (or more used) to see Brachiocephalic dwarfism, whereas the commoner form of dwarfism in European horses (not Am Imports, that is) is Achondroplasia.

I know it is hard but I am wondering if you have done all you can for this boy.

Honestly, if I had a problem baby I would contact you straight away, you seem to have a talent for getting them as far as they can go, and it is a rare thing to see people put as much time and energy into these little "rejects" as you do.

A big pat on the back for you, you should thing about applying for charity status (I am serious!)
 
Thanks for your replies. Yes he is a very colourful boy and i've loved watching him get more and more spot as he's got older. I had looked up the eye problems linking appolossa colourings and in the summer he has a fly mask that blocks out 70% of UV rays, this helps his a lot when his friends don't take it off in play! lol

His teeth are done regularally as he also suffers from a wave mouth, he is cow hocked and when he walks he twists both his back legs as he moves through (if that makes sense) one side much more severe than the other, so farrier has to work to try and keep his hooves in check as this causes very odd hoof growth. He hasn't had a repeat episode of laminitis in about 4yrs and did go text book then either.. came cantering down the field at me, to stop dead and then couldn't move.. took 4 of us to get him the 50 metres to the stable block.. even vet couldn't understand though how he'd cantered down! But he does seem to go sore for a few days after trimming.. again not much reason can be found for why...

Conformationally his hind end is quite underneath him and it was a lot lot worse when i got him.. throughout the years though he's always had good muscle tone and back specialist amazed at the tight turns he can do when playing.. but that all changed about August time when he ended up going on the danolin because he couldn't get down on the floor (it was pitiful watching him.. he'd stand there shaking attempting to lay down/get down for a roll and when back specialist came out he was solid all though his hind end... spoke to vet as she said if she didnt' know any better (knowing him) she'd of said he was tying up.. if he doesn't show improvement after a few treatments (which is about now.. she is out again in 2 weeks times) then he'l be blood tested as vet said only thing she could come up with for reason why is something that the name escapes me but causes the muscles to break down, he was slightly improved last time back lady was out few weeks agos.

When i first went to see him he has a large festering wound on his back that the person i brought him from hadn't treated, when i asked what happened i was told he was picked up by a Irish Draught mare from the other side of a stone wall and she threw him across the yard! When i got him home i got that checked but the wound had healed over, nothing we could do there.

RE his lack of temperature control - Again he baffles the vets, he does sweat as that is first thing my vet thought off and in the summer can sweat buckets and get heat stroke.. in the winter or even cold summer nights he will shiver, and he has a habit of when he gets too cold he stops eating and we struggled few years ago to get him to eat (all he'd eat were high-fibre cubes in small amounts)

He's on a joint supplement.. been on for about a year now, i've also found with him in summer a immune booster supplement that i used as it was very much focused on eye problems he's done well on the summer so he is put on that as well.

Oh and for who asked.. he does have quite little ears as well! lol (they look even smaller when they are fluffy! lol)

Thankyou Rabbitsfizz for your comment, really made me smile. I've had several problem youngsters or rescue ponies who i pride myself of giving them the best life i possible can, i often get put down for keeping them alive when i could give a home to a 'healthy' horse, but i just feel so much better when i know that a little one like Splash, that no-one really would take a chance on is living as full and as happy life as he can. I use them as therapy ponies and all the kids respond so well to the ponies who have previous been mis-treated or like splash who has 'disabilities' like the kids he works with do.

I know his time is fast approuching though, think i've known it for a while that he is on borrow time and already said that if he even starts to show a sign of really struggling and i can't bring him back right i'll make that decision, i'd rather have his last few months with him enjoying life, pain free... think if he makes it through this winter pretty sure he won't see next as i'd let him go the end of the summer. He has a soul mate friend as well who i'm still unsure what i'll do with him when its Splash's time.. he's attached at the hip and gets stress and colicky if splash is away for more than a day (they share a stable together), he is another rescue who is just living life being an expensive but well loved pet, and not in the best of health either having had arthritis in all 4 legs & a shoulder for the past 7yrs! I dare for the pair of them it likely to be their last winter, so they are getting spoilt with plenty of rugs, warm stable, good food and lots of tlc! lol
 
I don't see any dwarf characteristics... he just doesn't look very well put together.

He sounds like he's got a lot of issues going on, but fortunately he's in your hands so that's all he could ever ask for!

I hope you have success with him, and enjoy!

Andrea
 
My very first thought was that he *might* be a minimally-expressed Achondroplastic dwarf. That 'high in front, lower behind' build, and the cowhocks, are both indicators of that kind of dwarfism; whereas often the 'rest of the horse' can appear much like any other horse's basic body build, even considering basic 'quality' differences.

He is very lucky to have you as his caregiver; you also have my sincere admiration for your dedication to providing him with such a good home!!

Margo
 
I just read this and my first thought is lyme disease. That's where I would start looking for reasons for all his symptoms.
 
I don't see dwarf at all. I have an achondroplasia dwarf and while she is as minimally afflicted as a dwarf comes, she still has very short legs compared to the rest of her and her back legs are much worse than your boys. Another of her tell tale signs are her tiny little ears. Your boy's legs are in proportion to the rest of him and he doesn't have the teensy little ears like my girl does either. I see a horse that due to poor nutrition while he was growing and poor conformation has bad cowhocks and therefore a weak rear end.

Sounds like he has a wonderful home with you!

For reference, here is my achondraplasia dwarf mare:

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Hope these pictures help ease your mind about your boy being a dwarf
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