targetsmom
Well-Known Member
I first posted about Ruby back in November when she quite suddenly changed from a sweet, do-everything, go out with anyone mare, to being aggressive to other minis and people. The first thoughts - which forum members agreed with or suggested - were hormones, ulcers, or Lyme Disease. In the intervening months she has been treated with Gastroguard (months at a time), hormones (Regumate and/or shot, also for month plus) and Doxycycline (for Lyme, full month treatment) with no improvement from anything. She was also treated by a massage therapist who found all the muscles on her left side to be sore, which she often sees in Lyme. Note that Lyme is EXTREMELY common in CT where the disease was first discovered, and Ruby's first test in November showed only a moderate titer. Her latest Lyme test, just when treatment was started, actually showed improvement indicating a case that was "resolving" but we kept up the treatment anyway. Ironically she ate better while treated, and she was also on Gastroguard during that time.
The latest is that she is losing weight from an already thin frame (body score 4.5 last fall) and very thin now. She is kept in her own stall with outside run because we can't turn her out safely with anyone. She is next to the herd though, so not alone. Just this morning she tried to bite me when I reached in her stall to feed her. She acts like she hurts, but does not seem lame. It seems to still be the left side, since she fights/kicks when you lift her right hind leg. She has come after the stall cleaners whom she knows well. Her diet consists of free choice grass hay, soaked alfalfa cubes with soaked beet pulp, a cup of Nutrena Safe Choice, with Stomach Soother mixed in. She gets this twice a day plus more hay at lunch and more hay and soaked alfalfa cubes at bed time. Some days she eats well but many days she doesn't. We try to cater to her tastes.
The vet was here yesterday and took blood for a complete work-up but he really doesn't have any ideas. Maybe the blood work will suggest something. I think he is testing for Cushings, which I understand her dam has, but wonder if that would cause these symptoms?? One thing we noted yesterday was that the spot on her neck that was clipped for the blood test last November still has not grown back. It is not obvious because the rest of the hair on her neck is so long. She has had a sort of trace clip on her sides/belly due to the hot weather we are having but I don't dare body clip anyone this early. It WILL turn cold again.
Any ideas at all????
The latest is that she is losing weight from an already thin frame (body score 4.5 last fall) and very thin now. She is kept in her own stall with outside run because we can't turn her out safely with anyone. She is next to the herd though, so not alone. Just this morning she tried to bite me when I reached in her stall to feed her. She acts like she hurts, but does not seem lame. It seems to still be the left side, since she fights/kicks when you lift her right hind leg. She has come after the stall cleaners whom she knows well. Her diet consists of free choice grass hay, soaked alfalfa cubes with soaked beet pulp, a cup of Nutrena Safe Choice, with Stomach Soother mixed in. She gets this twice a day plus more hay at lunch and more hay and soaked alfalfa cubes at bed time. Some days she eats well but many days she doesn't. We try to cater to her tastes.
The vet was here yesterday and took blood for a complete work-up but he really doesn't have any ideas. Maybe the blood work will suggest something. I think he is testing for Cushings, which I understand her dam has, but wonder if that would cause these symptoms?? One thing we noted yesterday was that the spot on her neck that was clipped for the blood test last November still has not grown back. It is not obvious because the rest of the hair on her neck is so long. She has had a sort of trace clip on her sides/belly due to the hot weather we are having but I don't dare body clip anyone this early. It WILL turn cold again.
Any ideas at all????
