do you think this is azoturia?

[dopeysheep]

So, friend's pony went out today, walked about a mile with a couple of short trots. She said he started sweating and trembling a bit so.she got off. Then he was v reluctant to move for about half an hour, his hindquarters were twitching/trembling a bit. Finally moved but seemed a bit short/stiff behind.
Walked back to stables seemed better. Is now tucked up with rug and haynet.
What do you think? She said his wuarters weren't hard or hot. He lives out on virtually no hard feed at all.

Dd she not get a vet out ?

No. She did say she would call him tomorrow for a chat but as he seemed ok when she got back she didn't bother.
She asked me what I thought and I said I wadn't really sure as I thought azoturia only affected horses on lots of hard feed.

She is also a bit woo and likes homeopathic remedies and herbs. Which I don't think.is massively helpful.

Azoturia, or tying up, is caused by a build of lactic acid in the muscles due to too much carb-based feed. It is usually confined to horses in hard work but ponies on no hard feed can get it. It is manageable but she should have got a vet out, if only to be sure it really is Azoturia and something more sinister.

When was the pony last exercised, did she really only do a couple of short trots, or did she in fact do fast work (a more likely cause)? Did the pony's pee turn red afterwards?

Also, she should have kept the pony still and arranged transport back to the yard - making it move during an azoturia episode can cause muscle damage.

Fuck me, she didn't call the vet straight away? Pardon my bluntness, but I would have called the vet straight away for the symptoms you describe. Any horse owner who has a good relationship with their vet should be able to call their vet and say something along the lines of 'pony was trembling and sweating and couldn't move - don't want to bother you on a Sunday, but is it worth you coming out?'

Even if the pony seems OK now, it will need a bit of careful post-attack management. I am not knowledgable enough in this area to advise how - my level of expertise extends only as far as to know I would want some veterinary advise if it was azoturia.

Id say his back or hips have gone.
Id have to see him to say whether Id want the vet or not, I would probably have rung and asked for advice though.
Try running a knuckle firmly along the edges of his spine from withers to tail root, repeating further away from his spine each pass. If its his back he will flinch, or flicker his skin.

Thanks all. I'm going to see her tomorrow so will be able to find out a bit more.
She sent me a text this morning just saying he was fine.
I did wonder about the fast work but she isn't really a fast work.type, she basically just tootles around the lanes a few times a week.

Sounds very much like azorturia to me, although a vet will be able to do a blood test to confirm this. Next time do not move the horse as this can cause severe muscle damage. Arrange to get transport home if at all possible.

You need a vet asap.