Tilly is my 19 yr old Highland pony.

She's been fit as a flea until winter just past when she had a cough that investigations showed to be COPD/Asthma. She wasn't well, stood looking miserable in her shelter heavily rugged because she was cold but still eating.

She's already rugged in a 100g and got a neck cover on and is cold. She's struggling to eat haylage and she's lost weight (she has diastemas which are gaps in teeth and food gets stuck in them).

I feel like crap as she's my little soul horse and so tough that is takes a lot to bother her. Vet is coming tomorrow to look at her mouth. They were only done 2 months ago. We need to see what our options are.

-hugs-

Oh Tifi, that's so tough. And at 19 she's not what you'd call 'old' for a native, either.

I hope that the vet can shed some light on the situation and offer some advice on how to make her comfortable again.

ohh, i'm so sorry :( -hugs-

Thanks everyone.

I know Uta, she should still be in her prime.

Vet came and cleared all the food out. Can't see a reason for her struggling with forage so to see how she goes with today's work done. I've to flush her mouth out daily. 

There's 2 diastemas that could potentially cause problems and 2 smaller ones plus one tooth right at the back is hollow so need to keep an eye on it. 

If she still struggles the next step is widening the gaps and she'd have to go to the vet centre for that.

Did they suggest taking bloods, by any chance? If she's dropping condition with no apparent cause.

I used to work with a young WB mare who had to have the same procedure with her diastema; it did make a huge difference as she'd always struggled to keep weight on until that point and now they have the opposite issue with her! But I know it's a lot to consider, as well.