Any ideas - tired or something else?

[scattymare]

Flossy has been displaying some strange behaviour but not sure what to do, or if we’re just being over paranoid.
Started on Sunday, I was out poo picking. When I got there they were both fine and grazing as normal. A little later I turned round and Flossy was lying down – nothing unusual in itself but it was really windy and she was lying in the open, not sheltered or anything. So I approached her and she didn’t move. Had that feeling that something just ‘wasn’t right’ so got her headcollar and tried to get her up – really had to pull and cajole her to get her up. Once up she perked up and walked merrily up to the stables. I called A to come and see and we walked her on the concrete drive (wanted to check if she looked at all footy – first thought was maybe early lami signs). She bounded across pleased to be out the field. So anyway we decided to keep them in and keep an eye on her. She was standing in the stable looking very dozy – head down, eyes closed. At feed time she perked up and tucked into dinner.
Anyway next morning she appeared fully normal, plenty of poo’s, bright eyed and alert. So let them out but every afternoon since she’s coming up to the stables to rest. She stands very lethargically – at one point had her head resting on the stable door. Otherwise with head dropped, eyes closed, doesn’t react to noises around her – really dozy!
She’s fine the rest of the time, is grazing, pooing, drinking etc
But when she go’s dozy it just doesn’t seem like a normal horse snooze

Any ideas? Do you think she is just tired? We’ve bought them in overnight last night so she could rest but she’s still doing it now (A’s just emailed me) We were discussing whether to call the vet but I don’t know what they will be able to see. Do you think we’re just being paranoid? Have we just got a sleepy horse?!

[fimacg]

no idea - the only thing that springs to mind is narcolepsy - but if you think something is not right phone your vets for a chat - you dont need to call them out.

[brigadier]

Is the grass still good- is she just so full? Other than that it may be worth a blood test as that is really only way to diagnose something like this- could be anemia due to worm damage, or a virus or any number of things.

[scattymare]

Alis going to call the vets tomorrow. Very little grass here - still having to feed hay so she's not full. It's just odd. Tonight one minute she was standing dozing, head down, eyes closed, next minute she was off down the field!
Though we did also notice that she appears to be coming into season so I wonder if she's felling a little uncomfortable and groggy. Will let you know what vet says when A's spoken to them.

[haffyfan]

Hope all is okay with her x

[spotti]

Good idea to phone the vet. Something that might be useful would be to see if you could get some video footage of her acting in this way, that way if the vets feel they should come out, you can show them the behaviour even if Flossy is bright and perky whilst the vets are there (as is usually the way!).

I hope it's nothing and that she's just been partying too hard overnight!

[solomon]

Bless her. Hope it's nothing. Not quite normal though is it? Vet job.

[Blonde Donkey]

Dainty has been doing this as well. She has been laid flat out not moving at all. We actually thought we'd lost her yesterday as there was no chest movement either cue some tears until she flicked her tail and opened her eyes. All we can think is that she has been put on some new grass and has eaten herself to the point she has almost popped. I wlould get your vet out as a precaution. Out of interest have you noticed anything different about your grazing? Purely because its only after Dainty has moved to a new paddock that shes not been in before that she has been doing this and it is out of charactor as currently she only has the shetland in the next field as company and is a bit stressy on her own.

[scattymare]

No nothing different - we haven't got any! Its been so dry here the fields are yellow - still having to feed hay!!
Its just this couple of hours a day when she goes into super snooze!

[brigadier]

Might just be her down time, horses are quite routine in their sleep patterns if allowed to develop. Mine usually has a siesta mid morning.

[scattymare]

Well vet came on Friday. On Thursday one of her eyes was a little runny and when she 'dozed' it was completely closed whereas the other was half open. So told A to get the vet out as eyes not to be messed with and she could check re the tiredness at the same time. Well the vet thinks she's got uevitis. She said that that was probably why she was bringing herself in as it's been really sunny and they get photosensitive. So it would have been painful as well hence the tiredness. Fi, I know you're an expert on this now! I wasn''t there when the vet came but was surprised after reading what Fi went through that all she's done is given her some bute and advised to keep her out of the sun as much as possible - no drops or anything. And A's to call back on Thursday with an update.
She has seemed much perkier the last couple of days - and it's been cloudy - though she came in for a 'nap' yesterday afternoon but didn't seem as glum as she was.
Will have to keep an 'eye' on her. Will let you know how we get on.

[fleabitten]

Oh dear Good though that shes feeling a bit better now anyway.

[fimacg]

I think 'uveitus' is a bit of a catch all for eye conditions - and when I was speaking to my vets about it for Brave and Dexter the uveitus relates to the murky discolouration of the eye caused by the infection and there are different types. In Dexter you could barely distinguish between the pupil and the iris.

Brave's was reactive uveitus caused by a foreign object in the eye like a hay seed, Dexter was recurring but no obvious trauma to the eye at all, and tehre was a 3rd type but I cant remember what it was.

I'm surprised they haven't given you any drops but they should know what they are doing.

[scattymare]

Apparently she didn't want to give drops as she felt it wasn't bad enough at the moment and trying to get them in - she's a bit headshy as it obviously hurts - could cause more problems than help. So depending n the next few days will depend on further treatment. She's definately reactive to the sunlight but theres no discharge or cloudiness at the moment. A is trying to fix up a sun shield.

[Jen]

Awww no!!! I suppose it is a good thing that the vet doesn't seem to think that it is serious enough for drops??

It is really strange but until fi's dextor had uveitis I had never heard of it before, I now know of about 5 horses with or recovering from it :s